Text and photos by LEO O. LAPARAN II & ANGELO G. GARCIA
Edgerlyn Liwag used to walk her way to school with a pair of slippers.
Ma. Jannes Mimiñano would borrow a handy dictionary from their willing neighbor to aid her in studying and doing homeworks in her English subject.
Darlene Chua had thought that school supplies for all them students were scarce.
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SMILES WRAPPED IN COLORFUL
PAPER. Intel Involved volunteers
distribute the gifts they have
collected from their co-employees. | | Challenges and difficulties of the fifth graders of Belvedere Elementary School (BES) in Gen. Trias, Cavite have been hurdled, thanks to Pick a Name, Bless a Child, Intel Involved’s annual Christmas outreach program.
Through this charity endeavor, Intel Involved staff members became ninongs and ninangs (godparents) to graders from various public schools in the far-flung town of the Southern Tagalog province by practically spending an entire day of singing, dancing, and gift-giving fun with them.
No less than the SCU Bulletin staff and the rest of the MB Supplements team took time out to pick several "wishes" from BES pupils, wore that popular red-and-white hat, and acted as loving Santa Clauses to the little kids.
"Masaya po ako dahil hindi na po ako palaging kukutyain ng mga classmates ko… kasi po sila, palagi silang naka-shoes," exclaims Edgerlyn in near tears. "Maraming maraming salamat po!"
"Maraming salamat po sa nagbigay ng dictionary sa akin," says Ma. Jannes, whose wish for the book was granted. She says that the dictionary will definitely help her a lot in one of her favorite subjects.
Established two years ago, BES has a student population of 800.
"At present, we have 15 teachers from grades one to six, but I must admit na kulang pa rin talaga kami ng mga guro," school principal Medardo Dimapilis shares.
The BES has to make do with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:60. Add to that is the lack of building facility inside the "campus" that is still being completed.
"Ito pa lang ang building namin, ang Maliksi Bldg. Bale, may apat na rooms pa lang ang nagagamit namin dito," says Dimapilis, as he points to the edifice where the charity program was held. "Pati nga ako wala pa talagang office."
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MERRY-MAKING. Intel officers can't
help but join the fun with jubilant
students. | | Reasons why the institutional head couldn’t be more thankful with the outpouring of blessings to their still rising academic community.
"We’re very thankful to all the volunteers and donors for this truly heartwarming project. Sana hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtulong at pag-share ng mga blessings to the needy, especially indigent children."
Since 2005, a total of 3,300 needy children of three public schools in the area have received gifts from their Intel ninongs and ninangs (volunteers), whose number has swelled to more than 1,000 – a sure sign of the success of the project.
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