ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS
2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS
CAROLYN FRANKS | DREAMSTIME.COM
www.businessmirror.com.ph
A broader look at today’s business n
Sunday, May 10, 2026 Vol. 21 No. 208
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 16 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
POOR ACADEMICS ALARMING;
HOW ABOUT CHARACTER?
“A
By John Eiron R. Francisco
LTHOUGH academics are very important, characters should always be there.”
This was stressed by Stonyhurst Southville International School–Malarayat (SSISM) Campus Principal Donnabelle L. Atienza in an interview with BusinessMirror, following the recognition of the school and its sister campuses under the Southville Global Education Network (SGEN): Southville International School–Batangas (SSISB) in Batangas City and Southville International School and Colleges in Las Piñas City. The institutions were formally recognized by the Batangas provincial government on May 4 for their distinction as the country’s first “City and National Schools of Character,” an honor originally conferred by the US-based nonprofit organization Character.org (formerly the Character Education Partnership), which advocates for ethical leadership and character development in schools and communities. The recognition places them among 103 schools and districts worldwide honored this year, including 94 schools in the United States and nine international institutions. “Without character, you will not have a good education. Character is the one,” Atienza said. According to Atienza, character formation goes beyond grades as it shapes how students think, act, and respond to the world around them, particularly as many of their students are expected to assume influential roles in the future. She noted that nearly a thousand of their students from nursery to senior high school come from families of business leaders and public officials.
“That’s why we have to mold them correctly so that when they become leaders, we’ll have a better Philippines, a better world,” she said.
Embedding values in school culture
ATIENZA explained that the recognition is anchored on its alignment with Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools, a researchbased approach that encourages schools to integrate character development into teaching, school culture, and student life alongside academic instruction. The framework outlines practices such as defining core values, embedding them in daily school routines, integrating character into lessons, and providing opportunities for students to apply values through service and real-world engagement. It also highlights the shared role of educators, families, and communities in reinforcing character formation, as well as the need for continuous review of programs. Atienza said the framework helped the school assess and strengthen its existing programs, particularly in expanding servicelearning initiatives across all grade levels. Previously, she said, service learning was limited to select year levels and activities such as holiday outreach programs. This led the school to broaden its approach to ensure wider student participation. Among its initiatives are the integration of character education into the curriculum, socialemotional learning activities, and programs that encourage students
BATANGAS Governor Vilma Santos-Recto meets with representatives of Stonyhurst Southville International School–Malarayat (SSISM) following the recognition of SSISM and its sister campuses under the Southville Global Education Network (SGEN)—Southville International School–Batangas (SSISB) in Batangas City and Southville International School and Colleges in Las Piñas City—for being named among the country’s first “City and National Schools of Character” by Character.org. JOHN EIRON R. FRANCISCO
BATANGAS Governor Vilma Santos-Recto said the provincial government has revised its scholarship program into a merit-based system, where financial assistance increases depending on academic performance. The initiative is meant “to inspire students and reward their hard work because they are the future.” JOHN EIRON R. FRANCISCO
to identify and respond to community needs. Character development is reinforced through the school’s “5Cs” curriculum—competence, character, commitment to achieve-
ment, collaboration, and creativity—which has been in place since the school’s establishment in 1996. The framework integrates academic learning with values formation through various student activities. Among these is an initiative promoting kindness and positive relationships, including an anti-bullying play titled “Hold My Hand.” The school also implements the SIGMA program—Stonyhurst Inspiring Growth and Meaningful Advocacy—which engages students from preschool to senior high school in identifying community issues and developing projects in response. At the start of each school year, students brainstorm local concerns and design corresponding initiatives. In one example, Grade 5 students addressed food scarcity by establishing a vegetable garden within the school, with harvests later shared with the community.
The school likewise operates a “King’s Community Pantry” that extends support to transport workers such as jeepney, tricycle, and ride-hailing drivers amid rising fuel costs. “These activities show not only competence but also the students’ grit, determination, and willingness to persevere,” Atienza said. She added that while approaches and issues vary across learners, each student is guided by clear developmental goals. “There are a lot of practices and different issues, so all the kids have their own targets,” she said. “Even if we always push for academics, for us, character is more important. When students have honesty, integrity, and kindness, academics will follow,” she added.
Where Did GMRC Go?
VALUES education has long been part of Philippine schooling, integrated into various subjects and
learning areas over the years. However, the removal of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) as a standalone subject in basic education has, in recent years, revived public debate on how values should be formally taught in schools. GMRC, which had been taught for decades at the primary level, was removed as a separate subject under the K-12 curriculum reform in 2013 and instead integrated into other learning areas. Critics, including some lawmakers and education advocates, argued that the change weakened the emphasis on values education, especially amid concerns that young people are increasingly influenced by digital platforms and modern technology. In June 2020, Republic Act No. 11476, or the GMRC and Values Education Act, was signed into law, restoring its formal place in Continued on A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 60.6910 n JAPAN 0.3870 n UK 82.2667 n HK 7.7492 n CHINA 8.9162 n SINGAPORE 47.8447 n AUSTRALIA 43.7279 n EU 71.1663 n KOREA 0.0416 n SAUDI ARABIA 16.1808 Source: BSP (May 8, 2026)