MY JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES

A great sage once said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The saying has been attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC) or to Confucius (a fifth-century Chinese thinker and social philosopher whose influence upon East Asian intellectual and social history is immeasurable. Who really said it we will never know for sure. Lao-Tzu represented an quite different view of life from that of Confucius. Confucius taught adherence to rules and the benefits of uniformity. Lao-Tzu proposed a life of non-contention, simplicity and achievement without using force. Lao-Tzu reminded us that people are always despised for their pride and admired for their modesty; he taught that intelligence is only achieved when one knows how little they truly know and that the truly wise never engage in quarrelling; he wrote that contentment is achieved not by relying on the opinions of others or by being ambitious. That a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step points out our great endeavours in life always begin with the first small action we take. I dedicate this project of sending out a simple, single notebook to each and every child in public school in Guihulngan City, as a symbol and a commitment to a journey for education, that one day we shall have a city where no one is illiterate, where education will open the gates of opportunity for all, and thus then Education will truly be the great equalizer. And I salute all teachers, for they are our present day missionaries... TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Mandi-i Elementary School

Mandi-i Elementary School from Jessica Villarmente

Perched on one of the lower mountains of the Razorback Mountain Range, Mandii Elementary School is approximately 16 kilometers or 9.9419 miles from Guihulngan Poblacion. Less than 10 years since its first class, it is now a complete elementary school, holding Grades 1-6 and a pre-school. This was built through the efforts of Mr Ferdinand Cui, and my dear father, former SB member and then brgy captain Jesus V Trinidad. This school is the product of the friendship of two grand men. Thank you so much!

Hinakpan Elementary School

Hinakpan elementary school from Jessica Villarmente

Great view at Hinakpan Elementary School! Thanks to Maam Bibian Morales and her teachers for the warm reception (warm soup of chicken in the cold mountain, as Team Journey arrived near lunchtime.) I was touched by a tarpaulin congratulating past student Clenton Vergara, a product of Hinakpan Elementary School, who is now a successful CPA. Really, he is living proof that even those in far flung barangays who have access to education can make it big! I hope that the local government can give more support to education.

Special education class

Special education 2012 from Jessica Villarmente

In this journey,I cannot help to think that not only is it the journey of a thousand miles, but rather, the journey of a thousand smiles. Today, allow a proud mother to look through the eyes of a young son who also on a parallel journey...here is a slideshow created by my son Karl Christian T Villarmente, a teacher aide for special education class at Guihulngan South Central School. God is so good, he has brought Karl's education journey up another level, Karl was once a student at Guihulngan South Central School...

Noonbreak at Bakid Elementary School

Noonbreak at Bakid Elementary School from Jessica Villarmente

Bakid Elementary School is situated at probably the highest point of Brgy Bakid, its a school on top of the hill at the top of another hill, if you get what I mean. It's a difficult drive going there, Team Journey had to ride a habal-habal to get past a landslide that covered more than half of the road. It was noonbreak when we got there, children were entranced in various childhood games that remind us of our carefree days. Boys playing rubberbands, girls playing tug-of-war. There was one group though, that were intent in their lunch. Some barefoot children were lined up by their teachers, hoping a kind heart can provide these children with slippers. Team Journey distributed notebooks, which brought out children's smiles! Thank you donors, and to God be the Glory!

Maculos Elementary School

Maculos Elementary School from Jessica Villarmente

Team Journey visited Maculos Elementary School. We've often passed this way, going up to Brgys Tacpao, Binobohan or somewhere Imelda or Sandayao. Its the school further up Brgy Bulado...here's our visit.

Humayhumay Elementary School

Humayhumay elementary school from Jessica Villarmente

There are two schools in Brgy Humayhumay, one used to be at Humayhumay proper and the other at Antibalas. Humayhumay Elementary School site was found unsafe after the earthquake of Feb 6, 2012. A new school site has been established at Sitio Tagbakon. Pupils are still using temporary classrooms. From almost 200 children, enrolment dropped to around 100 for Humayhumay Elementary School . On the other hand, enrolment at Antibalas Elementary School rose to 178 this schoolyear, from just around a hundred last year. This created a shortage in schoolrooms, but it has not been a hindrance for this brave community, who joined hands in putting up a temporary classroom.

One day at Matuog Elementary School

One day at Matuog Elementary School, Team Journey, headed by navigator Tita Jessica, had a storytelling session....This was our day!

Bulado Elementary School: Early morning visit

Bulado Elementary School from Jessica VillarmenteA

An early morning visit to Bulado Elementary School brought back memories to Team Journey the delights of attending classes in grade school. Our team photog, Junmar Talisayan, caught on lens (ahem, celfon camera) young men lined up just outside of the school gates, maybe just to get a glimpse of blooming childhood crushes...younger children in antics and exhibits of gate climbing...younger boys playing rubber bands...oh, those grade school years. Kudos to teachers and administration of Bulado Elementary School, inspite of the earthquate, the school looks neat and clean, and children are well-behaved.

