The Freeman Foundation's 6th Balik Eskwela project

CEBU, Philippines - Budget and time constraints tested The FREEMAN Foundation’s will to carry on with its Balik Eskwela project this year.

But through dedication, determination and the help of people from various sectors, including the employees of The FREEMAN itself, the foundation was able to surpass it all and successfully carried out its 6th Balik Eskwela Project, with the Magdolinog Elementary School as the beneficiary.

The process alone of choosing a school recipient was already a challenge.

Core group volunteers led by The FREEMAN general manager Melandro Mendoza started ocular inspections in different schools last May. With most of the previous beneficiary schools from the southern part of Cebu, the foundation decided to scour the northern part of the province.

But while many of the public elementary schools visited were in poor situation, the foundation had to choose the one that really needed help and in this case, it is Magdolinog Elementary School in Sitio Magdolinog, Poblacion, Borbon.

 Magdolinog Elementary School has only three classrooms for its grades one to six pupils. The lack of classrooms has forced the kindergarten pupils to hold classes on the school’s stage, exposing them to the sun’s heat and the rain. Aside from the lack of classrooms, the school also lacks desks, forcing the kids to just find a comfortable place on the stage’s edges while listening to their teacher.

Mendoza disclosed that it was the sad situation of the kindergarten pupils that made him and the other core group members choose the school to be the beneficiary of the project this year.

“Aside from the community library, our main concern is to help the kindergarten pupils and provide them with a proper classroom,” Mendoza told the parents in a meeting on June 12. “Our goal is to protect the kids from the sun’s heat and the rain to prevent them from getting sick.”

In the same meeting, Mendoza also asked the cooperation and assistance of the parents through the Parents Teachers Association, especially in the needed manpower during the construction of the community library and school clinic, as well as the expansion of the former office of the school’s teacher-in-charge, which will be converted into a classroom for the kindergarten pupils.

The construction process and preparations for the much-awaited day went on smoothly because of the “bayanihan” spirit. The teachers, children, parents and the people in the community worked together for the realization of the project. The FREEMAN Foundation thus saved money supposed to be spent for the manpower.

Finally, on August 20 and 21, the group turned over not only a community library and clinic that is already filled with books and other reading materials, but also tables and chairs for the kindergarten classes, school bags and school supplies and even school uniforms for the 187 pupils of the school. The teachers also received teaching materials.

The schoolchildren and the parents were also treated to a day of fun and games.

“We thank God for all these blessing and the people of The FREEMAN who have kind hearts for helping us. What they gave us will forever remain in our hearts,” said Victoriano dela Torre Jr., the school’s teacher-in-charge.

Barangay officials, led by Barangay Poblacion captain Robert Vergara, also expressed their gratitude calling the project a “blessing from Heaven.” “Daghang salamat. Dili namo ni kalimtan hangtod sa hangtod.”