Hope Comes to Muzon: New Classrooms for Brighter Futures

Every Filipino child deserves a space where they can learn, grow, and dream without limits. Yet for millions of students nationwide, the reality is far from this ideal. With a classroom shortage that runs in the hundreds of thousands, many children are forced into overcrowded rooms, shifting schedules, or even makeshift learning spaces.

But in Muzon Elementary School in Alitagtag, Batangas, hope has taken a concrete form—two brand-new classrooms that will now serve as safe and nurturing spaces for young learners.

On August 15, 2025, HOPE, the Philippines’ first certified B Corp and a pioneer in impact-driven initiatives, together with beloved lifestyle brand Sunnies Studios, officially turned over these new classrooms to the school community.

A Partnership for Change

This milestone is more than just a construction project—it’s the beginning of a promise. The classrooms at Muzon mark the first step in Sunnies’ pledge to fund 10 classrooms through HOPE’s flagship Generation HOPE campaign, a movement dedicated to closing the education gap by uniting purpose-driven organizations.

Reflecting on this milestone, HOPE Founder Nanette Medved-Po shared:

“I really thought we should approach the most beloved brands in the country and say we want to do something bigger, and we want to do it together. To inspire the nation to nation-build for education, we have to do it with the support of brands and businesses in the country. We are deeply grateful to Sunnies for partnering with us on this important mission.” 

More Than Four Walls

For the children of Muzon, the classrooms mean more than new desks and fresh walls. They represent a safe space where ideas can flourish, friendships can form, and futures can be built.

“Every classroom we build represents more than just four walls, it’s a place for learning, dreaming, and transformation. Sunnies’ commitment of 10 classrooms will create ripple effects that reach far beyond the students inside them,” said Selena Ortiga, Business Development Manager of HOPE.

This is the power of a classroom—it doesn’t just serve today’s students, it becomes a stepping stone for future generations.

When Style Meets Substance

For Sunnies Studios, this partnership is deeply aligned with their values. Known as one of the country’s most beloved lifestyle brands, Sunnies has long believed that business can be a force for good.

“We’ve always believed that style and substance can go hand in hand,” said Bea Soriano-Dee, Co-Founder and Head of Product Development at Sunnies Studios. “Partnering with HOPE allows us to make a meaningful contribution where it’s needed most. Education is something we deeply value, and we’re proud to help provide learning spaces that empower the next generation.”

A Ripple Effect for the Nation

Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara praised the initiative, calling it “something truly game-changing, made possible with the support of the Philippines’ private sector. Partnerships like these show how the private sector can help shape the future of our students.”

From eyewear to sustainable product design, and now to building classrooms, Sunnies is proving that businesses can create lasting impact when they choose purpose alongside profit. Just this June, the brand launched the Sunnies Studios X HOPE Clean Lens, with proceeds going toward classroom construction—showing that even everyday choices can drive meaningful change.

A Future Built Together

With 10 classrooms pledged by Sunnies, and over 144 already built by HOPE across the country, each new school building becomes a symbol of what’s possible when communities, brands, and organizations work hand in hand.

For the students of Muzon Elementary, stepping into their new classrooms means stepping into a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow. And for the nation, it’s a reminder that when we come together, we can turn challenges into opportunities—one classroom, one child, one dream at a time.

To date, HOPE has built over 144 classrooms across the country, starting with every bottle of water sold, and now expanding through co-branded products and purpose-led partnerships.

For more information about Generation HOPE, please visit https://www.generationhope.ph/ or follow HOPE on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/generationhope.ph or m@generationhope.ph on Instagram for more updates.

HOPE partners with Penshoppe to blend style and purpose in the new Penshoppe x HOPE Collection

HOPE, the Philippines’ first certified B Corp and a leading nation-building organization, joins forces with Penshoppe, the leading Philippine fashion brand, to blend style and purpose in the new Penshoppe x HOPE Collection.

The collaboration brings a limited-edition lineup of wardrobe staples including polo shirts, tshirts, caps, pullover sweaters, hoodies, and tote bags—designed with both form and function in mind. More than just fashion-forward, each piece contributes to a powerful cause: a portion of proceeds from every purchase will help fund the building of public school classrooms in underserved communities across the Philippines.

This partnership is part of HOPE’s expanded efforts under Generation HOPE, a campaign launched to scale its impact through purpose-led collaborations. As one of its first major initiatives, the Penshoppe x HOPE Collection continues HOPE’s mission of transforming everyday purchases into meaningful contributions for public education.

HOPE Founder Nanette Medved-Po shared her excitement about the collaboration, “Fashion has the ability to inspire, to express, and to influence. Partnering with a major fashion brand like Penshoppe allows us to tap into that influence in a meaningful way - bringing purpose into people’s everyday purchases. We’re thrilled to be working together to make education more accessible to Filipino public school students.”

