TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - – Contrary to previous years, the Sagkahan Elementary School in this city posted a 100 percent attendance on June 2, the first day of school, said Nice Galura, school principal.
She said this was because the children were excited to use the Johnson’s Baby playground in their school, the first playground donated to a DepEd school in Yolanda-devastated Leyte, which was formally turned over in a simple ceremony on June 6.
Galura said traditionally, only about 80 percent of the students would turn up for the first day of school. The principal said it was touching to see the children eager to use the playground, lining up for their turn patiently for a piece of the action.
Sagkahan Elementary School is around 200 meters away from the Tacloban coastline. It was among the city’s evacuation area. It has one of Tacloban’s largest student population, with 1,700 students this year.
The playground was donated by Johnson & Johnson Philippines through its Johnson’s Baby Play and Learn Program.
Present to witness the turnover were Johnson’s Baby senior brand manager Kris Llanes, DepEd regional director Dr. Luisa S. Yu, playground designer Sigrid Perez of Play Philippines and Dr. Irene Go, representing the Tacloban education division.