S4S GOES TO BICOL by: she capili

S4S goes to Bicol (by: she capili)

When I was assigned to implement the S4S Campaign, I felt blessed. The idea of communicating and working with student organizations from various colleges and universities thrilled me. I remember my college days when staging fundraising events meant not just simply an extra-curricular activity that we had to do in order to meet the requirements of our Student Affairs Office but as a sincere action to contribute to that dream of attaining social transformation.

For the past months of receiving inquiries from a lot of organizations and individuals here and even abroad, I felt more motivated and inspired to know that there are a lot of people who share with us the same goal of having a brighter future for our schoolchildren. This generation of the youth is indeed very passionate and optimistic that we can improve the quality of education in our country.

My attachment to S4S was even more intensified during my visit in Bicol where I represented the S4S supporters for a series of turnover ceremonies with our first batch of school beneficiaries that were affected by typhoons Reming and Milenyo. Through the kind assistance of Sagip Kapamilya, we were able to bring the gifts of educational television to nine (9) public elementary schools. On the other hand, Sagip Kapamilya launched its Sagip Karunungan project where they distributed school supplies and healthcare products to some other schools including one of S4S’ school beneficiary, Binitayan Elementary School in Daraga, Albay where we held the turnover event. This school also served as an evacuation center during typhoons most especially for those who live near the rivers.

Among this batch’s list of school beneficiaries and their donors includes the following:

School Beneficiary	S4S Supporter
Batbat ES, Guinobatan, Albay	PLM Magwayen Creative Scholars’ Guild
Mariawa ES, Legazpi City, Albay	PWU Female Ensemble
Lacag ES, Daraga, Albay	Rye Sarmiento of 6Cyclemind
Gapo ES, Daraga, Albay	Tutti Caringal of 6Cyclemind
Dela Paz ES, Daraga, Albay	Chuck Isidro of 6Cyclemind
Carolina ES, Daraga, Albay	Ney Dimaculangan of 6Cyclemind
Binitayan ES, Daraga, Albay	Bob Cañamo of 6Cyclemind
Buyo ES, Manito, Albay	The Makati Collegian (University of Makati)
Guillermo Azañes ES, Camarines Sur	DLSU-IMES (DLSU-Manila)

As AFI's E-Media events and communications officer, I (middle) represented the S4S supporters and handed over the ETV package to the school beneficiaries in Albay. (L-R) Elver Paguio, principal, Batbat ES, Guinobatan; Aileen Madelar, teacher, Mariawa ES, Legaspi City; Noel Lucitanio, principal, Lacag ES, Daraga; Felma Bonito, principal, Gapo ES, Daraga; Herminia Sandia, teacher-in-charge, Dela Paz ES, Daraga; Ma. Cheripa Llanera, teacher-in-charge, Carolina ES, Daraga; Andrea Mapa, prinicipal, Binitayan ES, Daraga; and Fely Jacob, education supervisor, Buyo ES, Manito.

Visiting Gapo, Dela Paz, and Carolina ES

The rest of the afternoon during that same day of the turnover ceremony in Albay was spent to paying a short visit to three schools in Daraga. As always, RNG-Legazpi was very helpful in lending our team with a cameraman, Kuya Edgar while Karen Bilaos from the Rotaract Club of Legazpi volunteered to be our interpreter and photographer as I needed to interview some teachers and students.

Our first stop was at Carolina ES. We had quite a hard time looking for it as it is located in the middle of a farm that is some meters way from the main road. It only has three classrooms that are being shared by two grade levels per room. At first, I was speechless after hearing about this what they referred to as the combination scheme. Grades I and II, III and IV, V and VI. How does it work?

Carolina ES, Daraga, Albay

The students are divided according to grade level. One side of the room is occupied by one grade level and the other side by another one. Each classroom has only one teacher. The teacher attends to each grade level alternately. For example, a lecture will be given to Grade I pupils while the Grade II kids will be given a seatwork to work on, and vice versa. Teacher-in-charge (TIC) Cherieta Llanera also shared with us that the ratio of book to students is 4:1 and she considered the educational television tapes that they received as a big help to fulfill the lack of reading materials. After typhoon Reming’s unforgettable effects to Carolina ES, the school still hopes to receive more learning materials for its students.

Dela Paz ES, Daraga, Albay

Taking the same chain, we found Dela Paz Elementary School on top of a hill and Gapo Elementary School a few meters after. Like most of the schools in Albay, they also lost classrooms, desks, and school materials. School head of Gapo ES Felma Bonito recalled, "nabasa yung mga charts at libro at pinasok ng tubig baha ang mga classrooms namin." TIC for Dela Paz ES Herminia Sandia shared, "natuklap ang mga bubong at bumigay ang mga bintana ng mga silid."

Gapo ES, Daraga, Albay

When it was time to say our temporary goodbye to these schools, every school beneficiary through their principals asked our team to extend their sincerest thanks to their donors. "Maraming salamat po sa inyo dahil malaking tulong po ang maibibigay ng mga tapes na ipinagkaloob ninyo sa aming paaralan," said Julie Fernandez who is a Grade 6 student from Gapo ES. "Sigurado po ako na mas magiging interested kaming mga mag-aaral na pumasok at mag-aral dahil mayroon na po kaming mapapanood ngayon," said Irene Nuez, also a Grade 6 student from Dela Paz ES.

Armi Imperial (middle) received the ETV package donated by the DLSU-IMES. RNG-Naga news anchor Gerard Lorbes (left) joined the turnover ceremony held last June 19.

The schools are slowly recovering from the effects of the typhoons. They are still in need of books and financial support to rehabilitate their classrooms. But these do not stop the teachers from continuing their noble role and these do not discourage the younger Bicolanos from learning and dreaming that soon everything will go back to its proper condition.

On that note…

If there’s another creature on Earth whom I admire most next to my mother, it would be this living thing called – teacher. When we were in kindergarten, I remember the first day was spent for orientation. There we were asked what we wanted to be when we grow up and almost everyone would say, "I want to be a teacher." One year after I graduated from college, I found myself in front of Mass Comm students talking about the history of print journalism in the Philippines and I would hop to another class explaining the principles of advertising, and to another class doing basic workshops for scriptwriting. Although I am also a teacher, I exclude myself for now to this group of living things I admire. I refer to the teachers in the public elementary schools who cross rivers and mountains (both literally and figuratively) just to reach their assigned areas. I refer to the teachers who stay in our country despite the issues on salary and benefits. I refer to the teachers who serve as second mothers to our siblings, to your sons and daughters. I refer to the teachers who try their best to discipline around 40 to 60 children in a classroom. I refer to the teachers who almost break their vocal cords for their whole day of explaining the life of Jose Rizal, the process of photosynthesis, the past tense and present participle of the word ‘keep,’ and most especially - good manners and right conduct. I refer to the teachers who do all these and even go beyond their job description in order to guide this younger generation who will soon be the next president of this country, the next doctors to help the less fortunate, the next socially responsible broadcast journalist, and yes, the next teacher who will be admired, too.

For more details on the S4S Campaign, please visit www.s4scampaign.org or

call (02) 415-6296.