MANILA,
DECEMBER 18, 2011
(STAR) By Sheila Crisostomo [PHOTO - COMPUTER ROOM
DONATION: The STAR Group of Publications donated a computer room
equipped with six brand-new computer sets and a projector system last
week to the Felicidad V. Buendia Elementary School in Zaragoza, Nueva
Ecija, hometown of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Photo shows STAR
president and CEO Miguel Belmonte turning over the donation to school
principal Maricel Sagat in the presence of district supervisor Floriana
Fadian, monitoring supervisor Salome Manuel and grade school pupils. Mike Amoroso] Christmas
came early for students of the remote Felicidad Buendia Elementary
School in Barangay Valeriana in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija last Friday.
With six sets of new computers for their school, the students will
no longer be left behind in computer technology after The STAR's
Operation Damayan refurbished an abandoned classroom and converted it
into a fully equipped computer room for their use.
Grade six student Mary Joy Amador, 12, could not hold back her
excitement upon seeing the computers. She, along with her classmates and
those from Grades 4 and 5, will be the first to use the newly donated
units for their subject Edukasyong Pangtahanan at Pangkabuhayan.
"Masaya po ako kasi gusto ko talagang matutong gumamit ng computer.
Salamat po sa regalo n'yo (I'm happy because I really want to learn how
to use the computer. Thank you for these gifts)," Mary Joy said.
It has been a while since the sixth grader used, or even touched, a
computer. As her family could not afford to buy one, she used to visit
the house of a classmate's relative just to use a computer.
"Kaya lang nasira na 'yung computer sa uncle ng classmate ko, kaya
matagal na akong di nakakagamit (The computer of my classmate's uncle
broke down, so it's been a while since I last used one)," she said.
According to school principal Maricel Sagat, parents of most of
their students do not have the means to procure computers as they rely
primarily on farming for their livelihood. The nearest computer shops
are situated in San Isidro, a town some 10 kilometers away from the
school.
"Gusto sana namin turuan sila sa computers dahil ayaw naming
mapag-iwanan sila. Magagamit nila yon para magkaroon sila ng maayos na
kinabukasan, kaya lang wala kaming computers dito (We want to provide
them with computer education as we don't want them to be left behind.
They can use the knowledge to have a better future but the school
doesn't have computers)," Sagat added.
Sagat narrates that in their desire to update students on computer
technology, teacher Guian Cecil Acosta even took the initiative of
bringing her personal laptop to the school. Using a loan, she bought a
projector to expose the students to the world of computers.
Good Samaritan
It was through barangay councilman Bong Sadian, who used to work as a
driver for Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, that teachers of the
school got wind of the humanitarian missions being conducted by The
STAR's Operation Damayan.
"Nag-suggest si kagawad na sumulat kami kay Mr. Belmonte at
mag-request ng computers. Ginawa namin yon at napagbigyan naman kami (He
suggested that we write to Mr. Belmonte to request for computers. We
did that and our request was granted)," Sagat said gratefully.
The principal was referring to Miguel Belmonte, president and CEO of
The STAR, who personally turned over the computers to the school last
Friday together with volunteers of the paper's social arm, Operation
Damayan.
It was more than the principal could wish for.
Apart from six computer sets, Damayan also donated a projector and a
wide screen, four wall fans, computer tables and chairs. The group also
had a computer room set up and a comfort room constructed.
The school's 120 students comprising kindergarten to Grade 6 share
only five rooms. During rainy days, three of these classrooms easily get
flooded. Long hours of walking had also become part of most of the
students' daily routine as it costs P100 in jeepney fare to get to and
from the highway.
But last Friday, festivity engulfed the school when The STAR
formally turned over the computer room. The donation was carried out
with the help of a group from Southern California called Go Badminton,
which pledged a contribution of $3,500 as part of proceeds from a
charity badminton tournament they held recently in the US.
Damayan also treated the students, parents and teachers to a filling
breakfast of champorado and Jollibee chicken and spaghetti for lunch,
along with parlor games that never fail to delight.
Myra Sabalboro, a Damayan volunteer and a STAR employee, wowed the
crowd when she did the "Macarena" dance and then belted out her
rendition of "I Love the Nightlife."
Damayan also distributed school supplies, tumblers and t-shirts and shorts to be used as uniforms for Physical Education.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE
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