The Penshoppe x HOPE Cropped Pullover Sweater and Crew Graphic Shirt

The Penshoppe x HOPE Collection also features minimalist designs with subtle messaging that reflect the values of both brands: confidence, optimism, and collective progress. Whether you’re looking for everyday essentials or meaningful gifts, the collection offers a chance to wear your support on your sleeve.

Alice Liu, President and CEO of GOLDEN ABC, the retailer behind the Penshoppe Group, echoed the significance of the campaign, “The Penshoppe Group, through its brands, has always endeavored fashion experiences that inspire greatness. We’re motivated to do well as a business so we can do even more good for society, which is why we’re grateful to be working with Hope to make a difference in the education sector.”

The collection is now available in Penshoppe stores nationwide and online at https://www.penshoppe.com/pages/penshoppexhope. 

For more information about Generation HOPE, please visit https://www.generationhope.ph/ or follow HOPE on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/generationhope.ph or @generationhope.ph on Instagram for more updates.

HOPE Launches Generation HOPE with Filipino Brands to Address Classroom Shortage

 HOPE, the Philippines’ first certified B Corp and a pioneering impact organization, launches Generation HOPE—a partnership with the country’s most beloved brands to help address the urgent need of building more public school classrooms nationwide. 

This initiative brings together the country's most beloved brands, such as BDO, Carmen’s Best, Grab, Penshoppe, Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies, to enable every Filipino to vote with their peso to support nation-building through the building of public school classrooms. Together, these purpose-driven companies and their consumers share a vision to close the education gap and make sure every Filipino child has a safe, comfortable place to learn.

HOPE Founder Ms. Nanette Medved-Po and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara place a puzzle piece on the HOPE Wall—a symbolic gesture of partnership and shared commitment to building a brighter future for public school students across the Philippines.

 

Launched in partnership with the Philippines’ Department of Education (DepEd), Generation HOPE was unveiled with the support of HOPE Founder Nanette Medved-Po, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, and the participation of representatives from DepEd and all the brand partners.

HOPE Founder Ms. Nanette Medved-Po speaks about the Generation HOPE campaign and its mission to bring together communities, partners, and everyday consumers to support public school education in the Philippines.

 

“Filipinos always come together in times of need. In a world that is increasingly divided, let's harness that power every day to support something we can all agree on: investing in the youth of this country to build a nation and ensure a brighter future,” says HOPE Founder Ms. Nanette Medved-Po.

 

To bring this vision to life, HOPE and its partner brands have created unique ways for Filipinos to enjoy being part of this movement.

Generation HOPE is a partnership between HOPE, the Department of Education, and beloved Filipino brands BDO, Carmen’s Best, Grab, Penshoppe, Aivee Clinic, SM Supermalls, and Sunnies. In the photo are (from left) Grab Philippines Country Head Ronald Roda, BDO Unibank Senior Executive Vice President and Head of the Consumer Banking Group Rolando Tanchanco, Sunnies Studios Co-founder and Head of Product Development Bea Soriano-Dee, SM Investments Corporation Vice Chairwoman Teresita Sy-Coson, Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, HOPE Founder Nanette Medved-Po, HOPE Board Member Tootsy Angara, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, The Aivee Group Founder and President Aivee Teo, Golden ABC President and Chief Executive Officer Alice Liu, and Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Jovy Hernandez.

 

BDO customers will soon be able to own a BDO “HOPE in Every Spend” credit card, and a portion of their spend using the credit card will automatically be donated to building public schools. More than that, they can convert their Rewards points into donations, and a portion of the annual membership fee will also be donated to HOPE.

 

Carmen’s Best is preparing limited-edition offerings—Hope in a Scoop and Hope in a Pint—that blend indulgence with impact. 

Grab users will have the option to use GrabRewards points to support classroom construction and make donations. 

 

Aivee Clinic will introduce the Aivee x HOPE collection, featuring limited edition items like bags and tags, along with specially designed Skin Bank cards for the cause.

 

Penshoppe is launching an exclusive line of HOPE-themed t-shirts, hoodies, caps, and bags. 

SM Supermalls will donate a portion of sales from SM-branded water bottles sold at partner food merchants. 

Sunnies will unveil a clean lens kit and specially designed Sunnies Flask for this collaboration.

Each product from the partnership offers a simple, tangible way to help build a better future through education. 

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara talks about how the Generation HOPE campaign helps address the classroom shortage in public schools, strengthening the foundation of quality education for Filipino students.

 

Working closely with DepEd, HOPE ensures that every classroom built directly addresses the most urgent needs of public schools across the country. 

