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!