We sit down corrected. =)

—

BBP Run for Pencils Project: Blackboard Beneficiaries
Text by Jordee Queddeng
Photos by May Chel

After the BPP Run for Pencils Project (RFP) Outreach (http://on.fb.me/rqlgC5 ) held in Mansalay, Mindoro on 25-26 June 2011, available funds of PHP14,723.07 were used to procure materials for 24 new blackboards for non-formal schools in Mindoro and Palawan and HAGIBBAT-Mangyan Mindoro development centers.

Funds (PHP600/board, total of PHP14,400) were sent thru Ate Maya of Integrated Development Program for Indigenous Peoples of Southern Tagalog (IDPIP-ST). See:http://on.fb.me/rNbG5V

We still have PHP323.07 available funds for use in the BPP Run for Pencils Project (Phase II) next year. Yey!

A complete report on the BPP RFP Phase I including finances complete with supporting documents will be posted online and shared to all donors, sponsors, and volunteers before year end.

Again thank you to the BPP RFP runners, our donors and sponsors, IDPIP-ST, TABAK, and HAGIBBAT-Mangyan Mindoro for making this possible. Sa uulitin!

Thanks Ate Maya for sending some photos!

Originally posted at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150417098924633.368425.699349632&type=1

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 18 (PIA) -– In line with the celebration of Deaf Awareness Week, the Regional Council on Disability Affairs in Eastern Visayas through the DPWH Hingyap CBR is set to stage an Exhibit showcasing the art works of the hearing impaired students on November 18, 9:00 o’clock in the morning at the Knights of Columbus Center at Palo, Leyte.

DPWH Region 8 Director Rolando Asis informed that the activity hopes to bring thousands of children to the Exhibit and be inspired by the art works of students with hearing impairment.
No entrance fee will be collected, Director Asis said. However, what makes this activity unique is that the spectators have been requested to bring pencil and crayon for the children.

This is in support to the Black Pencil Project by Changing the World One Pencil at a Time. The member agencies of the Regional Council on Disability Affairs have been requested to send in five staff with five boxes of pencils to the activity.”

The pencils which will be collected through this activity will be given to the Black Pencil Project, through one of three founders, Mr. Mon Corpuz.

These pencils will reach out to every child in the far-flung communities around the country, in the mission to teach and to inspire the early learners to go to school and to promote education as foundation of life’s success.

The Black Pencil Project is a collective initiative to provide pencils and other light school materials to public elementary schools in remote communities across the country through resource mobilization. It aims to encourage localized participation and individual commitment of goodwill, in support to government education programs in the countryside. (PIA Region VIII)

BISIKLETA ESKWELA
A FUND RAISING DRIVE ROXAS ISABELA OUTDOOR TEAM (R.I.O.T)
FOR THE BENEFIT OF DANNAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF PARACELIS MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
Aries Apiado, Contributor

Nagsimula ang lahat nang sinubukan naming tatlo (Joel Javier, Reinier Gagtan, Ariestotle Apiado) na magbike from Roxas Isabela hangang Paracelis Mountain Province at pabalik sa Roxas Isabela. Habang nagpapahinga kami ng mga panahong iyon ay napag desisyunan namin na gawin ang Roxas Isabela Outdoor Team (R.I.O.T.) na ang layunin ay ang kapatiran, pakikipagkaibigan, tumulong sa kapwa tao at protektahan ang inang kalikasan. Ilang beses din kaming nagpabalik balik sa lugar at ilang beses din naming nakasalamuha ang mga batang magaaral na naglalakad ng ilang oras akyat baba ng bundok bago marating ang kanilang paaralan. Pagod ang mga mumunting paa ng mga bata sa paglalakad upang marating ang kanilang paaralan.

Nang minsan nagsalo salo ang grupo nabanggit ko sa kanila ang ginagawa ng isang grupo na nakilala ko nang minsan dumalaw ako sa aking paaralan nung ako’y kolehiyo. ibinahagi ko sa kanila ang adhikain ng grupong iyon. Nung unay madaming tanong sa mga kasamahan ko ngunit sa tulong ng aming magiting na presidente ay naipaliwag ng mabuti sa aming mga kasamahan ang layunin ng naturang gawain.

