Jun 23, 2026 – News
At Nailon Elementary in Cebu, Philippines, the return to in-person learnings carried a challenge far beyond reopening classrooms. In the wake of a 6.9-magnitude earthquake and an intense typhoon season, students and teachers were navigating damaged facilities, strained infrastructure, and limited access to safe drinking water. Royal Caribbean Group saw an opportunity to help turn recovery into resilience. Through its SEA the Future initiative, the Group partnered with Planet Water Foundation to install an AquaTower water filtration system, bringing a reliable source of clean water to the school and the surrounding community.
The school serves students from surrounding communities that are still facing water shortages and recovering from the impacts of natural disasters. The in-person classes recently resumed in January; access to safe drinking water was more essential than ever, not just for health, but for the students’ ability to focus and learn.
Today, the AquaTower provides a reliable, long-term source of clean water for both the school and the surrounding community. Royal Caribbean Group volunteers were on the ground from start to finish, supporting the construction of the system just ahead of this year’s typhoon season.
The Group’s impact goes beyond infrastructure. Volunteers also led hygiene education sessions, equipping students with the knowledge to build healthy, lifelong habits. Because sustainable change isn’t just built, it’s learned and carried forward.
Fifth-grade teacher, Rex Joseph Alvaran, has already seen the difference. “With a reliable source of clean drinking water, our students can stay healthy and hydrated, which allows them to focus on their learning. This also makes it easier for us, as teachers, to promote proper hygiene and drinking habits in the classroom,” he shared.
The AquaTower now stands as more than a water system: it’s symbolic of how access to necessary resources is essential for education.
This project reflects Royal Caribbean Group’s broader SEA the Future platform for their efforts in sustaining the future, energizing the communities they visit, and accelerating innovation. commitment, with a focus on energizing communities. Because when communities are supported, empowered, and connected, they don’t just recover; they thrive.
To learn more about the Group’s SEA the Future efforts, visit https://www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/corporateresponsibility.