The Hotchkiss Learning Center
The HLC Administrative Building, built in 2009, was designed as a replica of a typical Philippine schoolhouse circa early 20th century.
The Hotchkiss Learning Center (HLC) was established in 2000 and was the first project of the Hotchkiss Foundation. It started with a small class of kindergarten students led by the intrepid Mrs. Enen Blanco, who is a living institution in her own right. In August of 2013, Mrs. Blanco celebrated her 90th birthday and she fondly recounted the history of the HLC in her birthday speech. (You can download the audio file of her speech below.)
| mrs_blanco_90th_bday.3gp |
Mrs. Blanco, along with the Hotchkiss family matriarch, Mrs. Senecia Y. Hotchkiss (†), both with long and distinguished careers in the Philippine public school system, started and managed the elementary department of the HLC while they were in their 70s and 80s. For both, the teaching vocation was their lifelong passion, echoing that of William's. Between the two of them, they contributed at least 80 years of teaching experience, benefiting the school immensely. In post-war Cantilan, both teachers taught at the local public schools and handled almost all of the Hotchkiss siblings and cousins in their respective classes.
What started in Mrs. Blanco's living room is now an educational institution with two campuses in Cantilan. The elementary department is located in a quiet area of the neighbourhood, just across Mrs. Blanco's home. The high school campus where the Administrative building and the newly-constructed gym are located, was constructed on the old Yuhico property by the riverside. As a young girl, Mrs. Senecia Yuhico Hotchkiss lived with her parents, Santiago Yuhico and Afra Cortes, and their family in a house on the same exact same spot as the Administrative building. Years after that, a mill was built on the same site; a remnant of the metal equipment is displayed prominently on campus as a historical marker.
The school's vision is to produce students who have a thirst for knowledge, are socially and environmentally aware, and are proficient in English, Science, and Math. Complementing the school's thrusts are its twin programs: Ecoscouting and Culture Enhancement.
The school's vision is to produce students who have a thirst for knowledge, are socially and environmentally aware, and are proficient in English, Science, and Math. Complementing the school's thrusts are its twin programs: Ecoscouting and Culture Enhancement.
Volunteering at the HLC
Two of our recent volunteers, Merce and David, documented their unique experience at the HLC through their blog. HLC's cultural exchange program makes the HLC learning experience more dynamic and fun but don't take our word for it. To learn more about how the students reacted to Merce's flamenco, bellydancing, and salsa lessons, and David's culinary and history lessons, visit their blog Inner Children's Stories.
More recently, one of our volunteers, Ben Ribeiro, did a demo flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone. This was definitely a unique experience for our students and faculty! The video below shows snippets of the demo flight.
For yet another perspective on volunteering at the HLC and the Hotchkiss Foundation, check out Chris' blog where you can find a video he produced about HLC's Ecoscouting program and lots of photos and snatches of stories from the time he spent surveying flora and fauna at the Foundation's island sanctuary. To find out more about how you can share your time and other precious resources with us, visit the How to Help section or email us.
More recently, one of our volunteers, Ben Ribeiro, did a demo flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone. This was definitely a unique experience for our students and faculty! The video below shows snippets of the demo flight.
For yet another perspective on volunteering at the HLC and the Hotchkiss Foundation, check out Chris' blog where you can find a video he produced about HLC's Ecoscouting program and lots of photos and snatches of stories from the time he spent surveying flora and fauna at the Foundation's island sanctuary. To find out more about how you can share your time and other precious resources with us, visit the How to Help section or email us.
Ben's demo UAV flight from Tanya Hotchkiss on Vimeo.
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