December brings joy to Tykes/Buyasyas communities

December 2011 brought joy to Tan Yan Kee Foundation’s beneficiaries in the communities of Balete and Buyasyas in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.  

The Foundation spearheaded the cementing and blessing of the one-kilometer foot path leading to the Tan Yan Kee Elementary School in Barangay Balete, serving some 135pupils, six teachers, and around 500 community residents.  This was done in cooperation with the Department of Education, the LGU Council of Brgy. Balete, and Fo Guang Shan/IBPS, Manila.  The blessing was officiated by the Venerable Miao Jing of Fo Guang Shan in a traditional practice of Chinese-style chanting for newly built infrastructure.  

TYKFI and partners also made the day more special by sharing and giving thanks to people who help the Foundation in its advocacies, especially towards uplifting educational standard. Christmas cheers were in unison among  the pupils, teachers, and Balete and Buyasyas communities with a fun-filled Christmas party for the second year.   Attending the celebration held at the TYKES facility were 265 pupils, ten teachers, and some 200 guests.  

TYKES Principal Allan Paclit noted that the cemented footpath translates to ease of access to the school, adding “pupils used to walk barefoot for a safer and more convenient walk through the muddy path, but not anymore; also serves the rest of the community who also negotiate the footpath in going about their day-to-day work”.  The principal also spoke of Christmas as “a gathering for all people who helped during the year, giving thanks, and encouraging others to help the school for the welfare of pupils.” He further said that the footpath and the school are regularly maintained by  TYKES and the community.