Ang Bukas Mo, Sigurado dahil #MayBukas para sa'yo!

“We are strongly committed to providing students access to quality education and pave a path towards a brighter future. By providing education-focused financial products, we hope to reduce the number of out-of-school youth, and build a more secure future for the next generation.” ~JR Emlano, Country Manager of Bukas

With affordability being a major barrier, a third of Filipinos have not attained higher education. In some cases, students may have enrolled for the first few semesters, but their financial situation at home does not make it sustainable for them to continue and finish their degrees resulting to an annual 10-15% dropout rate in many schools in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Despite the steps being taken to help more Filipino youth receive college education, the current educational system, coupled with the post-pandemic economic implications, are still leagues away from providing more inclusive opportunities to aspiring college and university students especially from the lower income segments.

This is where Bukas comes in. Through data-driven financing solutions, Bukas is addressing the Philippines’ education financing gap and helping underserved students achieve their educational aspirations. Bukas is all about making education affordable for the Filipino youth, starting with safe and secure tuition plans. So if you're a student with big dreams for your future, #MayBukas para sa'yo!

Bukas’ newest online video aptly entitled “Kulit.” The video shows a son following up on his mom to meet the deadline of his enrollment by the end of the week. His mom tries her best to have enough funds for his tuition by doing different income generating activities but still fails to meet the deadline. The son would then introduce Bukas. The video ends with the mother and son applying for a tuition installment plan, securing the tuition fee and his future. 

Despite its light tone, the video leaves a bit of twinge in the chest as we see the mom’s struggles and the son’s concern for his future yet understanding of the situation, reflected on his face every time he gets the same answer. 

Meet the Bukas Team:

“Ang laki ng naitulong ng Bukas sa pag-aaral ko dahil ang hirap talaga magbayad ng buo sa tuition fees lalo na sa panahon ngayon. So nagpapasalamat ako sa Bukas dahil meron silang tuition installment plan para sa aming mga students at dahil doon naabot ko ‘yung mga pangarap ko at nakapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral.” ~Hanna Grace Laud, an FEU graduate, expresses her gratitude for having discovered Bukas

This is the challenge faced by many Filipino parents who only desire to see their children attain a degree in hopes of having a better future. But with the economy taking a hit, resources to send children to school have become even more limited, with over 4 million students not enrolling in 2020. Driven by the desire to continuously send their children to school, parents resort to alternative financing options, but most of the available options are not always the best in the long run, and cater to only a limited set of borrowers with its conditions, namely:

• Government Loans and Scholarships: Long and competitive process, usually has a high maintaining grade requirement.
• Private Bank Loans: Requires collateral that the more financially challenged families may not have. Also has higher interest rates.
• Friends and Relatives and Loan Sharks: May have outrageous interest rates, comes with unforeseen complications due to its vague nature.

“We are strongly committed to providing students access to quality education and pave a path towards a brighter future. By providing education-focused financial products, we hope to reduce the number of out-of-school youth, and build a more secure future for the next generation.” ~JR Emlano, Country Manager of Bukas

Having seen the opportunity to be a game-changer, the founders of Bukas developed the platform to extend real help to parents and students. Bukas, a tech-enabled education financing platform by its parent company ErudiFi, is offering an affordable, complementary solution that aims to empower Filipino families to build a better tomorrow through quality education. The offering is accessible to more families and students who are not able to rely on bank loans, credit cards, or scholarships. With the following offers, the platform strives to deliver its “Ang Bukas Mo, Sigurado'' promise:

• Up to 100% coverage from start to finish - Students can re-apply for additional tuition coverage every semester to make sure they can graduate.
• Interest rate lower than others - With a fixed monthly interest rate capped at 1.5% and payment installments up to 12 months, Bukas makes it sustainable to parents, and even to working students to manage their school finances. 
• Pay early, earn rebates - Students who want to fully pay the loan in less than 12 months can do so without any pre-termination fees. In fact, they will earn rebates because they will only be charged interest for the months they consumed.
• Convenient payment options - Students can pay their monthly dues via GCash, Bayad Center, Unionbank, or at thousands of bank and non-bank payment centers powered by Dragon Pay.

Bukas now has a total of 35 partner schools, with presence in 71 campuses, including:

• Mapua University
• Far Eastern University
• Adamson University
• Our Lady of Fatima University
• PHINMA Education Network
• University of Nueva Caceres
• Centro Escolar University
• Eskwelabs
• De La Salle University
• Enderun Colleges
• Avion School
• Uplift Code Camp
• University of Asia and the Pacific to more specialized institutions like SoFA Design Institute

Bukas plan to help more and more Filipino students and families through sustainable financing solutions. Making education affordable for the Filipino youth, starting with safe and secure tuition plans. So if you're a student with big dreams for your future, #MayBukas para sa'yo!

