Education Secretary and Xavier School alumnus Sonny Angara joined education leaders, policymakers, and advocates at the Summit on the Future of Philippine Education, a forward-looking dialogue on reimagining the country’s learning landscape.
“As education leaders, it is our shared responsibility to champion meaningful and forward-looking reforms—ones that will not only transform the landscape of our education system, but also uplift the everyday lives of our teachers and learners. Education is the great equalizer—but only when it is truly accessible, adaptive, and attuned to the changing needs of our times,” Angara said.
The summit served as a venue for open discussion among fellow reformers, including Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Francisco Benitez and EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee—both Xavier School alumni—who joined Angara in exploring how government, private institutions, and communities can work together to build a more equitable and future-ready education system.
Beyond policy dialogue, the event also sought to revitalize support for the Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides children from underprivileged communities with access to education and skills training.
The discussion, moderated by ERDA Foundation President and fellow Xavier alumnus Terence Christopher Ang, tackled key issues facing the education sector—learning recovery, workforce readiness, and the need for stronger public-private collaboration. The three officials emphasized that addressing the learning gap requires not only policy innovation but also empathy and sustained investment in human potential.
“Education reform isn’t just about systems—it’s about stories,” said Ang, reflecting on ERDA’s enduring impact. “Each child who finishes school, each family lifted out of poverty through education, is proof that collective action works.”
Representing the Alumni Association of Xavier School as President, Jim Howard See, expressed the group’s strong support for such collaborative efforts, affirming that their formation as “Men for Others” continues to guide their commitment to nation-building.
“Xavier School taught us that leadership finds its highest purpose in service,” said See. “To be a Man for Others means using our gifts and education not for self-gain, but for the greater good. Supporting initiatives like this summit and ERDA’s mission is our way of paying forward the grace we’ve received, and helping build a more compassionate and hopeful future for all learners in the Philippines.”