 

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlights the importance of collaboration in this cause. He said, “Education is not just a duty, it’s a solemn responsibility we all share. When the government and the private sector unite through partnerships like Generation HOPE, we break down barriers and pave the way for every Filipino child to learn in a safe and inspiring environment. Education is how we secure the future of our nation.”

 

For more information, please visit https://www.generationhope.ph/ or follow HOPE on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/generationhope.ph or @generationhope.ph on Instagram for more updates.

Generation HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to social and environmental impact

 

Real Leaders® has released its latest list of the world's most impactful companies that are leading purposeful change, and two Philippine-based companies, Generation HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to social and environmental impact. These companies have been ranked at 232nd and 257th place, respectively, joining the ranks of other winners such as Tesla, Ben & Jerry's, and Crocs.

 

"This is our fifth annual ranking, and the number of award winners has tripled. It's encouraging to see how this movement is going mainstream with businesses all over the world," said Mark Van Ness, Founder of Real Leaders. "We are excited to welcome new and past company winners to the impact movement, and into the Real Leaders Impact Awards community."

 

Founded in 2010, Real Leaders® is a membership community for impact leaders with a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. 

Nanette Medved-Po (6th from left), founder and executive chairperson of Generation HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange with teachers and community members in Marawi

In its fifth year, the magazine reveals its Impact Awards which ranks 300 Impact Companies solving existential problems through innovative and sustainable market-based solutions. Calculated by the Real Leaders 'Force for Good' score, it takes into account the company's 5-year sales growth, revenue, and B Impact Assessment to objectively rank the companies. 

Respected brands from a variety of industries globally, such as Toms, Vita Coco, Tetra Pak, and Lego Group also made it to this year's list. 

 

"We are thrilled to be recognized by Real Leaders among many other values-aligned companies," said Nanette Medved-Po, Founder and Executive Chairperson at HOPE and PCX. "We aspire to continue to build out effective market-based solutions to address important environmental and social issues in the Philippines and beyond."

 

Generation Hope has made a significant impact since its establishment in 2012, with 122 public school classrooms built in areas where it’s needed the most. Additionally, the organization's agricultural interventions have benefited over 21,000 smallholder coconut farmers in Mindanao, resulting in the planting of more than a million coconut trees in the region last year. Generation Hope is also actively contributing to environmental conservation by diverting plastic away from nature and collecting approximately 551 kilograms of plastic in 2022 alone.

 

Plastic Credit Exchange’s (PCX) mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and to build a future where no plastic ends up in nature. PCX is addressing the plastic waste problem by collecting, tracking, monetizing and repurposing plastic with the power of blockchain technology while supporting communities on the ground. It is the only fully transparent global marketplace for audited plastic waste reduction. 

 

To date, PCX and its partners have diverted more than 42 Million kilograms of plastic waste from nature, invested over $3 Million into the historically underfunded circular plastic economy, and its waste-to-energy programs have driven more than 70K tons of carbon reduction from coal replacement.

 

DHL Express has launched a campaign in partnership with HOPE to support Filipino coconut farmers

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has launched a campaign in partnership with HOPE to support Filipino coconut farmers. For every registered international shipment made between October 15 and December 31, 2022, DHL Express will donate Php5 to HOPE’s livelihood program. This goes to help smallholder coconut farmers by providing them with tools and training that improve their farming practices and boost their income.

 

HOPE is an impact organization that invests 100 percent of its profits to improving public school infrastructure, increasing livelihood opportunities, and enabling environmental conservation efforts. 

 

“As a logistics company, we aim to set an example in our industry and strive for clean operations and uphold climate protection,” said Nigel Lockett, Country Manager for DHL Express Philippines. “Through this campaign, we aim to contribute to HOPE's environmental conservation efforts and at the same time, help support our smallholder farmers who rely on coconut trees as one of their main sources of income."

 

Cash customers need one raffle entry to qualify for the raffle where they can win one of the following exciting prizes: 

·       10 Christmas baskets worth Php1,000 each

·       2 to 4 entries to win one of 10 Christmas gift baskets worth Php2,000 each 

·       5 or more entries to win one of 20 Christmas gift baskets worth Php3,000 each

 

“Coconut farmers in the Philippines face many challenges. DHL Express is happy to spread the blessings of the holiday season with them in ways that could benefit their livelihood for a more bountiful future,” said Eric Queppet, Commercial Head of DHL Express Philippines. “By participating in this campaign, our customers in the Philippines will also be able to lend a hand and share in our advocacy.”

 

The promo only applies to cash customers shipping through Wide Wide World Express, MLhuillier branches, other sales partners, and cash pickup customers only.

 

“We are very grateful to be the recipient of the proceeds from this DHL Express promotion and we laud the people behind the company for choosing our organization,” said Illusion Farias, HOPE Managing Director.

 

For more information on how to register for the raffle draw and give back to the community, please visit https://simplydhl.com/ph/inspirehope.