Books for Asia program reaches remote town through a partnership between The Asia Foundation and TVIRD
Filipinos value education and consider it as a passport to upward mobility in society. However, because of limited government resources, schools, especially in the countryside, are barely able to provide all the necessary support to maximize the learning potential of students. Apart from the perennial problems of lack of classrooms and teachers, public school students have to deal with the shortage of appropriate reference books. Schools in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte are not spared from these problems.
Recognizing the importance of reading books for students, TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc. (TVIRD) sought the assistance of The Asia Foundation (TAF), which runs the Books For Asia (BFA) program. The partnership between the two institutions enabled them to identify schools in Siocon that are badly in need of books. Just recently, some 3,000 reference books were distributed to 35 Siocon elementary and high schools in host and impact communities of TVIRD, which operates a Copper-Zinc mine in Canatuan, a mountain village sub-district of Barangay Tabayo northeast of this town. The turnover ceremonies were held on two separate occasions at the Siocon Central School and at the Canatuan National High School grounds.
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Canatuan elementary schoolchildren show the new books they received from The Asia Foundation, represented by its Books for Asia Program Director Efren Balajadia (back row center in white shirt). To his right is TVIRD Vice President for Social Commitments Renne Subido. Also in photo are Jose Dagala (in violet, back row, second from left) and Roc Magpayo (in yellow and sunglasses) of TVIRD’s Community Relations and Development Office. “TVIRD subscribes to the principle that there can be no sustainable future without responsive and inclusive education,” Subido says.
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Both events were attended by officials of TVIRD, TAF, municipality and barangay, of leaders and members of the Subanon tribe, as well as of executives of the Department of Education (DepEd) district in Siocon.
“TVIRD subscribes to the principle that there can be no sustainable future without responsive and inclusive education,” Renne P. Subido, TVIRD Vice President for Corporate Social Commitments, said as he emphasized the company’s education initiatives under its Social Development and Management Program. “We are actively seeking partners in other sectors of society to ensure that programs for the advancement of education are relevant to beneficiaries.”
Echoing Subido’s statement, Danny Perez, TVIRD Canatuan Materials Manager (and OIC at the time of the turnover), said “books are vital to the development of every child. We are thankful to The Asia Foundation for granting our request for partnership. We ask the students, teachers and parents to take good care of these books so that the many more students can still use them.”
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Above, BFA’s Balajadia (at the rostrum) talks about The Asia Foundation’s book donation program, made possible here in Siocon through a partnership with TVIRD. Third from right, seating is Tabayo Barangay Captain Bonifacio Patoh. Below, Subido reads a plaque of appreciation for BFA from TVIRD. “We are actively seeking partners in other sectors of society to ensure that programs for the advancement of education are relevant to beneficiaries,” he says.
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Presiding over the formal turnover of books to recipient schools was BFA Director Efren Balajadia, BFA Assistant Program Officer Reynald Ocampo and TAF Mindanao officer Mario Abastar.
“Our presence here in the land of the Subanons affirms our mutual commitment to improve educational opportunities for all the children here in Siocon,” Balajadia said. “It is our hope that these books will serve as instruments to better the lives and the future of the children of Siocon. The Asia Foundation is proud to work with a committed company like TVIRD, the Municipality of Siocon, the schools, communities and the Subanon tribe which have united to provide local children with the education that they need and deserve. Together, we can build a future of peace and prosperity for this wonderful community.”
Timuoy Jose “Boy” Anoy, chieftain of the Siocon Subanon indigenous people, met with officials of BFA and TVIRD after the turnover rites and expressed his appreciation. “We thank The Asia Foundation and TVIRD for donating books for our children,” Timuoy Anoy said. “The Subano people are grateful for this opportunity of providing education for our people. We realize that education will bring a better future for our tribe.”
Another Subanon, Tabayo Barangay Captain Bonifacio Patoh received the books in behalf of the TVIRD’s host barangay.
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Above, Canatuan high school students browse through their new books. Below, Canatuan school officials and teachers pose with the book donation sponsors. “Our presence here in the land of the Subanons affirms our mutual commitment to improve educational opportunities for all the children here in Siocon,” Balajadia says.
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Aside from the book project with The Asia Foundation, TVIRD has been supporting education in many ways, including the construction of school buildings, the deployment of company-paid teachers to augment teaching staff members in schools, as well as the donation of instruction materials and equipment such as computers, laptops and projects. A school bus, the only one of its kind in the mountains of Southern Philippines, ferries schoolchildren to and from schools within Canatuan.
“On behalf of the Department of Education and of all the schools here in Siocon, allow me to commend and thank The Asia Foundation and TVIRD for this wonderful gift – a timely one for the opening of school year 2010-2011,” said Araceli Tomboc, DepEd Siocon District Supervisor. “We have known of the Books for Asia Program, but we cannot afford the cost of shipping the books from Manila. Thank you TVIRD for bringing TAF to us. This is a dream come true for us.”
A total of 59 boxes of books were turned over by TAF to the Siocon schools. Another shipment of books will arrive for distribution to schools in TVIRD’s exploration areas in the Zamboanga Peninsula (Ernie Rojo)
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Above Subanon tribal priestess Balyan Susana Davi leads the cultural presentation by playing indigenous percussion instruments, while schoolgirls perform a local dance during a break in the turnover ceremonies.
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