School for Tboli

KIAMBA, Sarangani (November 18, 2008) – Construction of a two-classroom building in sitio Falel, funded by the United States Government through the Visiting Forces Agreement, is half-way finished, with Tboli villagers unmindful of the heat of the sun and still go on 'Kiambayanihan' (volunteerism) Saturday, November 15. Falel Community Elementary School – a private school – was originally established by the Santa Cruz Mission in 1995. Today, the United States' Partners for First People provides a maximum of $500 in funds per month for volunteer teachers and school supplies for the Tboli schoolchildren. The school has one main structure with three classrooms where teachers combine two grade levels in each room. A makeshift building made of kalakat (fixed bamboo stripes) is used for Grade I pupils. Most of the children had to walk two and a half kilometers to reach the school every day, some on bare foot. (Photo by Allan C. de Lima/KIAMBA NEWS & INFO CENTER)