MISTAH Groundbreaking in Panlaitan High School of Calauit Island - Mistah Foundation
MISTAH Groundbreaking in Panlaitan High School of Calauit Island
Date: 06 Apr, 2020 No CommentsCalauit Island, Brgy. Baluang, Busuanga, Palawan – “Teaching children is an accomplishment, getting children excited about learning is an achievement.” – Robert John MeehanAgain, with the brainchild ofthe Mistah Foundation (USA) President, Col. Richard T. Gubatan Sr., hand-in-hand with the 41st Naval Squadron, Navy Reservists from Coron, Palawan, Faculty of Panlaitan High School and folks from the island, numbering about 80 personnel a groundbreaking project for Calauit was commenced, on 15th of April 2019 for the construction of two classrooms for Panlaitan.
Col. Gubatan together with his comrades who travelled to the island, stayed in Calauit for a few days to observe the community and have better understanding about their situation, needs and lifestyle. Theywere informed that you cannot buy anything on the island. So, from Busuanga they had brought with them their sleeping materials, rice, water, emergency flashlights, food; like meat because only seafood was available in the island.In the Island of Calauit, most nativechildren lack education caused by poverty, and financial deficit for their municipal government to provide reliable materials andfacilities for teaching. A trip to Calauit demands an hour drive from the main island in Palawan to Busuanga, then a 15-minute boat ride to finally reach the island, and lastly, from the port area a 20-minute hike uphill is needed to arrive at Panlaitan High School.
Because of the sparse allocation from the government, there was no electricity in any of the facilities. Lectures for the students weredone in classrooms built using “Nipa”, during nice weathers it is sturdy and well ventilated. However, when the monsoon, like raincomes or the typhoon winds, the nipa hut loses its suitability.Throughout the lecture raindrops would fall on student’s heads, their papers or books.
This are some reasons why the children weren’t keen enough to attend classes. Aside from this, some children would have agonizingtrips to and from school, majority of them lives at secluded parts of the island, which requires them to ride or even paddle their own boat, to add to this they also have to travel through foot for an hour or more to arrive there. Also because of poverty they choose to help their parents make a living instead of studying.Wherefore, the decision of Col. Gubatan and his comrades to, again, extend a helping hand to the community by contributing,through constructing two new classrooms for Panlaitan High School.
Before leaving the island, the multi-sectoral group had a traditional soldier’s boodle fight and made sure to grant the children’s wishes to be able to taste their favorite foods that theyscarcely eat or even have not tasted yet. They gave out biscuits, sandwiches, chocolates, juices and so much more. Before they bid their farewell, and promised to visit again soon, to the island and the natives.