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.