The Insular Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Insular Life (InLife), recently celebrated its 54th anniversary by treating its scholars to an immersion of Philippine arts and culture at the Ayala Museum. It also spearheaded an art workshop and history lecture in partnership with the Ayala Foundation.
“On Insular Foundation’s 54th anniversary, we want to bring our beneficiaries, partners, and the general public back to our Filipino heritage through arts and history appreciation, particularly of the Ilustrados or the intellectual elite of the 19th century. We hope to inspire them through our heroes’ life story, first as human beings, then as artists, so they may apply their examples in this 21st century times,” said Ana Maria R. Soriano, Insular Foundation’s Executive Director.
Insular Foundation mounted an art workshop for 100 Adopt-A-Scholar program student beneficiaries from Alabang Elementary School and Bayanan Elementary School.
The Foundation also presented a lecture with acclaimed historian, Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, for its Gold Eagle College scholars from the University of the Philippines Diliman. The lecture focused on how the youth of today may be inspired by the life of our national heroes who made significant contributions to their country while they were still young.
“The tour in Ayala Museum was very enriching. It made me realize how richly talented Filipinos are when it comes to art and how dedicated they could be in expressing themselves or an event in history using the form. During Dr. Ambeth Ocampo’s talk, he was able to make us realize that even our bayani are humans like us. Nevertheless, they still contributed to the Filipino cause and continue to inspire us to do the same no matter how irrelevant we think we are as individuals,” said Yannis Fernandez, UP Diliman Gold Eagle Scholar.
The Insular Foundation also opened Ayala Museum’s Splendor exhibit to hundreds of museum-goers, art enthusiasts, and students for free. The exhibit, which is co-presented by InLife, centers on the long-lost painting of Juan Luna titled “Hymen, oh Hyménée!” or “Roman Wedding” which was unveiled in time for the 125th anniversary of Philippine Independence and Nationhood last June.
“Napakasaya at makahulugang araw po, hindi lang para sa mga bata, kundi pati sa aming mga guro. Maraming salamat, Insular Foundation (It was a fun and meaningful day, not only for the children but for us teachers as well. Thank you, Insular Foundation),” said Vanessa Alvarado, teacher from Alabang Elementary School.
For more than 50 years, the Insular Foundation implemented programs that advocate for social and economic mobility, sustainable environment, and employee volunteerism. Its flagship education program, the Gold Eagle College Scholarship Grant, supports intelligent and deserving students who need financial assistance to access the best education they need to improve their lives, and serve our country. The Adopt-A-Scholar Program, on the other hand, enables InLife employees to adopt elementary students from the Foundation’s partner public schools in Muntinlupa and Benguet. Through the yearly employees’ donation, the Foundation provides school uniform and shoes, bags, and school supplies, to the adopted students until they complete the elementary level.