MGA TANONG NG AMING KA GRUPO
1. Saan tau kukuha ng pera eh pang inum nga natin nagaambag ambag pa tau?
2. May maniniwala ba sa atin kung hihingi tau ng donasyon sa ibang tao (sasabihin ng mga yun eh pang iinum lang natin yung malilikom?
3. Kakayanin ba natin eh kokonti lang tau?
4. Baka naman delikado dun sa pagbibigyan natin nyan.

Yan ang ilan sa mga tanung n gaming ka grupo. Isa isa naming sinagot ang mga ito at ipinaliwanang sa kanila.

1. Hihingi tau ng tulong sa mga tao at pagaambag ambagan natin ang kulang sa mga gamit na ibibigay.
2. Hanggat maganda ang layunin natin meron at meron parin tutulong sa atin gawin nating pormal ang paghingi ng tulong dadaanin natin sa sulat.
3. Kung kaming 3 lang ang gagalaw malamang mahihirapan kami ng sobra ngunit kung gagalaw tayong lahat madami tayong matatapos.
4. Hanggat maganda ang adhikain natin sa pagpunta sa lugar nila ituturing tayong mga kaibigan at hindi kaaway.

Nagsimula kaming mamigay ng sulat sa mga kakilala namin pagkabasa nila sa sulat ito ang kanilang karaniwang nabibigkas “Maganda ang hangarin nyo bakit nyo naman naisipan na gawin ito.” Ang lagging tugon naming ay “Nais naming makatulong at maenganyo ang mga bata na pumasok sa eskwela. “ Madaming nagbigay ng tulong paisa isang mga lapis, papel, notebook, ballpen at may nagbigay din ng pera. May mga mangilan ngilan ding nagduda sa aming adhikain. Ngunit hindi sila ang nagging hadlang para itigil ang aming adhikain bagkus sila pa ang nagpalakas sa aming loob na ituloy ang aming nasimulan. Nagpatuloy ang padating ng mga tulong hangang sa dumating ang araw na pagbigay naming ng tulong.

Inayus na naming ang mga gamit na ibibigay sa mga bata mga notebook, papel, lapis, ballpen, crayons, at mga erasers. Hinanda din naming ang mga munting regalo para sa mga guro ang chalk at eraser. Habang nagaayus bakas sa mukha ng aking mga kasama ang pagkagalak sa paparating na gawain. Inayus din namin ang mga gagawin sa gawaing nakatakda. Isang grupo ang magbibisikleta papunta at isang grupo ang susunod at sasakay sa sasakyan dala ang mga gamit na ipamimigay. Dumating nga ang araw na aming pinakahihintay nagkitakita na ang unang grupo na magbibisikleta ng humigit kumulang 20 kilometrong akyat baba sa gilit ng bulubunduking daan ng Roxas Isabela patungong Dannal Elementary School sa Paracelis Mountain Province. Naunang nakarating ang grupo na nagbisikleta sapagkat hindi madaan ng malalaking sasakyan ang daan papuntang Dannal elementary school kayat umikot muna ang sasakyan sa kabilang daanan upang marating ang paaralan ng mga batang pagkakalooban naming ng dagdag na gamit pang eskwela. Bakas sa mga mata ng mga bata ang tuwa at pagtataka kung bakit may mga taong dumalaw sa kanilang muting paaralan. Kinausap na naming ang punong guro upang ipaalam ang layunin n gaming grupo at kung anu an gaming sadya sa kanilang paaralan. Pansamantala naming inabala ang pagaaral ng mga bata upang bigyang daan ang programang hinanda naming para sa kanila. Nagtayo ang grupo ng poste para sa net ng larong volleyball para sa mga bata. Nagpalaro ang mga guro at nabigyan ng kaunting premyo ang mga nanalo. Nagpalaro din kami para sa mga bata at ang mga nagwagi ay binigyan naming ng gantimpla. May mga kumanta, tumula at nagbahagi ng kanikanilang mga talento. Masaya masaya ang lahat ng mga bata pati narin ang mga guro.. Nang magtanghalian na ay sabay sabay kaming kumain ng mga bata kasama ang mga guro at ibang mga magulang na naghanda ng konting salo salo. Nang matapos ang pananghalian kinausap naming ang mga guro at pinapasok na ang mga bata sa tatlong silid aralan. Oo tama ang nabasa mo tatlo hindi anim sapagkat tatlo lamang ang silid aralan at tatlo lang din ang magigiting na guro na nagtuturo. Dalawang antas ang hawak ng bawat guro. Pumasok kami sa silid aralan at kinausap ang mga bata nagpakilala kami at sinabi sa kanila kung bakit kami naroroon. Binigyan naming ang bawat magaaral ng papel, notebook, lapis, at ballpen ang mga magaaral sa unang baiting ang nabigyan din ng pangkulay. Masayang masaya ang lahat ng bata. Hindi matawaran ang ngiti sa kanilang mga labi. Nagpasalamat kami sa mga guro at punong guro dahil pinayagan kaming antalahin ng kahit ilang oras lamang ang klase ng mga bata. Sa huling pagkakataon ay pinalabas naming ulit ang mga bata para makuhanan sila ang mga guro at an gaming grupo para sa isang larawan na magiging habang buhay na magbibigay ng ngiti at kukurot sa aming mga puso. Nagpaalam ang grupo sa mga guro at punong guro ngunit sinabi naming na hindi iyon ang huling pagkakataon na kami ay babalik sa kanilang lugar. Dahil napagkasunduan na n gaming grupo na tuwing taon at tutulong kami sa Dannal Elementary School. Babalik kami at kukumustahin ang mga bata.

