MAASIM, Sarangani (December 17, 2010) – The milieu of the Yuletide season filled a tribal village here Wednesday (December 15) as the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation Incorporated (CLAFI) andConal Holdings Corporation (CHC) pooled resources in setting off a Christmas party for the 120 Blaan pupils of the newly-built Langaran Primary School.
CLAFI volunteers and CHC employees together with local officials brought boxes of Koko Crunch Cereal courtesy of Nestlé Philippines,and ‘Milk Migs’, (oatmeal with milk) through the feeding program of Governor Migs Dominguez.
Contingents from the 73rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, were also present in the activity.
After a short program and parlor games, free lunch was partaken among the villagers.
Beneficiaries also received special gift packs containing clothing andnew pair of slippers.
“We are here to relive the symbol of Christ’s birth, and that is His love to mankind. We have to share that love and humility each day,”said CHC project assurance manager Rommel Tomas Falgui.
He added: “You (children) have to love your future, your family andyour community by valuing education as your tool for success.”CHC allocated P1 million for the construction of the two-classroom building as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
The building is a 10 by 40 meter-concrete edifice occupying 144 square meters of land area.
Meantime, the provincial government of Sarangani, through the Provincial School Board, shoulders the salary of two teachers assignedin the village.
Sitio Langaran, a Blaan community of 60 households located in barangayKablacan, is a 22-kilometer uphill stretch from the town proper.
Dueto the inaccessibility of the village, the tribe and their childrenwere deprived of education for decades.Such is the case of Che-Che Manatin, a 16-year old lass who has juststarted her elementary education.Now that a school was finally put up in her village Che-Che hasfinally found the shaft of light to a better future.“I want to become a teacher,” she said.
Aside from Langaran, the school also benefits children from adjoiningcommunities of Sitio Bog, Datal Pupo, Datal Basak, Purok Matbal amongothers.
Falgui further disclosed that the company is contemplating on additional buildings for the school in the near future for Grade II class.
Meanwhile, in her message, Maasim councilor Liezel Tano revealed she was “humbled and moved” as she witnessed for the first time the community’s dire need for assistance and intervention.
“This experience poses a great challenge for every one of us,” she stressed.
“First, to the parents of these children, to be diligent in sending their kids to school every day and help them with their studies.Second, to government officials like me, to be more determined in uplifting lives of the people who are destitute.”
“In behalf of the entire local government of Maasim, I would like to thank Conal Holdings and Alcantara Foundation for helping Maasim,”Tano concluded. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/Ray Daniel)
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