For more information, please visit www.erudifi.com.

About ErudiFi

Founded in 2017, ErudiFi is a mission-driven technology company focused on making education affordable in Southeast Asia. Operating as Danacita in Indonesia and Bukas in the Philippines, ErudiFi has helped secure funding for thousands of financially underserved students through tech-enabled partnerships with leading universities and vocational schools in the region. By improving access to education, ErudiFi is driving generational transformation and helping to build a better tomorrow.

Scholastic & Its Reading Partners Steadfastly Champion Reading Amidst the Pandemic

Scholastic & Its Reading Partners Steadfastly Champion Reading Amidst the Pandemic

In Scholastic’s 101 years of partnering with schools and homes worldwide, it is a love of reading and a belief in its power that is at the heart of everything Scholastic has done and continues to do.  Scholastic’s mission is to make reading a central part of children’s lives.  

Scholastic, a trusted leader in education, honored its partner schools and educators in the 2021 Scholastic Readers Cup, streamed on Scholastic Asia Teachers Facebook page on the 23rd of September.

In 2012, Scholastic Philippines started the nationwide Readers Cup to excite and motivate its partners in its literacy programs to transform their schools into reading communities.  And every year, more and more schools would hit their reading target and take pride in how their libraries have become one of the busiest and most productive places in school.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the sudden shift to distance learning, Scholastic and its partner schools did not waver in their reading advocacy.  They understood how books and reading are fundamental, and how reading is necessary not just for the continuity of learning, but also for the readers’ delight and personal well-being.  

Through the PR1ME English Program, Scholastic’s partner schools had access to Literacy Pro Library –  a growing digital library of 1,600+ eBooks that enriched learning and that motivated pleasure reading. To aid teachers, PR1ME English also made available instructional resources (both print and digital) and lesson videos for synchronous and asynchronous distance learning.  

 

“The LitPro Library is the coolest!  Learners can access books whenever and wherever they want to, as long as they have Internet connection.  One of our learners read more than 500 books because she just loves to read.” ~Mr. Joven Sierra Llabore, PR1ME English Coordinator of Assumption Iloilo has this to say about the Literacy Pro Library

Some school libraries, like that of Early Christian College of Arts and Technology (1st place winner in the 2021 Readers Cup Diamond Category), also resumed their lending services through curbside pick-up or bookmobiles.  The books in their Scholastic Reading Centers found their way to children’s homes to provide children comfort and hope, and to take them to adventures in the wonderful world of books.

With Scholastic’s support, many schools continued with their reading campaigns.  Rookie of the Year Awardee, Maria Ferrari School Inc., for example, had regular read aloud sessions with their students, and the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Day to encourage independent reading.

Scholastic’s General Manager, Jane Tiongco-Aguirre, proudly reported that the learners in Scholastic’s partner schools even increased their reading rate in SY 2020-2021 by 36% from their readership in SY 2019-2020.  A fantastic achievement during a challenging “pandemic” school year, when many expected that pleasure reading might be put aside.

Scholastic & Its Reading Partners Steadfastly Champion Reading Amidst the Pandemic

 

Steadfast Reading Champions

Scholastic is grateful to find in many Philippine schools dedicated and loyal partners in their reading advocacy.  And, with great pride and admiration, they announced that 80 of their partner schools have reached their reading target, with many far-exceeding the goal of 30-books-read per child.

The top winners of the 2021 Readers Cup and their average number of books-read per child are:

DIAMOND CATEGORY:  Early Christian College of Arts & Technology, Inc. (67 books); Our Lady of Peace School Antipolo (66 books); and Philippine Cultural College, Caloocan (64 books)

RUBY CATEGORY:  Iloilo Scholastic Academy (332 books); Stonyhurst Southville International School, Malarayat (103 books); and Saint Mary’s Angels College of Valenzuela (99 books) 

EMERALD CATEGORY:  Casa Del Niño Montessori School Ciudad de Calamba (326 books); University of Batangas Lipa City (168 books); and Virtudes de la Academia, Inc. (157 books) 

SYNERGY AWARDS:  Stonyhurst Southville International School, Batangas City and Malarayat (108 books); Casa Del Niño Montessori School System (93 books); and Saint Mary’s Angels College of Pampanga and Valenzuela (84 books) 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:  Maria Ferrari School, Inc. (92 books) 

Scholastic & Its Reading Partners Steadfastly Champion Reading Amidst the Pandemic

Reading is Transformational.  Read On.

The 2021 Readers Cup theme - “Soar into Possibility” - builds on Scholastic’s centennial theme – Reading is Transformational.  Read On.

