The management of BNHS asked SB to pass a resolution to support the proposal to use two rooms within the BES compound and the government owned building near the Catholic church. The classrooms will be used to house freshman students of BNHS.

Let’s compute how much it costs to commute. If you live in Barangay Evangelista and study in BNHS, you need to take a jeepney (6 pesos, with the student discount) or a tricycle (8 pesos with student discount) to go to the terminal. Let’s assume that you prefer to take the jeep. Upon reaching the terminal, you have to pay 9 pesos. That’s a total of 15 pesos already.

However, if you study in Tanay or Morong, you only have to pay 6 pesos for the fare.

The question now becomes – even if the graduates of BES and SES enroll as freshmen in BNHS, and study in the buildings within the town proper, what happens when they reach second year high school? I think they would enroll, still, in schools in other towns since it’s much cheaper.

Councilor Ramon Matignas Jr. has called the proposal a “quick fix” but the better term he used was “panakip-butas.” I could not agree more. The solution is not to bring the school to the students. Rather, we should encourage the students to study in BNHS. The school has to justify that despite the existence of alternative schools within and outside Baras, BNHS can deliver high quality education. What does BNHS have that other schools do not have? Although it is still the choice of parents on what they deem beneficial to their children, isn’t good that they support their own town? Also, we have to remember that development of the town no longer resides within the town proper. The trend is economic activities should go upland.

If the high transportation costs discourage parents from sending their kids to school, the local government might want to subsidize the fare.

My teacher in Grade One was Adelaida Anduque; Grade Two was Teresita Pilapil, Erlinda Dungca in Grade Three, Sylvia Ocampo in Grade Four, Clarita Casta√±eda in Grade Five and Wilhelmina San Diego in Grade Six. Mrs. San Diego didn’t last long because she migrated to the US, so she was replaced by Belinda Cawicaan who was also my Science teacher in Grade Five.

The former DLRC was replaced by a Ynares building. The Bahay Kastila, which during my time served as the clinic was already demolished. Another building is being constructed. Good thing they did not cut down the acacia trees near the canteen. It has become our tambayan when we were in Grade Five.

Back then, there was Morong-Baras District. Now, we have our own district comprised of different public and private schools.

Calderetang baka, pininyahang manok, rellenong bangus, menudo, steamed chicken, chopsuey and ensaladas served the palate of the visitors. On top of that are desserts like sweet mangoes, bananas and buko salad. The Baras Municipal Band liven up the crowd, ditto with students of the schools. As you exit out of the school, feel very secured because elements of the Philippine National Police – Special Action force surround the area with their high powered arms.

The highlight of the event, of course, is the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Gov. Casimiro Ynares III, Mayor Wilfredo Robles, and officials of the Department of Education. that paved the way for the formal opening of the school.

Nestled below a mountain, the one-storey, six room Ynares type building is now the home of 91 students, from freshemen to junior high school levels. Three teachers mold the mind of these Pinugay residents: Mary Ann Teodoro, Leody Manlangit and Nerissa Dalumpines who also serve as the school’s teacher in charge.

In his speech before local and education officials, students and parents, Ynares said that while the provincial government funded the construction of the building, people should be thankful to God for the blessings. “Huwag po nating kalimutan na ang programa o proyekto tulad ng nasa harapan natin ngayon ay hindi po galing sa inyong lingkod at sa ating punong bayan o sa ating punong barangay. Napakalapalad po namin na kami ay naging instrumento lamang sa pagpapatayo ng mga proyekto tulad ng schoold building. Kung meron po tayong dapat palakpakan, ito po ay ating Panginoon,” he said.

He also recognized the vital role teachers ang parents play in guiding the students. Referring to students, he said that they are lucky for having the full support of the local government in uplifting their lives. ¬†”Samantalahin ninyo ang katatayuan ninyo at masuwerte kayo na meron kayong mga magulang, mga guro at mga kaibigan na gumagabay sa inyo, na walang ibang hinangad kundi ang inyong magandang kinabukasan,” the younger Ynares said.

For her part, Baras National High School principal Mercedita Cu thanked the government for supporting the education department. “Dalawang buwan lamang po ay tinapos na ang ating building. Kaagad-agad po ay gusto nang pabasbasan ng ating governor para magamit na. Yung ibang eskuwelahan ay hindi pa naitataya pero aprubado na ang kanilang papel. Sa atin, nauna na ang ating building.

Fr. Efren Jimenez blessed the building.

