Earlier this month, the Sisters of Mary School in Cavite, Philippines, marked a major milestone with the blessing and inauguration of its Digital Transformation Center, housed in the newly built Felicidad Sy Hall, a purpose-built facility designed to equip students with future-ready skills.
Completed in just over a year, the new building stands as a joint effort led by the Sy Foundation, a leading Philippine philanthropic organization dedicated to education, scholarships, and community development, in partnership with key supporters, including the Calvin Ayre Foundation, a global education and social impact initiative founded by tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre.
The foundation now has an entire floor within the center named in its honor. The facility is expected to be fully operational within the next month.
The launch signals a shift toward more advanced, technology-driven education for the school’s scholars. Once open, the center will offer dedicated spaces for emerging fields such as augmented reality (AR), drone technology, and other digital and technical training programs aimed at improving employability and long-term career opportunities.
During the inauguration, Father Al’s Children Foundation President Carlos Rufino shared how the project took shape, from concept to completion.
“There is now the new age of digital transformation,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be good if we upskill our students so that they learn a better skill, a higher-paying skill when they graduate?”
The idea, first discussed around four years ago, quickly gained momentum when Rufino reached out directly to Teresita “Tessie” Sy-Coson, a business and philanthropic leader in the Philippines. He remembered sending the proposal and receiving her first reply, “We will study it,” followed by a second message later on that simply read, “Done,” signaling that the project was officially funded.
The building itself is named after Felicidad Sy, matriarch of the Sy family, reflecting their longstanding commitment to education and social development.
Speaking at the event, Deborah “Debbie” Sy, Executive Director and Trustee of the Sy Foundation, emphasized the intent behind the project.
She explained that the center “represents a promise… to ensure that no student is left behind,” adding that “an opportunity to learn is also an opportunity to transform.”
The Digital Transformation Center is the latest addition to the Sisters of Mary’s growing campus infrastructure, aligning with its mission to provide quality education to underprivileged youth.
For the Calvin Ayre Foundation, the initiative builds on its continued support of the school through initiatives like Sports Cars for a Cause, which has helped fund scholarships for Sisters of Mary students for three consecutive years.
Calvin Ayre previously visited the campus in October 2025 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Calvin Ayre Foundation’s dedicated floor within the building, an early preview of what has now become a fully realized space.
With the new facility set to welcome students soon, the Digital Transformation Center is expected to play a key role in preparing the next generation with skills aligned to an increasingly digital world, further expanding opportunities for Sisters of Mary scholars beyond the classroom.