EDUCATION REVOLUTION
Alumni appeal for their
alma mater
Posted: 10:05 PM (Manila Time) | Jul. 06, 2003
By Butch Hernandez, Contributor
Inquirer News Service

(Picture shows Pampanga High School Acting Principal Soledad Santos and Renato Alarcon, President of PHS Class 65 Foundation Inc)

500 chairs

A FEW days before the Education Revolution's formal launch in Angeles City, through the efforts of Dr. Emmanuel Angeles and the Angeles University Foundation, the Foundation for Worldwide People Power got an appeal for assistance from the Pampanga High School Class of '65 Foundation Inc. (PHS65).

Apparently, the school was in such a bad state that the alumni were seeking a way to bring back some of its lost glory. After all, PHS used to be a center of quality learning. The late President Diosdado Macapagal, the incumbent's father, was its most notable graduate.

PHS65's president, Rene Alarcon, met with me in Angeles City to personally ask help for Pampanga High School. The opportunity presented itself when FWWPP president Dr. Maria Lim Ayuyao said that Centro Escolar University's (CEU) high school department had to dispose of about 500 used but still serviceable chairs and other furniture. All that was needed was a truck to collect the chairs.

Rene was only too happy to make the arrangements. A few days ago, we received a copy of the letter of thanks sent by Soledad A. Santos, acting principal of PHS, to Carmita Suiza and Dr. Ayuyao at CEU.

We hope other colleges and universities could follow the example set by the university. As you can see, if you really want to help our public schools you are only limited by your creativity.

Library's a big hit

Remember our story about Elfren and Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, and how they started a library project for the Sampaloc Site Elementary School in Parañaque City?

Well, Neni says that Mercy Yude, the school librarian cum guidance counselor, reported to her recently that the schoolchildren have been eagerly borrowing and reading books from the library. They also dutifully return them so they could borrow more books. Book donations from many other people were also received.

Neni says the latest donors were Gabrielle Zarei of St. Paul Pasig, Jose Yldefonso Bautista and Peter and Mary Yee. And Neni's list continues to grow.

She adds Zarah Gagatiga, a writer and storyteller and Xavier School librarian, together with her library science friends from the Philippine Normal University, volunteered to help catalog and process books for public libraries that are just starting.

Zarah herself has been conducting workshops on painless cataloguing for public school librarians. Welcome to the Education Revolution, Zarah!