Bulagsong Elementary School. For 100 days, resident-volunteers of Brgy Bulagson worked together for the completion of their 4-classroom school building under the Kalahi-CIDSS AUSAID program. They believe that providing their children with good education is key to the development not only of themselves and that of their family, but also to the development of their community as a whole.***
Bulagsong Elementary School. For 100 days, resident-volunteers of Brgy Bulagson worked together for the completion of their 4-classroom school building under the Kalahi-CIDSS AUSAID program. They believe that providing their children with good education is key to the development not only of themselves and that of their family, but also to the development of their community as a whole.***

The people of Brgy Bulagsong, only dream to provide their children a good venue for their learning.  For several years now, the students of Bulagsong Elementary School endured the poor conditions of their classrooms. Rains are often threats since the rooms have worn-out roofs and strong winds can easily tear them down.

As a result, children 6-12 years old became less interested in going to school. Not only are their rooms discouraging for them but the lack of classrooms forced the school to follow a multi-grade system. There is also a high number of out of school youths in the area.

With the coming of the Kalahi-CIDSS, the people of Brgy. Bulagsong has proposed the construction of a four-classroom elementary school building. Two times, they failed.

Randy Natividad, a BSPMC volunteer, pinpoints what he saw as the problem why the barangay’s proposal isn’t always prioritized.

“Mahirap magpatawag ng barangay assembly dito, mababa rin ang partisipasyon ng mga tao sa mga aktibidad ng Kalahi. Mayroon din kaming kakulangan sa cash counterpart para sa project,” he said.

But just when everyone thought of giving the dream up, an opportunity came to help them construct the school building for their children.

Dreams granted, no more failures

Through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the four-classroom elementary school building in Brgy. Bulagsong was prioritized for funding in November 2013.  With the lessons learned from previous failures (lack of cooperation and interest among community members), the residents worked as a team this time in the construction of their school building project. The Barangay Council and the volunteers have been active all throughout the project’s implementation.

Rosie Marquez, PIT Head, have seen how the community has become one when it comes to the implementation of the project.

“Sa loob ng 100 na araw na namalagi ako sa site, unti-unti kong nakita ang pagbuo ng proyekto. Naging familiar din ako sa proseso ng programa. Nakita ko lahat ng taong labas-pasok sa site mula sa mga laborers, barangay council members, volunteers at Kalahi staff. Lahat sila gustong makita kung ano na ang development ng aming proyekto,” she shared.

There are also a lot of people in the barangay including out of school youths who found a temporary job and a means to support their respective families.

“Kapag naglalakad po ako pauwi galing sa site, madalas may naririnig akong agam-agam at mga pag-aalala ng mga tao tungkol sa proyekto.  Hindi ko na po sila pinapansin dahil alam ko kaya at pwedeng mabuo ito.  Bilang isang ina rin, nakita ko ang kalagayan ng mga anak ko tuwing nasisira ang kanilang silid-aralan kapag bumabagyo.  Kasama ng ibang mga magulang dito, hindi namin iniisip ang pagod.  Andito kami para itayo ang silid-aralan,” she said.

For the people of Brgy. Bulagsong, it takes a lot of cooperation to build a classroom, a lesson they learned after a couple of failures. The people, through the school building standing tall today, have proven that they believe in the value of education not only for the future of their children and their families, but for the future of the community where they belong.***