It's a Wrap

For three days, a video crew from Manila visited different project sites of JFPR 9175 to cover the progress and gather compelling stories from our local community partners. Joining them, we visited the municipalities of Basey, Balangiga, Guiuan, Hernani, Salcedo and Burauen. Going around to the different barangays with them, I realized that it wasn't too difficult to gather good stories. Moreso, stories were abundant that some we could not accommodate this time.

Of the different areas we visited, if I were to pick only three highlights I would choose the following:

1. Salcedo National High School


Yolanda, as we know, spared nothing--not even the schools. Salcedo National High School is just one of many schools severely devastated by the supertyphoon, but unlike most schools, it is denied of assistance for rehabilitation because of its location. Salcedo National High School unfortunately is located in a No Build Zone. As such, despite all the efforts of the school administration, no governtment and non-government agency would extend its help thinking that assistance shall only go to waste if another calamity hits the area. These were the sentiments of the principal we interviewed. But as she shared the story of her school, the joy she feels is uncontainable. It was Plan through the funding of JFPR that allowed SNHS to seek relocation to a safer ground and received assistance for construction of 15 classrooms. Although it may take a few months until the start of construction, teachers and students alike are excited for the new school site.

2. Reuffa Oronos, CDF

Reuffa, as I personally know her, is a very passionate and committed Community Development Worker. She can light up the room with her bubbly personality, so when I first met her I did not notice that she was a Person with Disability. I guess that's a good thing because it reflects her personality that she is not limited nor defined by her disabilities. Moreso, she is more than her disabilities. She is a person who endures every challenge that comes her way, truly an inspiring and hardworking person.

3. Demo Farm at Barangay Buri, Burauen

The rain was pouring on the third day. I was keeping my fingers crossed hoping that the weather would get better. Unfortunately, the sun remained behind the clouds and there were intermitent rainfall. Despite the glommy weather, when we visited the Demo Farm, we saw many local community partners wearing their uniform and doing their work. Together as one group, they prepared the land for planting and even had some lands planted with vegetables together. It was a sight to see--everyone working together wtih one goal in mind.


These are just three of many stories inspiring stories in the communities.

Behind the scene:

    

Building Dreams

Academic year in the Philippines begins on June. But as teachers prepare for the influx of children, they also prepare for the monsoon season. In the Philippines, it is not uncommon to see schools vulnerable to floods and typhoons. Old San Agustin Elementary School in Basey is just one of thousands of schools at risk during the monsoon season.

Old San Agustin Elementary School usually gets flooded when it rains hard because of nearby river usually overflows. Teachers are often disheartened to see their books destroyed and children affected sometimes even acquiring skin diseases brought by dirty water. This has been a long occurring problem in the community.

Mrs. Azil Homeres, an alumni of the school and incidentally the current principal, dreamt of having better learning spaces and disaster resilient classrooms. She can still recall in her younger years how the schools gets flooded. However, in the most recent years, the floods are getting more often and worse. Despite that, teachers and other community members continue to prepare for and mitigate the adverse effects of storms and typhoons.

So when Plan-ADB/JFPR started the project in their school, she welcomed it with eagerness and excitement. Headed by her, the school faculty, are really hands on in the implementation of the construction. Considering the vulnerability of their school to floods, the faculty even suggested the classrooms to be elevated. They also asked for the some coconuts trees with the perimeter of the school to be cut. They truly participate actively in the implementation of the project and continue to show willingness participate with their role to monitor the construction.

Hope as Wide as the Sea

Being summer, it is the most opportune time to gather children in the barangays. On April 28-29, 2015, Plan International, funded by the Asian Development Bank/Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, conducted its first ever Children’s Playshop in one island barangay in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It aimed to teach the children about hazards, capacities and vulnerabilities and also to consult them through a Community Risk Assessment using arts and play. Thus, the activity is entitled, Children’s Playshop.

Two friends who joined the training are Jolina (15) and Bernard (13). Both actively participated through-out the activity and had even reported for their group’s outputs. Naturally, they emerged as big brother and big sister to the younger participants. Behind these participants with apparent leadership skills are stories of inspiration and hope.

“Children, young as they are, can do something to prepare and save themselves from typhoons if they have enough knowledge,” this is what Bernard learned from the two-day activity. He believes that it is not only the adults who should prepare for impending typhoons, children can do something too. If children would gain understanding just like he did from the training, he believes they would also learn how protect themselves and even help their families from impending typhoons. Hence, with enthusiasm, he hopes to extend the lessons he learned from the training.

Having seven other siblings, Jolina sees the difficulties her parents experience to make ends meet. Her father is a fisherfolk, while her mother sells clothes. Of the 7 siblings she has, only 4 are working or studying in college, while the rest are still studying in only integrated school in the island just like her. However, this reality does not deter her from dreaming, moreso, it moves her to dream all the more. She dreams to be a caregiver to help her parents provide for their family. And she extends the same dream to her fellow children in the island. She hopes that the children of Sulu-an would give back to their families when they graduate from school.

The barangay, being an island community an hour and a half pump-boat ride away from mainland Guiuan, opportunities are limited and resources are scarce. But hearing the voices of Jolina and Bernard, it is apparent that hope indeed springs eternal. For the children of this island, maybe it is even as wide as the open the open sea.

PHOTOS FROM THE CHILDREN"S PLAYSHOP

Helping each other, the children drew their barangay's transect map.

Facilitator, Nixon Gensis, explains hazards, risks and vulnerabilities to the children.

Children actively participate to the workshop.

Hand in hand, children promise to apply at home, in their school and community
what they have learned in the Children's Playshop.

"Raising children's voices."