Marites Iba√±ez, the acting Schools Division Superintendent (replacing Edith Doblada) paid the school a visit yesterday. She was in Baras to attend the 2008 Division Quiz Bee in Association of Southeast Asian nations, Population Education and Rizal’s Life, Works and Writings which BNHS hosted. She was joined by Loida Jarin, who has been the school principal for five years now, Reynante Flandez, principal of Teresa National High School and a former head of BNHS, and high school teacher Flerida Velgado.

The walk to MES is very tiring. Due to rains in the past few days, the soil is muddy but manageable. Your footwear will not stick to the mud. Talahib grows on the pathway. But the view, once you’ve reached the school is breathtaking. Here you can see some portions of Laguna Lake, LaFarge Cement in Teresa, parts of Binangonan and of course, the mountains surrounding Sitio Malalim.¬†

 

The building is what they call Principal Type. The land size is one hectare.

Notice the cellsite by Smart Communications.

Dear friend,

Hope you enjoy this stuff, and I hope you try to do your best with what you have and that you achieve all your goals in life. I want to help by giving you the equipment to help you do that, because you can be whatever you want to be. I hope you achieve all your goals and go far in life. So remember, stay in school and try to do your best.

Sincerely,
Lavender
St. Gerard School

What you have just read is one of the letters contained in the hundreds of school supplies given by St. Gerard School in Canada to the students of Santiago Elementary School. Aptly called Project Love, it aims to give educational materials to Third World Countries, including the Philippines.

The school supplies, which were delivered to the school last July 7, is composed of pad papers, pens, notebooks, pencils, rulers and erasers.

More details to follow.

Santiago Elementary School principal Benilda Cawicaan looks on the package.

• Committee on Finance and Appropriations chairman Ramon Matignas Jr. wants the municipal government to fully implement the no-collection policy in public school, specially in Baras National High School. He also said that they keen on financing the printing of test papers.

• Councilor Alfredo Ruba, former barangay chairman of Barangay Pinugay, said that construction is on the way for the Pinugay National High School. This coming school year, students will be temporarily housed in the municipal annex.

• A partnership with the National Library is under way for the establishment of the municipal library. This also means that new employees will be hired – a librarian, clerk and a utility worker.

• Speaking of library, books from Canada will be given to Baras Elementary School. The pre-school books came through the son of Vice Mayor Armingol Pilapil Jr, whose wife works in Canada. We are finalizing the date on when the books could be given.

On the part of Baras Balita Online, of which I am the editor, I am thinking of forging a partnership with the public schools. The benefits are two-fold: it will make the articles more diverse and it will harness students” skills on journalism.

Note: My mother and brother graduated from Saint Joseph Parish School. I graduated from Baras National High School.

Sina Mary Jane Albano, Maan Amistoso, Edith Atienza, Mark Anthony Buella, Mabel Diñozo, Kimberly Gail Fernandez, Normalyn Landoy, Antonio Peñaranda, Maria Karen Reyes at Roschelle Vallestero ay pinasuweldo ng munisipyo ng P 173 kada araw para sa kanilang serbisyo mula Abril 4-Mayo 3. Sina Julius Ankahan, Jhonel Custodio, Cleopatra de Vera, Emmanuel Emnace, Jane Mary Ferrera, Vanessa Lado, Mary Queen Lotino, Jennelyn Olaño, Jenelyn Reyes, Merry Rose Ulic-ulic, Jessa Joy Velgado, Rose Ann Velgado at Joana Mari Vibanco naman ay pinasweldo ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng P 273 kada araw mula Abril 18-Mayo 17. Sa kanilang suweldo, 60 porsiyento ay mula sa lokal na pamahalaan habang ang 40 porsiyento ay mula sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Samantala, 15 kumpanya ang lumahok sa job fair na inorganisa ng Public Employment Service Office ng Baras at DOLE. Isinagawa ito sa gymnasium ng Brgy. Evangelista noong Enero 15.

Kabilang sa mga kumpanyang lumahok ang French Baker, First Quadrant, Ever Shoppers, Inc. at Bench. Mahigit sa 300 aplikante mula sa Baras, Tanay, Morong, Teresa at Laguna ang naghanap ng trabaho.

Dumalo rin sa programa si Konsehal Dante de Guzman ng Ikatlong Distrito ng Quezon City. Ang kanyang kumpanyang Asian Pacific Group of Companies ay kasama din sa job fair.

Binigyan ng ID ang mga aplikante na maaari nilang gamitin sa paghahanap ng trabaho sa mga kumpanya sa Rizal.

Source: Baras Balita, Volume 2 Issue 1