Clicks to Bricks: Maeurn Smiles Builds a School in Cebu
Discover how creator Maeurn Smiles is transforming digital success into a physical school in Cebu, Philippines, through the Edmundo Tolentino Memorial project.
Best quote from Clicks to Bricks: Maeurn Smiles Builds a School in Cebu
A supercar depreciates, but a student’s mind compounds. Education lifted me, and now I want it to lift the whole village.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Maeurn.TV a filipina online model buys land to build a school for underprivileged kids
Frequently Asked Questions
Maeurn Smiles is a 25-year-old digital creator who is leveraging the creator economy to fund and build a high school in Cebu, Philippines. Moving from a career teaching English for $1 an hour to a successful online creator, she is now using her platform for philanthropy. Her project, the Edmundo Tolentino Memorial National High School, is being built from the ground up to provide education for underserved children in the region.
The Edmundo Tolentino Memorial National High School is located in Lutac, Naga, Cebu. Maeurn Smiles has already secured the land in this specific area to address the lack of educational facilities for local students. The school is named in honor of her late father and represents a significant "clicks to bricks" transformation, turning digital attention into a permanent physical institution for the community.
Maeurn Smiles was inspired by her own upbringing in a bamboo hut, where she experienced firsthand the difficulties of limited resources, such as sharing a single textbook with dozens of classmates. Having transitioned from an unconventional career path to a successful creator, she wanted to solve the massive problem of lack of education in underserved areas. She is now providing the land, buildings, and textbooks she once lacked as a student.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
