The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) has launched a nationwide video competition inviting Filipinos to create short videos highlighting the impact of more than 6,500 rural public school buildings donated through its long-running “Operation Barrio Schools” project.

The contest, titled “A Classroom for Every Dream: How the FFCCCII Barrio Schools Have Changed Lives,” aims to showcase the transformative role of education in communities and raise awareness about the federation’s decades-long civic initiative.

FFCCCII President Victor Lim thatthe project, which began in 1961, reflects the Filipino-Chinese community’s enduring commitment to supporting education and national development.

“Operation Barrio Schools is a testament to the enduring philanthropy tradition of the Filipino Chinese community in promoting better public education and inclusive national economic development,” Lim said during the launch on Monday, March 9.

Lim said the video competition is meant to connect the federation’s long-standing advocacy with the creativity of the digital generation.

“Through this competition, we hope to engage the younger generation, raise awareness about this decades-long project, and showcase how these school buildings have become symbols of hope and progress in rural communities,” he added.

FFCCCII Vice President Reynold Sy said the federation recently reached the milestone of 6,500 donated school buildings, highlighting the organization’s continuing efforts to support communities across the country.

“We are here, we are born here, we do business here, and we will live and die here,” Sy said.

He added that the project reflects the collective efforts of Filipino-Chinese chambers of commerce nationwide.

“Hopefully, with the help of all the federations from Aparri to Jolo, we can do our little part to help our Philippine economy and our brothers and sisters,” he said.

According to the organizers, the competition will feature two categories. Category A, titled “My FFCCCII Barrio Schools Journey,” is open to students, alumni, teachers, and school staff who have direct connections with the schools built through the program. Participants in this category may range in age from 13 to 100 years old.

Category B, called “The FFCCCII Barrio Schools Story,” is open to the general public and encourages broader storytelling about the impact of the initiative on communities. Professionals, bloggers, and other content creators may participate in this category.

Youth Committee Chairman Peter Mangasin said the campaign aims to share inspiring stories from the schools and highlight the transformative power of education.

“This competition aims to share inspiring stories from FFCCCII Barrio Schools and highlight how education can transform lives and communities,” Mangasin said.

Entries must be original videos lasting one to two minutes, filmed in vertical format, and submitted in MP4 file format. Videos may be produced in any language, but English subtitles are required.

The content of the videos should focus on the impact of the Barrio Schools initiative, such as how the schools have created opportunities, contributed to personal growth, or positively affected families and communities.