24/12/2024
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Children beyond areas where modernity is not yet much explored and experienced are the ones who are most susceptible to the heavy changes of time. This does not only include exposure to technology, but also the cutbacks and difficulties in maintaining educational assistance that prove consistent aftermaths on their cognitive development.
However, change was aimed to be made as learners from San Rafael, Iriga City were given a chance to participate in a project dueled with passion and determination to sustain attainable education especially in the peaks of rural areas: the Rotarians and Anglicist Intervention for Learning Through Sharing (RAILS), which was launched on August 26, 2024.
Led by Keziah Shane T. Dimabayao, the Anglicist Guild President and a fourth-year education student from the University of Northeastern Philippines, together with other aspiring educators and sponsored by Iriga City Rotary Club, the project took place in the rural settings of San Rafael Elementary School and San Rafael Day Care Center, where more than 30 tutees were presented.
Dimabayao and the other members of the Anglicist Guild would face almost two hours of travelling weekly to reach the barangay. Through mountainous trails and narrow, zigzag highways, together with the searing rays of sun light and dashing rain and slippery roads on the wet days of ber-months, they endured for days. Even when their schedules are hectic on their final year in the program they've taken, they never missed a day on the journey, continuously paving the path to an approaching victory.
Every Sunday, the tutees will be placed in class rooms, all taught how to read, write, count, and operate. Educators of the Anglicist Guild would exert their utmost efforts as they follow the same routine in the following days. As they were bombarded and pushed to juggle school responsibilities together with the project, they were never hopeless, as change is starting to grow clearer and much vivid day by day.
Their hard labor bore fruit as the learners started to excel in class and unveil their varying potentials in several things. And finally, after days of delivering consistent dedication and hope, on the 21st of December 2024, they had a class of 34 whose skills and competencies have been honed and perfected.
As a merry song hinting the arrival of the Christmas season played through the speakers, the tutees were already seated neatly in the covered court of San Ramon, Iriga City: all wearing a blue-colored shirt imprinted with "RAILS" in large letters, and red Santa hats with silver sequins placed on the top of their heads. On the other side of the venue sat proud parents together with the sponsors, already prepared to witness the short program marking the end of the magnificent project.
Through the 14 sessions that was done during the past five months, changes with the tutees' skills and learning abilities are very notable. This could only prove further that the expenditure made by the Anglicists are effective and rewarding.
Despite the grey skies due to clumped clouds preparing to burst rain, the warmth shared under the roof of the covered court of the final program was flourishing. The Anglicist Guild, together with the Iriga City Rotary Club, handed out colorful presents for the children as well as scrumptious food to combat the gloomy weather with happiness. But the factor that contributes the most to the lightened atmosphere were the curved lips on the visages around the venue, as if one's beam is mirrored by the other.
The pain-staking process finally came to an end with bright triumph. The tutees, together with their parents as well as the San Rafael Elementary School and Day Care Center expressed their deepest gratitude to Dimabayao, Ann S. Garlan, VP for Academics, Shekinah Glory V. Orbillo, Secretary, Mary Joy V. Bernales, Sub-secretary, Ma. Theressa E. Puso, VP for Finance, Cathlyn B. Bagayawa, VP for Audit, Rica Decena, VP for Documentation, Charlene O. Barela, VP for Publication, Salvacion Claveria, VP for Communication, Bernardita R. Margate, Anglicists Guild Adviser, and Frederick Noel Fucio, UNEP SPS Student Welfare Coordinator.
The Rotary Club-Iriga City Chapter led by Kim Sergius R. Margate, the organization president, Noreen Margate, the Rotary Spouse, and other members of the club were also showered with thanks and honor.
In places where children are out of reach from progressing through the changing needs of time, the collaboration of the Anglicist Guild and the Rotarians is a testament that change can always be evident when pursued with resoluteness and persistence. They serve as one of the early foundations in creating stabilized and adaptive environments to shed light on the prevalent needs of not only indigenous learners, but of all children worldwide.
βοΈ Aleja L. Gabalfin | FRONTLINE
π· Hanz Clarence A. Escano | FRONTLINE
Keziah Shane T. Dimabayao | Anglicist Guild
FRONTLINE is the Official Student Publication of the University of Northeastern Philippines