Nutrition Day in Malusay Elementary School

Team Journey was really excited when Malusay Elementary School invited us for the Nutrition Month Celebration. The school is located on top of a hill, and to get there one must climb 72 steps, exactly, as teacher Estrau told me. Must be good daily exercise for the students and teachers as well. One can say that this school is well-taken cared of. The pupils are courteous, the teachers diligent and the buildings, though not so new are painted and colorful, so conducive for the children's learning. During the culmination of Nutrition Month, we had the good fortune of joining teachers, students and guests in a surprise finale...a dance by everybody! What a joyful day!

Nutrition day in Malusay Elementary School from Jessica Villarmente

Storytelling with children of Bateria ubos NORSU

Last Saturday, Team Journey participated in an afternoon of fun and games with children of Bateria, near NORSU Guihulngan Campus. It was truly a joyful experience with almost 150 children. There were games and food. Children playing sack race in the grass underneath coconut trees, a truly Filipino afternoon. I had the privilege of telling them the story of the Ugly Duckling (loosely translated as Ang Ngil-ad nga Itik). Children really enjoyed supplying in the sounds of various farm animals. We distributed some slippers and school supplies to them. A feeding session completed the day!

Storytelling sa Bateria Ubos NORSU from Jessica Villarmente

Brgy Trinidad High School founding anniversary

Trinidad high school founding anniversary july 2012 from Jessica Villarmente

Team Journey visited Brgy Trinidad high school (officially known as Guihulngan National High School Hilaitan - Trinidad Annex) last July 28, 2012 during its founding anniversary. Stormy weather couldn't stop Team Journey, nor dampen the student's enthusiasm and excitement. Though electricity conked out, mass demonstrations of dances by year levels continued: no electricity,no music, just drumbeats and counting, in the rain! Much to the crowd's applause. And while we were ready with 600 notebooks and ballpens, courtesy of Maam Paz Neri Pastucha, the principal thought it wiser to distribute these in better weather. Well, it was a joyful day, and congratulations to all those who made the affair a success! It was a high score in event management that not many high schools may be able to surpass!

Villegas Elementary School Nutrition Day

Team Journey was invited to the Nutrition Day Celebration in Villegas Elementary School last Wednesday, July 25, 2012. It was a successful event, combining both Nutrition Day celebration and the induction of PTA officers. Congratulations to the school administration led by Mrs Joyce B. Diamano and her teachers... Team Journey was able to give 359 pupils their notebooks...Daghang salamat!

Nutrition day in villegas elementary school from Jessica Villarmente

Agulang Primary School

Last July 25, Team Journey visited Agulang Primary School in an upper sitio (village) of Brgy Villegas. When I asked the Grades 3 and 4 children what they would like to be when they grow up, almost all wanted to be teachers, 2 girls would like to be nurses, and one boy wanted to be a doctor. Another boy wanted to be a driver.... Journey to Agulang

Parents' labor of love: a schoolbuilding for their children

Labor of love for Brgy Magsaysay High School from Jessica Villarmente

To meet 24,000 schoolchildren

Filled with a sense of adventure, I am very happy that some very good friends have signified their willingness to support our journey armed with notebooks, ballpens, crayons and such school supplies.  For a fact, we know that there are almost 24,000 children in public elementary and high schools, scattered  all over the 33 barangays of Guihulngan.  Of these, only 10 barangays are located along the highway or coastline.

There are 57 public primary and elementary schools, and 8 high schools (two in Poblacion, GNHS Poblacion and Special Science Class).

This journey is to visit those schools.

FTAMES, Brgy Tinayunan

FTAMES, or Filomena T. Aranas Memorial Elementary School, is perched on top of a hill overlooking the sea. Every beautiful sunrise in Guihulngan can be seen from its schoolgrounds. But the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake last February 6, 2012 did much damage to this school. There is a growing crackline near the schoolsite, that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has standing instructions to school authorities to send children home during heavy rain days. Many parents are afraid for their children, that some pupils have transferred to the Central School in Brgy Poblacion. As of this writing, there are around 381 pupils officially enrolled in the school. Most of the children come from families of fishermen, laborers, farmworkers, farmers and trisikad drivers. Last June 18, Team Journey visited the children and gave away notebooks, crayons, pens and pencils. What beautiful smiles we received in return!

Ftames, brgy t.beach

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A journey begins in the mind

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...

That’s an old Chinese saying, but in some translations it says, a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet...

Whichever is the correct translation, nonetheless it’s a long journey, and it begins with a step, with one’s own feet moving forward (smile)...

For the past few months, I have travelled around the now City of Guihulngan and shared experiences with teachers, parents, community leaders and students.

The making of Barangay Magsaysay High School has so impressed on my mind the desire of the young people of Guihulngan, with their parents, to go to school. Only that even with free elementary and high school education, going to school isn’t so easy. First problem, transportation money if they have to ride going to school. Second, school supplies. Third, when lean season comes, food is short and having no lunch is of course a reason why there’s a high drop-out rate. There could be other reasons.
So I decided to go on a journey and take my friends with me. I am going on a long journey around the 33 barangays of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental to visit the different schools of Guihulngan, to bring good news and gifts to the children of Guihulngan and to share their stories to the world, that some kindhearted friends might help them move a step forward in their own little journeys...

This blog is about the journey...

Brgy mags hi school, week 1

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