“True generosity has no strings attached. Generosity is giving more than you can and pride is taking less than you need. The manner of giving shows the character of the giver more than the gift itself,” an excerpt from the opening speech in Hampipila Elementary School, Leyte during the school supplies giving ceremony last August 5-7, 2014.
The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI), as part of its Adopt-a-School program, distributed school supplies to 2,298 student- beneficiaries in 12 schools in Leyte namely: Sulpa, Cambulao, Malbog, Canap, Dawahon, Ibag, Camonoan, Hampipila, Buri, Tinabilan, San Diego Elementary Schools and Villaba National Comprehensive High School - Sulpa Annex.
Present in all ceremonies were: Department of Education (DepEd) EPS Felicidad Espinosa, Susan De Veyra, Ismael Posion and Gil Esplanada; from Tanduay Sales Office, Tacloban City: Tristan Santiago; and from TYKFI: Valerie Tan, Philip Sing, Jonathan Anuma and Janel-Anne Badlis. The weather was beautiful despite the monsoon rains brought about by typhoon Jose.
When asked of the long term effect of the project, the educators were one with their answer that the students will be more motivated to go to school. “The project, if continued, would encourage the student/ pupils to go to school despite the scarcity of resources thus making every future Filipino well educated,” according to Ray L. Catampungan, Teacher I, Villaba National Comprehensive High School - Sulpa Annex. One teacher thought of a more economical benefit for the families of the beneficiaries, “…it also helps their families instead of buying of school supply the budget for it could be use in buying their food,” said Gerry Gerardo V. Calvaro, Teacher-III, Buri Elementary School.
Sustainability of the project was also assessed. The teachers were honest of their answers that it will be difficult to sustain the project due to the wear and tear of the school supplies, unless an NGO like TYKFI continues to support them. Most of the teachers committed to monitor the proper use of the school supplies. Surprisingly, one teacher committed in saving his bonuses in order to help out, “I could sustain the project even if the Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc is not around by saving a part of my bonuses and use it to aid students/ pupils with financial incapacity,” claimed Ray L. Catampungan, Teacher I, Villaba National Comprehensive High School - Sulpa Annex. Truly, the heroism of our educators is admirable.
All the schools were deeply appreciative of the assistance, as shown in the speeches delivered by the school heads. Schools in Leyte are still experiencing the impact of typhoon Yolanda, “Yes, all of us today are very much alive the first that we received graces from the people with generous heart whose desires is to give comfort to the people in need like us who are now in our ever little way moving on to complete recovery from the vast devastation during the Typhoon Yolanda,” Mr. Patricio L. Sanaco Jr., School Head Sulpa Elementary School. “To our donor …rest assured that the goods you have given to us today will be utilized in our everyday teaching-learning process particularly in our school—the San Diego Elementary School. So in behalf of the teaching staff of San Diego Elementary School, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all of you.”