‘Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa’

Three elementary schools in Nueva Vizcaya, Ozamiz City, and Mindoro were the recent benefi ciaries of Tan Yan Kee Foundation’s educational projects “Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa” Storybook Drive and the Educational Television Infrastructure Project.

COMON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 
ARITAO is a third-class municipality of the province
of Nueva Vizcaya whose original residents were the “Isinays”. The name Aritao was derived from the Isinay
phrase “ARI TAU” or “Our King” and in reference to the tribal chieftain who won battle against the rival tribes of Dupax del Sur and Bambang long ago. 

Aritao is the site of Comon Elementary School, one of the more recent benefi ciaries of
two of Tan Yan Kee Foundation’s educational projects called “Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa” Storybook Drive and the Educational Television Infrastructure Project or ETV.

Recent Department of Education National Achievement Test results placed the school some 11 points behind the national average of 59.94. That was why school and DepEd officials led by principal Rogelio Julian and District Supervisor Esteban Tucay were all grateful for the Foundation’s “gifts” comprising of five hundred storybooks, a television set, DVD player and volumes of DVD materials on English, Science, Math, Values Education and History.

In brief remarks, Mr. Tucay lauded Tan Yan Kee’s project as more than just leverage for the academic performance of their pupils; but even more so as an edge over the fight against poverty while at the same time ensuring a better future for the children.

Joining Foundation representatives during the simple turnover ceremony was Philippine National Bank Manager Veronica Gulbani (Bayombong branch), who briefed the audience on the Tan Yan Kee Foundation’s background and it’s ongoing initiatives on social development. ABS-CBN E-Media’s Program Director Zen Dimalanta, on the other hand, talked about the ETV Project and how the ensuing partnership with Tan Yan Kee came about.

PINES CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 
THE City of Ozamiz is home to the Maria Cristina Falls the main source of hydroelectric power in Mindanao. Its Immaculate Conception Cathedral also houses the only pipe organ in the said island group. And sadly, it also forms part of the Oroquieta Division where the Department of Education identifi ed seventeen (17) low performing schools, which all are at present subject of their ongoing program called CARE or Collaborative Action for Reading Enhancement.
The program seeks to improve the schoolchildren’s reading skills and overall academic performance.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation recently visited one of these schools, the Pines Central Elementary School, a past recipient under the “Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa” Storybook Drive, to donate an Educational Television Infrastructure Package or ETV to further enhance the school’s teaching capability.

The ETV Program was devised in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation where each package comprises of a television set, a DVD player and various DVD materials on learning subjects like
Math, Science, English, Values Education and History a welcome deviation from studying the said subjects in the usual classroom setting.

The turnover of the materials was held during a simple ceremony witnessed by Department
of Education, school officials, pupils, parents and members of the community.

Representing DepEd was Maria Joy Tan-Agot, its District Supervisor, while for Pines Central School, its Principal Sarah Paraguya. From the Donor side, Fortune Tobacco’s Branch Manager Felipe Loy stood on behalf of the Foundation and the Lucio Tan Group. ABS-CBN E-Media Program Director Zen Dimalanta was also on-hand to brief the audience on the ETV Program.

WAWA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 
IN 1994, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake off the coast of Mindoro triggered a huge tsunami that hit the northern and eastern shorelines of the island. Eyewitness accounts of survivors claimed that waves as high as 8.5 meters smashed the shorelines within fi ve minutes after the earthquake.

Those aware of the telltale signs of a tsunami and quick enough to react were able to run ten of meters at the moment they saw the shoreline recede by as much as 100 meters. Others would have seen an ensuing large curtain-like formation with a dark base and bubbly-white crest coming from a distance before fleeing for their lives. The wave-train however, went as far as 200 meters inland, sweeping out or damaging houses and other structures such as schools. 41 people drowned, mostly children and old people. Survivors were mostly strong men who were
able to cling to something stable thus preventing them from
being swept away by the waves.

One of the hardest hit was Barangay Wawa whose elementary school buildings, educational materials and facilities were almost wiped out by the series of waves. After the calamity, relief would come for the residents’ immediate needs such as food and clothing, and thereafter for the reconstruction
of their homes. The school however, was totally
forgotten.

In the early part of 2008, an undertaking to reconstruct and renovate the school and its facilities was initiated by a handful of community leaders led by AFP Deputy Chief of
 Staff Maj. Gen. Reu Lucio Samaco
and Local banker Nelson Tolentino.

They were able to mobilize a team from the Guam National Guard and the AFP Reserve Force
who did the carpentry, masonry and painting jobs.

Not long after the completion of the job, Maj. Gen. Samaco requested the assistance of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation to complete the rehabilitation of Wawa Elementary School by donating educational materials. Thus, in a simple turnover ceremony witnessed by the Department of Education and Barangay Officials,
the Foundation handed over 500 storybooks and an Educational Television Infrastructure Package (ETV) to the school. Assisting Foundation representatives were Allied Savings Bank Calapan Branch Head Ponciano Dapito and Tanduay Distiillers Manager Boyet de Luna.

Falling under Tan Yan Kee’s educational program, the “Sa Pagbasa, May Pag-asa” Storybook Drive and the ETV Project in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation aims to elevate the teaching standard of schools and improve the academic
performance of its students. DepEd Division Superintendent Veneranda Atienza, in brief remarks, assures that the donation will defi nitely go a long way in improving not only the children’s school marks but also their prospects for a better
future.