Story by Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga | Photos by Ma. Nita V. Bolo
Forty brand-new armchairs are now in two classrooms of Ansulag Elementary School, Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City.
On February 17, 2022, Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Community Extension and Development Office (CEDO) officially turned over the armchairs to Ansulag ES. Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR, CEDO director, and Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, CST-R director and principal, personally turned over the items for the pupils of CST-R’s adopted school.
Mr. Johnny Engada, PhD, Ansulag ES head teacher, together with eight faculty members welcomed CST-R’s outreach team. They also expressed profound gratitude to the donor organization: Young Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP).
Fr. Ramon explained that YACAP became CEDO’s collaborator in providing armchairs for Ansulag ES pupils after YACAP representative Jose Mari Oquiñena learned of CST-R’s mission to improve the classroom condition of the elementary school. Oquiñena is a former seminarian of the Augustinian Recollects (FORSOAR).
Surprised that CEDO delivered brand new armchairs instead recycled ones, Engada and the teachers were thankful and expressed optimism that their pupils will be truly excited and inspired to learn more once face-to-face classes resume.
CEDO first visited Ansulag ES in December of 2020. It was then that the team assessed the most immediate and crucial needs of the remote school’s teachers and learners.
Ansulag ES, aside from being CST-R’s adopted school, is a national qualifier for the Department Education’s Brigada Eskwela, a school preparedness and cleanliness initiative. Its faculty members were also awared for their effort to raise awareness and provide facilities for ensuring that pupils and other school stakeholders do proper handwashing to prevent the spread of diseases (SBM WINS).