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Reaching the Stars
with the Galileo Galactic Force
4
SME.COMmunity.PHilippines
The Galileo Enrichment Learning Program
recently celebrated its grand launch
entitled Galileo Galactic Force at the SM
Mall of Asia music hall. In keeping with
the Galileo philosophy of putting fun in
education, the event offered astronomically
delightful activities, freebies and
learning experiences for children and
parents alike.
Sandy Prieto-Romualdez—the president
of Philippine Daily Inquirer—along
with her children Luca and Ben; Queena
Lee-Chua—multi-awarded academician
and professor of Psychology and Mathematics
at the Ateneo De Manila University,
her husband Smith, and their son Scott;
SM Mall of Asia marketing manager Perkin
So; Sister Gertrude Borres, president
of Assumption College; Maria Rosario T.
Juan, founder of Sacred Heart School;
Galileo chief executive officer Rowena
Matti and Galileo president Ann Pato led
the ribbon cutting to formally open the
event celebrating the rapid expansion of
the Galileo Enrichment Program and its
partnerships with schools, companies
and educators.
The Galileo Enrichment Learning
Program came about as an advocacy to
promote world-class education in the
country, especially among preschool
and elementary school students. The
program involves a pool of academic
advisers and focuses at improving academic
aptitude by cultivating mastery of
Math and English skills and developing a
genuine love for learning.
From Explorers to Discoverers
The Galileo Enrichment Learning Program
employs a telescopic approach in order
to discover “the star in every child”. To
illustrate this approach, various activity
centers were set up around the venue
allowing children and parents to explore
and enjoy the facilities found on a much
bigger scale in Galileo Centers. These
activities gave visitors the opportunity
to test their personal strengths, conquer
challenges and compete in quests, like
Cosmic Chess, a game of strategy played
the Galileo way, with the Galileo All Star
Team used as chess pieces laid out on a
giant chess board on the floor.
Wesley So, the youngest chess
grandmaster in the whole world was
delighted to play a game of Cosmic
Chess with life-sized Galileo pieces.
“It’s my first time to play chess with the
Galileo mascots as the chess pieces,” he
told the Galileo community as he battled
against a Galileo student from Wizchild
Kindergarten, Aldwin Castillo and his
father Goldwin. People crowded around
the Cosmic Chess area to watch the
grandmaster strut his strategy and talent
in this mind game.
Scott Chua, a student achiever,
writer, mathlete, and artist also enjoyed
a game against Rommel Juan, president
of Binalot Foods and AFFI together and
daughter Francine, also a Galileo student
from Sacred Heart School in Sun Valley.
The game was not
just choosing the
best strategy, but
also beating a time
limit of three minutes.
The Cosmic
Chess was officiated
by grandmaster
and international
arbiter Rolly Yutuc.
Wall climbing is
a sport that breeds
determination and
discipline. It is an
advocacy shared by
both the program
and members of
Mrs. Maria Rosario T.
Juan (center), founder
of Sacred Heart
School; Sr. Gertrude
Borres (third from
right), president of
Assumption College;
and Philippine Daily
Inquirer president
Sandy Prieto-
Romualdez (second
from right) join young
guests and Galileo
Enrichment Learning
Program executives at
the grand launch in SM
Mall of Asia.
the Philippine Everest team, who were
present to unveil the Galactic Climbing
Wall. Mountaineers Carina Dayondon,
Janet Belarmino and Fred Jamili shared
their experiences of scaling the world’s
highest peak. Janet and Carina, members
of the first ASEAN female team that
climbed Mt. Everest on May 2007, even
brought the suits they wore during the ascent.
The 20-foot wall was no match for