LAGAWE, Ifugao– While the lack of classrooms continues to be a major concern among educators, an equally essential need is frequently overlooked- stages.
A stage is a vital facility in a school where various activities are conducted. To cite a few: graduation and Christmas programs as well as contests for various subjects. It also serves as a platform where announcements are aired.
Many schools in an impoverished province like Ifugao lack stages. Most stages in public schools are old or badly damaged.
Olilicon Elementary School’s stage is a case in point.
“I’m so glad that a solution has finally arrived to the problem on our stage,” a teacher declared.
Mentors, pupils, parents and residents had waited for so many years for this day to happen.
A donation of Php51,000 from the Philippine Cordilleran Association of New South Wales (NSW) Australia, Inc. was earmarked for the improvement of the school’s stage.
The Philippine Cordillerans Association New South Wales (NSW) Australia, Inc. was formed on August 2, 1993. It is composed of migrants from the region’s six provinces and two cities.
Assistance of Board Member Geronimo Bemohya has been once more proven to facilitate the much-needed action on this facility.
Surely, Bemohya is wary of the situation in this part of this fourth class municipality.
Moreover, the definition of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) has at least now evolved from developed areas of the Philippines to an underserved village as this one. Olilicon is a far-flung barangay of the capital town of Lagawe. One has to travel to Lamut town from Lagawe in order to reach Olilicon. Most villagers are poor.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Board Member Bemohya said the people are increasingly concerned about poor facilities of schools in the province.
“This is a very good development because kind-hearted individuals from abroad are extending their helping hands,” he said. “And that’s what we want.”
While most Olilicon folks are unemployed and a good number of them are farmers, less than five percent are able to obtain college education and Olilicon is one of the poorest villages in Lagawe.
Most hailed the initiative to improve the school stage, as some having said the action “proves the resolve of those in the education sector to provide a better future to the young.”
The school has six teachers. Head teacher is Catherine Pahalon. There are nearly 100 pupils.
Generosity- and the lack of it on the part of the government has been a topic of intense debate surrounding funds for the construction of school facilities. Those in the private sector are doing their utmost to infuse money to build classrooms, laboratories, libraries, gymnasiums and comfort rooms.
The backlash was good enough to earn the ire of the people since according to the Constitution education should get the biggest allocation of the budget.
It also appeared that the hard work of Punong Barangay Fernando Tuguinay and Parents-Teachers Community Association president Denver Taguiling also paid off.
Well-motivated individuals in the private sector are not only heaven-sent persons. They are builders of the nation. They are saviors of the country’s future.
Building a better future for the young, many believe, should be based on the foundation of providing pupils and students an environment conducive to learning. This is a reflection of the spirit and intent of the charter.
Coupled with PhilCor’s invaluable aid, villagers’ contribution in terms of the bayanihan way of refurbishing and painting the stage certainly reinforce the manifest commitment to get things done albeit limited resources.
For now, this development shall set the tone for incoming undertakings in the education front. This means more effort in the part of the officialdom to truly respond to the growing needs of teachers and young learners. **By Anthony A. Araos