Black Pencil Project Successfully Brought To Adams

Makati City – Heavy rains didn’t stop the Black Pencil Project team as they cascaded an immersion – outreach in Adams, Ilocos Norte. Over a thousand of pencils along side with various art materials were distributed, benefiting every child from Kinder to High School who graced the simple gathering despite of the heavy downpour and very short notice.

Volunteers from Accenture Photography Club joined the 3-day activity. Composed of nine (9) members, the same group spearheaded the back-to-school outreach in Ifugao last May. Majority of the kits brought to Adams are from a photography group of Filipino OFW based in Deira, Dubai. The group spearheaded by PJ Emmanuel Mascariña fundraised the materials for Black Pencil Project last year with the project Click For A Cause.

A former missionary town, Adams is a one barangay-one municipality (5th class) of Ilocos Norte. It is one of Black Pencil Project’s beneficiary communities in 2010.

It is nestled on a valley in north-eastern Ilocos region and features a low temperature that is comparable to Sagada. The mighty Bolo River provides a constant source for kiwet (eels), paleleng (bukto) and frogs which is a delicacy/ The town produces one of the best tasting fruit wines (Bignay) and rice wine (Tapuey). It also a home of nine (9) documented waterfalls and twelve (12) hanging bridges.

During monsoon months, the town becomes inaccessible due to mudslide and flooding on large area of the road servicing the town from Maharlika Highway. Adams town is comprised of five ethnic groups belonging to the Isneg and Ilocanos.

Yapayao Dance. BPP volunteers were treated to a cultural presentation by some elders at one of the homestays in Adams. Adams is predominantly inhabited by at least 5 ethnic groups from the Isneg, Kankanaey and Ilocanos.