Pagkatapos ng gawaing iyon ay nagsalo salo ang grupo kinagabihan. Halos iisa ang naiibulalas n gaming mga ka grupo ang gaan dawn g pakiramdam nang nakakatulong sa kapwa lalo na sa mga bata. Masaya ang lahat ipinagmamalaki namin ang aming nagawa. Nagbigay kami ng larawan na kuha sa gawaing iyon at nagpasalamat sa ng tumulong. Ang nakakatuwa pa nito kahit tapus na an gaming Gawain eh may mga dumarating parin na mga gamit iniipon parin naming ito para sa susunod na BISIKLETA ESKWELA ng aming grupong ROXAS ISABELA OUTDOOR TEAM (R.I.O.T.)

Makati City – Lahat Mag-aaral Program of the Tarlac Mountaineering Club, in collaboration with Photographers’ Club of Tarlac, Climb Against Cancer and the Black Pencil Project concluded its back-to-school program last Sunday at Brgy. Patling, Capas, Tarlac, completing the five project communities for the year in the province.

Launched last June 12, the program had distributed over 2000  basic study kits for Day Care and Elementary pupils in public school in Labney (Mayantoc), Dueg, (San Clemente), San Pedro (San Jose), Gayaman (Bamban), and Patling (Capas). Fundraising was supported well by the convener’s social networks through social media FaceBook.

Climbed Against Cancer Pilipinas campaigner and founder Nini Sacro lead a 16-man contingent from Manila who traveled to Tarlac early Sunday, despite of rains to deliver the school supplies collected during the campaign period.

Sacro said, it was a privileged to be part of the LMP program and become instrumental in inspiring others to help. “Maraming gustong tumulong kaya dapat bigyan natin sila ng  mga ganitong pagkakataon”  Sacro added.

Sacro, was never new to volunteer work, her group Climbed Against Cancer had mounted organized trek in the past supporting Philippine General Hospital’s Pediatric Ward. The mountaineering-based organization shares that illiteracy is a form of societal cancer and it needs to be treated and cured during earlier stages.

Black Pencil Project co-founders Mon Corpuz and Zer Cabatuan attended the outreach together with eight volunteers. Black Pencil Project has been collaborating with Tarlac-based Tarlac Mountaineering Club for its defunct Project Aral programs in 2009-2010.

“It’s very heart-warming to know that despite of the unavailability of corporate support this year, TMC have been moved mountains to see the program happening in critical areas of the (Tarlac) province” says BPP Program Director Mon Corpuz, who hails from Mayantoc town.

Black Pencil Project revealed similar mind-set is shared by grassroots organizationg supporting the Black Pencil Project programs in Davao in North Cotabato.

