It was a casual conversation during a social event that snowballed into one humungous effort to rebuild Pepito-damaged school buildings and restore young dreams. Dr. William Belo, the patriarch of Wilcon Depot, the country’s leading construction and home improvement company, attended an awarding ceremony at his alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas, not expecting that he would stumble upon a request that would tug at his generous heart and galvanize him into positive action.
Vira Arceo, Board Director of Baler Aurora Ngayon Angkan at Kasaysayan Inc., Dr. Belo’s co-awardee and alumna of the University of Sto. Tomas’ Engineering Department brought to his attention the dismal plight of many school children and educators in Aurora province because of the onslaught of Typhoon Pepito last year. The typhoon battered the northern towns of Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag, destroying at least 94 schools and hundreds of classrooms in its path. Pepito also blew off the roofs of more than 60% of homes in five barangays in the area.
Dr. Belo was extremely touched by these unfortunate incidents, realizing that the learning of hundreds of elementary children in the area was rudely disrupted. School teachers had to resort to learning modules and other asynchronous methods in a desperate attempt to continue teaching the youngsters. It is a pathetic reality that during times of disaster and natural calamities, learning is already interrupted as school buildings are converted by LGUs (local government units) into default evacuation centers. This time, even that was not possible in the wake of the super typhoon’s fury. While the province is no stranger to extreme weather conditions during the habagat season (southwest monsoon), this last typhoon was just too damaging, deadly and disruptive.
Immediately, Dr. Belo went into urgent rehabilitation mode. A few days after that social event, Arceo received an early morning call. Dr. Belo, who was then just about to board a plane, apologized for calling Arceo at such an early hour. But perhaps he just couldn’t erase the image of the destroyed school buildings from his mind. Dr. Belo just had to say one thing to Arceo, “Yun sa probinsiya, tulungan natin yun mga eskwela at mga bata, yun mga schools na na-damage.” (Let us help the province, the kids rebuild their damaged school buildings.) Arceo couldn’t believe her ears.
Dr. Belo kick-started the effort with newly arrived iron sheets for roofing. He was building a factory for roofing materials and the donations would come from there. Dr. Belo also requested for a complete list of materials needed for the rehabilitation of the damaged schools so that he could spread the word among other suppliers and corporate partners who may also pitch in the effort. He knew that every little bit helps.
Arceo was more than grateful to comply with Dr. Belo’s request. After several frustrated attempts at seeking help from the usual government agencies, here was this private individual egging his partners and suppliers to commit wholeheartedly to rebuilding schools so thousands of elementary school children could reboot their dreams.
Fast forward to April 23, 2025. Wilcon delivered the first batch of roofing and other construction materials to Aurora province. Another delivery was done two days after. That set off the rebuilding effort of the damaged school buildings to full throttle. Just recently, Wilcon’s AVP for Sales and Operations Harvy Cruz represented the company in a ceremonial turnover of school buildings in Aurora National Science High School on June 11, 2025. Other personalities present at the event were Schools Division Superintendent Dante G. Parungao, CESO V., school Heads from different schools of Aurora, Teachers, students, and their families waxed emotional as they realized that very soon, their places of learning would soon welcome young minds again.
Helping worthy social causes has always been part of Wilcon’s corporate DNA. Wilcon’s efforts to augment reconstruction and rehabilitation of school structures damaged by super typhoons like Pepito in Aurora province continues. Typhoons that habagat brings have become a bitter reality that Filipinos have come to accept. The damage wrought usually costs millions, even billions to reconstruct. Lives are lost and displaced. But while the country continues to reel from its usual spate of typhoons and natural calamities, for persons like Arceo and their organization, it is heartening to know that there will always be individuals and silent heroes who will emerge and respond enthusiastically to dire situations and make people believe in the innate goodness of humanity.
For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You can also subscribe to and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For inquiries, you may contact the Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266).
