PPG recently completed a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project in General Nakar, Quezon Province, the Philippines, that helped revitalize the Batangan Elementary School.

The project brought together more than 25 PPG volunteers and parents of the students, who spent around five hours beautifying the school for the more than 300 children who are served by 12 teachers and three staff members. This is the first Colorful Communities project completed in the Philippines.

PPG implemented the project in collaboration with the non-profit GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF), which focuses on the development and improvement of social and educational facilities for the underserved and underprivileged communities of the country. GMAKF built the school in 2004.

PPG provided more than 195 gallons (750 liters) of paint products, including SEIGNEURIE, SIGMACOVER 256 and SIGMARINE 48 paint by PPG.

PPG’s Global Community Engagement program also provided $7,000 (358,000 Philippine pesos) to support the school’s renovation. Also, PPG gave each student a rain jacket, and the PPG volunteers conducted games with the students during the project.

The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Manila, where PPG has an administrative office.

Batangan Elementary School is located about 90 miles (150 kilometers) from Manila and a significant distance from the main road in a rural area that is home primarily to farmers and laborers.

"We are very grateful that our school has received attention and assistance from PPG,” said Myla M. Vicencio, principal/administrator, Batangan Elementary School. “The improved appearance makes our students very happy.”

The volunteers painted the school’s exterior walls in bright blue, the classrooms in white and the doors in mahogany brown. These colors were chosen to meet the standards set by the school.

“PPG is proud to work in partnership with GMAKF to beautify the school and provide a bright and inspiring learning environment for the students,” said Jun Usita, PPG country manager, protective and marine coatings, Philippines.