“Maka-Diyos, maka-tao, makakalikasan, at makabansa”
Our national motto reflects the effervescent qualities a righteous Filipino must have. And we have one value to thank for helping us remember and practice these attributes: Education; without it, we wouldn’t have such illustrious qualities. There are several types of this act of gaining knowledge through a person of superiority, but the most common is seen in a room full of colorful students sitting down as a teacher stands behind a board with his or her marker or chalk in hand ready to teach the day’s course.
However, with the increasing number of pupils, maintenance of certain facilities, especially classrooms often becomes difficult; thus creating a layer for distraction both student and teacher. That is why the Department of Education (DepEd) has devised a solution to this infernal conundrum. The “Brigada Eskwela” program was established in 2003 as a successor to DepEd’s Adopt-a-school program, which was conceived in 1998. The goal was to have volunteers and partners help students and teachers from public schools get ready for the upcoming school year by cleaning and maintaining school facilities.
This year, Project Taft had its eyes out on two certain schools for their first activity: Taft for Thought.
“Taft for Thought is an event wherein volunteers, along with some of the Project Taft officers, participate in the chosen public schools’ Brigada Eskwela to help repaint, clean, and design their classrooms before classes resume,” explains team leader Chelsea Cregencia.
For this event, the chosen schools were Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School and Araullo High School. Between the 22nd and 24th of May, industrious volunteers are one with the team leaders in beautifying classrooms and decluttering damages. The event was headed by Jenny Chua alongside Chelsea, members of Project Taft’s Central Committee.
“It makes people stop and think of what’s happening along Taft Avenue. What are the problems? Is there anything I can do to help them?”
Sweeping, repainting, and waxing the floors were just some of the laborious tasks that were done to keep the campus well on its ground. Though tiring, volunteer Faith Dela Vega says, “The one thing that I’ll always treasure… is the fact that I helped make the student’s learning space brighter. That in itself is a big achievement…”
Each volunteer must have a sense of cooperation and willingness to work with others. Projects such as this would not work if this essential aspect is lost. Yet we must remind ourselves of the hard work that we had to exert in order to indulge in the fruits of one’s labor.
“I had the realization that doing these stuff is hard,” shares Ichiro Arbole on his first Project Taft experience. The essence of volunteerism is lost if one does not have the initiative to assist those in need; that is what kicks the spirit of programs such as these alive. With the world slowly losing its faith in humanity, at least there is a small percentage of the population that revere’s these people.
Jenny closes, “Project Taft may not contribute much yet… but I am confident to say that we did our very best in this event.”
See more of the photos here!
Article by Raymond Angelo Chin, DI-PT Creatives Assistant Head
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