High achiever: Gaspar Vibal

The Vibal Group is a name long synonymous with excellence in educational publishing in the Philippines. Established in 1953 by prominent journalist husband-and-wife duo Hilarion P Vibal and Esther Asuncion-Vibal, its Vibal Publishing House has grown to become the largest publisher in the country, dominating textbook offerings in both public and private schools.

The family business first found success in the post-war period, replacing the American textbooks so prevalent in schools across the Philippines with more relevant alternatives. Although this remains an important part of its mandate — the Vibal Global Education Project partners with American publishers such as McGraw Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to adapt US textbooks to the local curriculum — the company finds itself answering a new call: to promote digital education in the Philippines.

Leading the way is Hilarion and Esther’s son, CEO Gaspar Vibal. A passionate advocate for integrating information and communications technology into the classroom, he has been integral to the development of the company’s flagship digital product, the V-Smart learning management system. Launched in 2013, it provides a one-stop application for teachers to create and manage lessons and assessments in conjunction with interactive e-textbooks from the Vibal portfolio. Discussion forums and threads reminiscent of social media applications encourage active student participation. 

The Vibal Group has worked in partnership with some of the leading names in technology, including Microsoft.

Gaspar emphasises that the interactive nature of digital education fosters a love of learning in students, saying that the path to greater knowledge is not only through textbooks but also through engagement and enjoyment.

Drawing inevitable comparisons to similar platforms such as Edmodo, which has a global reach, V-Smart’s trump card is that it is created by Filipinos, for Filipinos. Teachers
and educators at the Philippine Normal University were consulted from the outset.

Gaspar says it is not enough for students to know the facts, it is also important for teachers to learn how to integrate technology with their instructions. He believes that, in the twenty-first century, teachers have a responsibility to equip students with the tools required to deal with a changing world.  

The Vibal Group has worked in partnership with some of the leading names in technology, including Microsoft, as it strives to set a standard for digital education across the
country. Other collaborations include a nationwide roadshow with Hewlett-Packard, delivering lectures on e-learning and technology trends across the length and breadth of the country.

The Group’s philanthropic arm, the Vibal Foundation, delivers e-textbooks and tablets installed with the V-Smart platform to underprivileged students across the Philippines.

Gaspar says that V-Smart enables e-learning inside the classroom, even without expensive broadband or internet subscriptions. All you need is a school server and a wi-fi network to immerse students equipped with digital devices in an engaging and interactive learning universe.

Along with Vibal Publishing and Vibal Foundation, the Group’s portfolio includes Vibe Technologies, the WikiPilipinas (a local equivalent of Wikipedia), SD Magazines, Philippine Online Chronicles, Vibal Store and Vibe Bookstore.

The Philippines first e-book store, Vibe Bookstore, is the manifestation of Gaspar’s commitment to the electronic book. The range transcends educational borders and includes a selection of previously out-of-print classics converted to the digital format, many
of them available for free download. The website also acts as an avenue for local authors to publish their own work.

In its commitment to develop innovative and accessible technology that enriches and promotes Philippine culture and heritage — starting at school — the Vibal Group comes top
of the class.