#SULOngSULU: Backpacks for the Patikul Kindergarten Students

After our renovation of the Tandu Dagmay Elementary School, we were asked to hold the distribution of the school supplies until the resumption of classes, so we can hand them straight to the kids. Everyone is just saying it might end up with people in favor of the one who will distribute it; the other party says the same to the other… frustrating.

The irresistible innocence of the kids stand for the hope there is for the future of SULU. It is a sad thought knowing these kids will end up in the same anarchy of their elders. They made me just want to complete it all; So, instead of just the classroom and their supplies, I thought about working on their backpacks too.

Currently, Ma’am Weng with Tropang Bangags and Ms Eula Faye Abdon have committed for several already, but we are looking to supply for 85 backpacks for the kids of Tandu Dagmay Primary School, as well as the kindergarten class of Patikul Higad Elementary School. Hopefully, getting a lot more so we can send for as many kids as possible in Patikul.

*Bag costing PHP100.00 (~US$2.25) around the Divisoria Market are more than enough. It’s more about inspiring and reinforcing these kids to keep going to school.

Bags may be dropped off in the ff location:

CALOOCAN c/o Weng Bulaon
Neptune Celphone Accessories
3rd Floor, Caloocan Central Mall (a.k.a. North Mall; LRT Monumento Station northbound)
0925 755 5055

Hit Contact for any questions or concerns.

For Donations:

Via Bank of thePhilippine Islands

Bank Code: 010040018

Account Number: 2439 1558 52

Name on Account: Joseph Ian Macalino

Via Paypal 

 Email Address: jibmaxatnewroad@gmail.com

Suggested in PHP currency to minimize devaluations. In third world, every cent counts J. Otherwise, USD will be fine. 

 

Update:
The bags were distributed last June 03, 2015 to 289 kids (207 from Patikul Higad Elementary School, and 82 from Tandu Dagmay Primary School.) Because of the Excess school supplies, I have asked the captain of Tandu Bagua to bring me to another school whom we can provide school supplies and i was brought to this elementary school.

While we initially intended to provide only for the kindergarten kids since this is all we have in excess, the principal have requested provision for up to grade 6. I told him I will try. Luckily, there are friends who were willing to help provide for the school supplies and backpacks of these kids.

Thanks to:
Kristina Alingalan
Dhey Argawanon
Dong Mangiliman
Mobcom Telecom in Caloocan
Rowena Bulaon
June Encina
Nene Del Rosario

Analgesics, Acrylic and Alibijaban

From my last visit in Alibijaban island last January 2, and having mentioned that I have been busy doing cause projects, my local contact in Alibijaban island has mentioned that they are having problems sourcing medicines from their Rural health center.  So, before I left, I told them I’ll see what I can do.

Just like the rest of my cause projects, travel friends have committed to helping out. We were able to gather funds to buy their 1 year supply of OTC meds. Then, apart from handing out medicines, being an island, I thought of having an activity that will give a bit of awareness to kids about climate change and its effects: How the sea level is rising due to global warming, and looked at the recent calamities as examples of the untoward effects of global warming. We have enumerated and demonstrated ways of slowing down and not contributing to the acceleration of this phenomenon.

As an activity, we asked them to gather island scraps that we can turn into sellable souvenir items to stimulate recycling and entrepreneurship among kids.

Given the limited time and manpower we have in preparation for our activity, and although there were a few older kids who picked up the concept, and chose to use artificial materials such as plastics, etc., majority of them used and painted shells. I have been telling them that the shells are naturally beautiful, and that they are part of what makes the island pristine and beautiful, but I could not quite demonstrate this to them. Again, just like how islanders don’t see how great their islands are since they rarely get out of their environment, they grew up with plenty of these materials that they thought are nothing more than abundance.

It was great nonetheless how the kids enjoyed paintings. So far, this is the second event I am making use of art with kids, and I am so glad to see how kids enjoy it. Henceforward, as I travel, with or without a cause event, i will be bringing my small bag with paints, brushes, pallete, etc; Whenever I see a group of kids, in the street, along the beach, etc i’ll let them play around with these paints .

Groups who are interested in doing an outreach activity in the island, please focus on the kids/neigborhood in the far side (Pulo 2) of the island. I was told these people rarely get attention from anyone because of their distance; However, with the limited manpower that we have, inasmuch as we’d want, we don’t have enough resource to do so. If you have any question, don’t hesitate to buzz me.

see here for a cool sidetrip of your travel to Alibijaban: Talao Talao Rock Formation in San Narciso