The Art Of Giving To My Alma Mater

One of the school's oldest buildings...

Garcia Park Elementary School located in the outskirts of the town of Talibon, Bohol, Philippines was a large area of barren land. In the middle rises a single mountain that nestled perfectly to compliment the tall grasses that grows around it. This piece of barren land was discovered by the town's public school's District Supervisor driving by in the mid 1950s. The head of the public school in Talibon fall in love with the place and thought of building a school. But in order to accomplish his vision, he needed to meet with the villagers in the area and solicit their help. Owners of the land must donate those lands to build a school. The peasants who owned the land agreed. My uncle, who has a parcel of land in the area also donated it. He was then the public school's District principal of our town.

The school's main building...

The school was built and finally opened in 1959.  Our house was located half a kilometer from school. My father was then assigned as Head- teacher. Garcia Park Elementary School was named after the Philippine president Carlos P. Garcia, who was a native of Talibon.  This is also the Alma Mater of  the now Vatican envoy and Permanent Observer to the UN in New York, His Excellency Archbishop Bernardito Auza, who graduated head of his class.

Since 1959 up to his retirement in 1986, my father was the head of the teaching force, accorded by his faculty the utmost respect and adulation. He comes to school ahead of everyone and rung the school bell every morning. My father also transformed the barren land into a man-made forest by asking all pupils to plant trees every year. He also focused in school beautification projects. He conceptualized the landscaping project of the school done by school children. He also took care of a lone lake where water lilies grew abundantly. The school became the "lovers' lane" as lovers enjoyed a stroll on weekends and after school enjoying the views from the mountain top where nothing impedes their vision of the setting sun. It also became the Boy and Girl Scouts summer capital where jamborees were held participated by all public schools in our town.

Renovating an old stage: Roof and concrete flooring will soon be completed.

In those years, technology was unknown so my father, since the school opened, wrote a Christmas Tableau play where selected pupils play the roles. Before the school closes for Christmas holidays, the Christmas Tableau is presented to the villagers and proud parents. The play was held on a stage built with no roof. It was purely a squared platform with nothing on it. Every school children were required to bring one Christmas lantern and imagine the deluge of lanterns when Grade 1 to Grade 6 pupils brought lanterns and hang them around the stage during this event?

This was an annual event that every folks and parents look forward to. It was a simple play of the birth of Jesus. What makes it moving was the huge comet tied on top of the mountain and pulled down the stage during the play. The stage was only illuminated from those hanging lanterns. When my father retired, they replaced the event with beauty pageant which I thought was wrong. However, times changing and the school needs to make changes when my father retired. And yet, despite my father being retired, he kept supporting the school by helping them pay for electricity from his very own pocket.

The stage which was built early on during the early years of the school needed a renovation. Although my father is gone, the school look up to his offsprings for help. One of the faculty members  was my classmate since our elementary years up to high school and it was always me that she hoped to facilitate the completion of the stage project. Like my father, who despite having nothing, does not stop extending help by whatever means he can find. It was him who taught me the art of giving...that in times when people look up to you because they have nowhere to go, he simply said no. He believes in the art of giving and solicitation from the same people with the same outlook and conviction.

Full view: Stage reno project.

He taught me how, even in the middle of nothingness, can we be able to respond to certain calls of help. These are the times when "Donors" are called in to volunteer to get on the project and give. As always, donors are people willing to give and make things happened. My role is provide a platform where angels can hover and shower kindness.

How many of us understands the meaning of the word "instrument?" I am an instrument even in the midst of nothingness because I have friends whose hearts are fuelled by the magnitude of kindness. Wonderful and genuine friends who leap from the shadows and make things happened. Not everyone can keep beautiful friendship...the real ones who gathered around my many projects. Treasured friends...they are aplenty!

Thank you to all my angels. The school stage project is now complete and your name will be inscribed on this one, including my roommate who also donated on this project.

The bags of cement delivered to complete the project. Three Donors from Canada.

Photos will be posted once the PHOTOS ARE PROVIDED.