On October 1, 2012, Hoshirou Nakamura visited the Philippines for the third time. The first time was as a tourist in Cebu City. He never imagined then that he would be flying back to the Philippines after thirty-five years.

Mr. Nakamura has spent most of his life as a researcher under the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at Kitakyushu University in Japan. He also serves as the chief director of the Institute of Technology Information Education.

It was through Anthony Mariano that Mr. Nakamura learned about Sambat Trust’s efforts in literacy development in Tanauan City, Batangas. Moved by the organization's cause, he initially donated books to supplement Sambat Trust’s library projects.

Being a promoter of technology information education, he then decided to donate computers to the schools supported by Sambat Trust. First, he visited the schools in February 2012 to evaluate their technological needs. Then, as a fulfillment of his promise, he donated five computers to Sambat Elementary School on his recent visit. He will send five more computers to the school next year.

Expanding the coverage of his donation, he will also give twelve more computers next year to the other schools supported by Sambat Trust.

He hopes that providing computers to the schools can improve the educational level of the students and make them at par with other schools, not just in the city but also on the national level.

It would be futile, Mr. Nakamura thought, that he would just leave the schools with the computers without providing the teachers sufficient training.

So, he coordinated with the First Asian Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) in Tanauan City to train the teachers. FAITH’s
Vice President Atty. Gay Marie Francisco willingly agreed to
Mr. Nakamura’s proposal of using the institute’s facility and resources for the teacher training. They decided that volunteer students from FAITH will train the teachers from the schools sponsored by Sambat Trust for five Saturdays.

The primary focus of the training is on the basic desktop programs, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint Presentation. Another important skill to be taught is utilizing the Internet, specifically emailing and searching for images and articles.

Mr. Nakamura is optimistic that the teachers will use these skills in providing interesting lessons to their students and efficiency in their job.

Mr. Nakamura plans for a fourth visit in January 2013. Firstly, he wants to check on the impact of his donations. He stresses that there is a need to evaluate the effects of the donations so that he could think of more ways of helping the beneficiaries.

Secondly, he will deliver more computers as promised. He expects to do this for two or three more years. And he hopes that his golden age of 71 would not hinder in the way.

When asked how he feels about the whole time he spent in the Philippines helping Sambat Trust’s cause, he answered, “Ako masaya!”