“It was a revelation to us, knowing volunteers have taken steps, showing they can do more than just delivering the study kits” Cabatuan said. “Volunteers themselves were involved in fundraising the much-needed supplies from scratch.” Cabatuan added.

Tarlac Mountaineering Club’s Lahat Mag-aaral Program initiative is nothing but a testament of “bayanihan spirit” being enlivened – that an organization doesn’t have to be big to do big things; organizations’ ambassadors doesn’t have to be celebrities to influence actions, that calamities aren’t needed to inspire heroism.

Makati City – Black Pencil Project supports Lahat Mag-aaral Program; a back-to-school drive organized by the Tarlac Mountaineering Club, in cooperation with Photography Club of Tarlac, and Climb Against Cancer.

Launched last June 12, in valley barangay of Labney in Mayantoc town, the program which provides basic study kits for Day Care and Elementary pupils in public school covers (5) remote and indigenous communities in the province of Tarlac.

Fundraising initiatives for two (2) remaining communities in Bamban and Capas are currently underway. BPP has been running series of informational posters online to gather material support and pledges.

“We wish to thank our friends and donors for supporting the program, and we’re not stopping yet. We need at least 900 more of study kits” according to Angel Simbol, president of TMC who have been in-charged of the mobilization.

Simbol also expressed gratitude to Climb Against Cancer who’s cause is no different to the literacy program they are advocating. “They (CAC) finds illiteracy as a form of cancer to the society thus it needs to be treated and cured” Simbol added.

Since 2009, Black Pencil Project has been collaborating with Tarlac-based TMC for its defunct Project Aral programs.

“It’s very heart-warming to know that despite of the unavailability of corporate support this year and for our (BPP) small capacity as group to focus on other areas outside Luzon, still TMC have been moving mountains to see the program happening in critical areas of the (Tarlac) province” says BPP Program Director Mon Corpuz, who hails from Mayantoc town.

The group is slated to complete the outreach before end of July. Lahat Mag-aaral Program is offering an invitation to experience a rare activity that will not only change people’s lives but also redefines volunteerism.

For assistance, support, pledges and donations, please visit email info@blackpencilproject.org/ or drop donations at Habagat Claro M. Recto Blvd. in City of Manila.

Neneng Lagunday, Nyzel Cabatuan and Allan Delideli

Assorted school supplies

Sample Study Kit: 2 Jumbo Pencils, 1 Crayola 8s, 1 Pad Papper, 1 Writing Notebook, 1 Eraser, 1 Sharpener

School Supplies for the Teachers: Ballpens, Board Erasers and Yellow Chalk

BPP is grateful that it managed to buy the supplies in Divisoria through the donation made by St. Paul College – Pasig Batch ’95. Besides the beneficiaries in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley, there’s an additional 75 students in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur who will also benefit from the donation made by the said batch. BPP is also thankful to the assistance made by BPP Volunteers Gello Esguerra and Mike Ajero in purchasing the school supplies in Divisoria.

It was last December 2010 that BPP made its first contact with SILDAP-SEM. Read story here.

Turn over of school supplies to Allan Delideli and to the rest of SILDAP-SEM.

Davao City – In June 2010, Black Pencil Project received an email from Frances Lozano of SILDAP-Southeastern Mindanao (SILDAP-SEM). It was information about Indigenous schools in the Davao region managed by SILDAP-SEM.

SILDAP-SEM is an Non-governmental Organization (NGO) based in Tagum City handling projects for Indigeneous Communities in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. Currently, they are managing three schools in the said areas. The schools, with a total population of 176 grade school students, are in Monkayo, Compostela Valley (59 students), Asuncion, Davao del Norte (61 students) and New Bataan, Compostela Valley (56 students). These communities are made up of the Dibabawon and Mandaya tribes. Among the three schools, the one in New Bataan is the most remote wherein at least a day and a half walk from the nearest accessible barangay is needed to reach it.

Last December 22, one of BPP’s founder, Zer Cabatuan, visited SILDAP-SEM to turn over some school supplies for the three schools managed by the NGO. The supplies were donated by various groups and individuals from Manila. During the visit, Cabatuan was able to talk to Allan Delideli, Executive Director of SILDAP-SEM, and found out more about the organization and its programs for the Indigenous communities.

