THEIRS is a story of David and Goliath but this is only part and parcel of Mr. and Mrs. Vanezza and Alvin Ligan's story that made them the recipient of Asia's Educators Awards 2023.
Alvin and Vanezza are a son and a daughter of poor parents. They both were working students until their graduation. They worked as minimum wage earners at different schools when they met and got married.
However, when their second eldest, a son, was already about four years old, they found out that his nanny was abusing him. That incident made Vanezza decide to resign from her job. While thinking about what business to venture into, Alvin suggested to his wife why not they both establish a school.
And that was how Askaps Academy, Inc. started 10 years ago. They sold their conjugal house to pursue their dream of owning a school, at the same time offering quality, holistic education to children at an affordable price.
However, the struggles did not end there.
Askaps rented a house and lot in a residential area in Spring Valley in Buhangin, Davao City, that they contract-leased for five years. But they found out that a big chemical company was operating nearby. They thought not only their students will be affected but the community itself so they questioned the establishment of the plant to the concerned agencies. Their move had earned them a Goliath enemy. Suddenly, they found out that the house and lot they rented was already sold and the new owner wanted them out.
In a very short time, they needed to find a new lot to transfer to. Luckily, just across the chemical plant they were fighting to be relocated was a vacant lot owned by environmentalist and artist Joey Ayala. Although Mr. Ayala didn't know her, Vanezza didn't have second thoughts, she immediately contacted and asked him to sell the lot to them. Fortunately, Mr. Ayala agreed.
But the fight against the Goliath company did not end there. The couple pursued questioning the chemical plant's presence in a residential area. Fortunately again, the concerned government agencies acted on it, and the chemical plant was relocated.
And then there was the pandemic.
Even before the Department of Education decided for all academic institutions to utilize online learning, Alvin luckily has already created a learning management system (LMS). And they found it to be very useful in online learning.
In fact, Askaps was the first school to implement online learning during the pandemic. So the school thrived even during the worst of times.
Their successful bid to shoo away the harmful chemical plant in a residential area, their story of success from humble beginnings, and even the school's initiative of employing an owned LMS earned them praises not only from the parents and the residents but also from some award-giving bodies, one of them is the Instabright International Guild of Researchers and Educators, the organizer of the Asia's Educators Awards.
It came as a surprise for them that a small, independent, and unknown school in a field full of big and famous schools and universities was chosen to be among the recipients of the prestigious international award.
Alvin was awarded Asia's Outstanding Director of the Year, while Vanezza was awarded Asia's Outstanding School Principal of the Year.
The awarding was held at The Heritage Hotel, Manila on April 29.
Askaps offers programs for toddlers, nursery, pre-schoolers, elementary, and high school. From a little more than 25 students when it was first established, Askaps grew to cater to a little less than 200 students as of the present.
The school has already produced students that qualify in international mathematics competitions and a Palarong Pambansa player. Some of its students also have competed in various literary and academic interschool competitions.
Askaps Academy, Inc. is located at Block 9 Lot 26 Spring Valley, Buhangin, Davao City.