GFI Mindanao Outreach: Gift for Indigents

GFI Mindanao Outreach: Gift For Indigents
Prepared and submitted by:

Josephine L. Turner
GFI Mindanao Outreach Director
December 16, 2008




Achieving a quality education in the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) in southern Mindanao can be very challenging. Most of the schools in these communities lack the substantial educational resource materials and do not have their own school libraries that could aid the teachers as well as students to have the same academic standard enjoyed by other school counterparts in the town center and even in highly urbanized cities.

In 2007, the Galing Foundation, Inc. (GFI) Mindanao outreach initially started with one elementary school. Now, it has grown to have assisted 4 schools specifically in the province of South Cotabato and one elementary school in Sarangani. The GFI Mindanao outreach coordinator, Mrs. Jocelyn C. Robles, has been doing the proper documentation and turn over of the GFI boxes to the recipient schools. Also, she is doing great job in coordinating with the respective local officials and the school authorities for advocating GFI’s goal of helping to establish school libraries along with increasing English literacy among the indigent school children. In November, Mrs. Robles has facilitated the turn over of 2008 GFI boxes for the following schools: Maligo Elementary School, Maligo Day Care School, and Landan National High School. The outreach was focused to serve the indigenous cultural communities of the Blaan tribe largely concentrated in Barangays of Maligo and Landan both located in the town of Polomolok, South Cotabato.

In a 2008 year end report to the GFI Board, Mrs. Robles shared that “joy, passion and advocacy ignited me during the turn over of books, toys and school supplies to the Maligo Day Care School, Maligo Elementary School and the Landan National High School.” She further added to say that “the terry eyes of the students who lovely received the educational resources from GFI gave me the courage to perform my task as the GFI Mindanao local coordinator. The books were very helpful to promote their English proficiency. In Maligo Elementary School (MES) and the Maligo Day Care School, the experience was just amazing for the students to play the toys and enjoy some children’s clothes sent along with the books that their parents cannot buy for them.”

One of the community achievements as a result of GFI’s intervention in Maligo Elementary School since 2007 is active involvement and support from the Maligo Barangay Council to establish a public library since the school has no designated space for a library yet. Since then, the Barangay has been very helpful partner for the GFI in its mission to help their school. In September 28, 2008, Barangay Maligo won the Category B Most Outstanding Barangay in the province of South Cotabato with a financial grant amounting to PhP 50,000.00. Mrs. Robles shared that “one of the factors that they got the award is because they have started establishing a barangay library starting with the GFI assistance. This makes our joint effort worth to be proud of because GFI has been part of their community’s success.” Barangay Captain Rogelio Garmino also noted that “we very proud of the GFI intervention in our school and our barangay as GFI is not only promoting English proficiency but it also paved the way for the barangay to get the reward to make more projects for more community development.”

Students and teachers gathered at another turn over of GFI donated books and school supplies done at the Landan National High School (LNHS). On behalf of GFI, Mrs. Robles was given the opportunity to share the vision and mission of GFI in partnership with their school. She also took the “the opportunity to challenge the students to work hard in their studies and encouraged them to have faith in GOD because He and He alone is the source of all wisdom.”

Mrs. Robles also recollected what Mr. Reynante Balleno, an English teacher at Landan National High School shared to her during the turn-over. “He said that he got one English book and when he read it, he did not give up on it and he used it in his teaching everyday.” Another testimony for a biology teacher was quoted to say as “we are very happy because at last we have good reference materials to use for our class”. Mrs. Nemfa Macabenta, the principal of Landan National High School (LNHS) was also very grateful for the intervention of GFI for supporting educational development in their school. Since then, she lobbied before the Department of Education (DepEd) for their school to have a designated place and space for the school library and now they will have one under construction.

As to the reaction coming from the student during the respective turn-overs, Mrs. Robles shared that “all I hear from the students is their applause and thanks giving for the opportunity that their school has been a recipient of GFI and they really appreciate the books that was sent to them. It is indeed a great help to them to advance their learning. Almost all the students shout out loud and very happy that they have the books with them. This is the first intervention they have in the life of the respective schools for establishing their school libraries.”

Finally, Mrs. Robles heartily expressed her personal experience along the way as a GFI Mindanao coordinator in her own community impact version of GFI… as in “Gift For the Indigents: Ang GALING!”. As a volunteer in the GFI Mindanao outreach, it adds my self worth as a human and as a young tribal leader to inspire more youth leaders for our next generation. I cannot express in words how much blessed I am to be a GFI volunteer. I am very proud I am part of GFI.”

The students, teachers and community leaders of the assisted schools wanted to convey their appreciation to all GFI donors and supporters. Thank you so much for touching the lives of these students in giving them hope and supporting their educational development.