Celebrity readers and authors joyfully shared their personal ‘reading stories’. Kakie Pangilinan shared how she was a voracious reader as a child, and how reading has fueled her passion to write.  Martin Del Rosario proudly described himself as a “book lover”, and so did Andrea Torres, who also shared how reading has nurtured her sense of wonder and discovery, imagination, and eloquence.

Filipino authors, Catherine Rose Torres and Joel Donato Ching Jacob, talked about how reading can be our refuge, comfort, and joy during trying times like this pandemic, and proceeded to encourage the youth to write and tell their own stories.

The winning schools shared their journey to becoming a community of readers and the fruits that their learners are reaping from their reading habit.

Mr. Peter Chan, Executive Director of Iloilo Scholastic Academy revealed that their school was guided by these 5Cs in their effort to become a community of readers – Collective efforts, Convincing skills, Conviction, Collaboration, and Consistency.

Ms. Donnabelle Atienza, Principal of Stonyhurst Southville International School – Malarayat, who shared the top Synergy Award with sister school Stonyhurst Southville International School, Batangas City, expressed her delight in how Scholastic’s Reading Program has excited their young learners to read and equipped them to become skilled and confident readers.

“The Scholastic Reading Program and the Readers Cup Award has made our young CASAns voracious readers, and transformed them to be competitive in ways more than we can imagine.  Declared as national champion in this aspect has made our students feel that reading can make them superior and special.”  ~Dr. Farah G. Acierto, School Directress of Casa Del Niño Montessori School Ciudad de Calamba

The 2021 Readers Cup was indeed a great celebration – a celebration of books and reading, of writers and storytellers, and of readers and those who champion reading to open for all children a world of greater possibilities, opportunities, and joy.

For more information on Scholastic’s education initiatives, visit www.scholastic.asia or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ScholasticAsia.  Please feel free to send a message, too, to Scholastic Philippines at educteam_ph@scholastic.asia.

Education Financing Solution Provider Bukas onboards new partner institutions including De La Salle University, UA&P and more

“This new partnership between DLSU and Bukas is very timely as many of our students continue to feel the effects of the pandemic on their family's resources.  With Bukas' tuition installment plans, we can provide our students more options to fund their education so that their learning continues during these difficult times.” ~Dr. Christine Joy A. Ballada, Dean of Student Affairs of De La Salle University

BUKAS PH Team

This month, Bukas announced its expansion in the Philippines with new partner institutions from private universities such as De La Salle University, University of Asia and the Pacific, Panpacific University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, St. Louis University, Colegio de Dagupan, to more specialized schools like SoFA Design Institute, Enderun Colleges, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Avion School, and Uplift Code Camp.

Bukas.ph is a tech-enabled education financing platform that aims to build a better tomorrow for Filipino youths by offering affordable student loans. The company  works closely with top colleges and universities to provide an easy, secure, and integrated tuition installment plan for students. Providing much needed access to education to the Filipino youth.

Bukas.ph Partner De La Salle University

A third of Filipinos have not attained higher education with affordability being a major barrier. In some cases, students may have enrolled for the first few semesters, but their financial situation at home does not make it sustainable for them to continue and finish their degrees. This is reflected in the annual 10-15% dropout rate that many schools in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, experience. 

Mr. Riche Lim, ErudiFi Co-Founder CFO Chief Strategy Officer

“Welcoming new partners to our platform gives more and more Filipino students the opportunity to study in their dream schools through more sustainable means. The number of out-of-school youth continues to grow, and we want to be part of the solution as we help set them on the path toward building a better future.” ~Jon Robert Emlano, Country Manager of Bukas

Committed to serving Filipino students, Bukas is offering an affordable, complementary solution that aims to empower Filipino families to build a better tomorrow through quality education. The offering is accessible to more families and students who are not able to rely on bank loans, or scholarships. With a base monthly interest rate of up to 1.5% that is lower than other financing institutions, and payment installments up to 12 months, Bukas makes it sustainable to parents, and even to working students to manage their school finances. 

Bukas.ph Partner University of Asia and the Pacific

Bukas’ expansion led by its parent company ErudiFi, which included the onboarding of new educational institutions and key hires across different business functions, was a result of closing a US$5 million Series A round co-led by Monk's Hill Ventures and Qualgro earlier this year. ErudiFi has seen a growth of 3x in 2020 and is continuously expanding its presence in the Philippines with partner schools all over the country. With the onboarding of new partners, Bukas now has a total of 27 partner schools, with presence in 57 campuses, including Mapua University, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, Our Lady of Fatima University, PHINMA Education Network, University of Nueva Caceres, Centro Escolar University, and Eskwelabs, among others.