Three schools down, more joy to go! The Jollibee Group’s Joy Learning Center initiative has grown from Tangub Elementary School in Pinamungajan, Cebu, and Buriraoan Elementary School in Occidental Mindoro to Alabel Integrated School in Sarangani (in photo). On August 24, the third set of classrooms was proudly turned over, followed by a series of fun activities for the students led by Jolliskwela volunteers.

 The Jollibee Group continues to expand access to quality education in the Philippines with the turnover of its third set of Joy Learning Center classrooms, this time at Alabel Integrated School in Sarangani. The latest initiative brings the total number of classrooms built through the program to six, benefiting communities in Cebu, Occidental Mindoro, and Sarangani. Through the initiative, the Jollibee Group aims to help create engaging, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments that support the long-term development of Filipino students.

The first Joy Learning Center was launched in July at Tangub Elementary School in Pinamungajan, Cebu, where two new classrooms were opened for learners. The program then expanded to Occidental Mindoro, with another two classrooms turned over through the second Joy Learning Center at Buriraoan Elementary School in the Municipality of Magsaysay.

The latest classroom turnover was made possible through the partnership of the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), Jollibee, the Department of Education (DepEd), Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI), and the local government of Alabel.

The Joy Learning Center initiative supports the Department of Education’s efforts to address the country’s classroom shortage by helping schools provide safe and conducive learning spaces where students can learn, grow, and pursue their aspirations.

The program is part of the Jollibee Group Foundation’s broader education agenda, which also includes its flagship Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen initiative and Jolliskwela, Jollibee’s employee volunteerism program focused on education. Together, these programs reflect the Foundation’s continuing commitment to creating conditions that enable children to participate in and benefit from quality education.

A Shared Investment in Young Learners

The Joy Learning Centers are made possible through partnerships between public- and private-sector organizations working together to address the educational needs of underserved communities.

Jollibee Philippines President Ferns Yu emphasized that access to quality education and a conducive learning environment should not be limited by geography or circumstance. Through the Joy Learning Center initiative, the Jollibee Group continues to bring learning opportunities closer to communities that need them most, helping more students learn with dignity, graduate with confidence, and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the country.

JGF’s local partners in Sarangani also highlighted the long-term value of the new classrooms. Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation (CLAFI) President Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico described the classrooms as symbols of continuity, recovery, and hope, showing how partnerships can turn shared commitments into concrete and lasting opportunities for children.

Meanwhile, Alabel Municipal Mayor Hon. Lilibeth “Ybing” Salarda expressed her appreciation to CLAFI and JGF, noting that the initiative goes beyond building classrooms by creating opportunities, nurturing dreams, and helping provide a brighter future for the children of Alabel.

Supporting the Jollibee Group’s Sustainability Goals

The Joy Learning Center initiative aligns with Joy for Tomorrow, the Jollibee Group’s global sustainability agenda anchored on Food, People, and Planet.

As part of the Jollibee Group’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2028, the Joy Learning Centers serve as a tangible embodiment of the Group’s “Through the Joy of Learning” partnership. The initiative reflects the company’s continued investment in education infrastructure and skills development to support better learning outcomes, prepare young Filipinos for meaningful careers, and help build more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready communities.

As the initiative continues to grow, the Jollibee Group aims to bring the joy of learning closer to more Filipino students—one classroom, one school, and one community at a time.