“Despite knowing how small the student population of these communities, it’s very moving to hear that pencils still have to be cut so that more students can own one.” shares Cabatuan on what he found out from his conversation with Mr. Delideli.

You can check out SILDAP-SEM’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66732837017

Makati City – Hobby-based volunteer group Black Pencil Project reaches out to children of Mt. Pulag Primary School in Kabayan, Benguet in Northern Philippines last December 28, 2010. Joined by colleagues from the photo club Pinoy Photography Org (Pipho) in time for the annual a year-ender photo op, the outreach (Pencil Trek) was led by Edwin Karganilla and Mon Corpuz, co-founders of Black Pencil Project who are affiliated and are officers with the photo club. Pipho Chairman and founder Regie Fernando was also present during the activity. Large quantities of pencils and writing notebooks donated by De La Salle Computer Batch 2T13 Government through SHARP-Ed, (see related story) were distributed to pupils from Day Care to Grades 4. Mrs. Nena Wais, teacher in charge; received the study kits in behalf of the school.

Black Pencil Project was an offshoot of a photo safari in Banaue, Ifugao in 2008 when photographer friends Edwin Karganilla, Mon Corpuz and Zer Cabatuan went to shoot the famous UNESCO heritage site Batad Rice Terraces. Since then, the pencil advocacy of the organization has been reaching numerous communities that are very remote and indigenous all over the Philippines with the support received from various private companies, photo clubs, civic outdoor and mountaineering organizations.

Mountaineer Edwin Karganilla, organizer of the Mt. Pulag climb shares it has been a long time dream of the organization to bring Black Pencil Project to Mt. Pulag since we (mountaineering clubs) share the same vision to reach-out and be able to help far-flung communities.

“I hope this signifies our commitment to reach more communities and be actively involved in the uplifting and promotion of responsible mountaineering in 2011″ said Karganilla.

It has been observed that Black Pencil Project was patterned and run similarly like a mountaineering club where it fosters volunteerism and group camaraderie.

Black Pencil Project aside from providing study kits provisions to deserving communities has been noted as an active campaigner of responsible traveling in the Philippines.

Makati City – Black Pencil Project is committed to provide pencils to early learners (Day Care to Grade 3) of select public elementary schools from beneficiaries of remote and or indigenous communities of the Philippines.

Namaste Project offers to western travellers an opportunity to travel responsibly, spending a part of their journey abroad volunteering for a project that benefits the local communities.
The potential of a great collaboration was promising from the beginning, mostly after having experienced the incredible work that Black Pencil does on the field.

Five volunteers from France, wanting to do more than only trekking but also do something for the local communities while experiencing their colorful culture, have been carrying proudly the colors of Black Pencil in the Ifugao Province along a 6 days trek. Our energetic guide and co-founder of Black Pencil, Lawrence, took care of the communication and organisation with the local authorities, teachers and children to inform them in Ifugao language about the Black Pencil Project.

The initial trek plan was quite ambitious, we wanted to reach the very remote villages of Pat Yay, Talboc and Guinihon, unfortunately, following the recent violent typhoon and heavy rains, the numerous landlsides prevented us to reach those initially targeted villages and forced us to take a safer way.

Over a course of 6 days, our itinerary (Banaue – Pula – Ngon Ngon – Cambulo – Batad – Pat Pat – Guitte) combined trekking and activities with the children everyday, in 6 different communities. It was a first time for Batad, Ngon Ngon, Pat Pat and Guitte to be part of the BPP Trek.
Each of us was carrying around 10kgs of personal stuff + over 600 pencils split in our backpacks, wanting to be volunteer sherpas!

This trek was also an opportunity to try different activities with the children, the first one was story telling: we brought 4 story books with us, all written in French. We were apprehensive at the beginning if the children would have any interest in it so we gave it our best shot. We first tried with the children present in Pula, and were surprised to see that they just loved it, shy at the beginning, the children soon bloomed with enthusiasm,and after a few minutes we were surrounded by a cloud of kids laughing, listening, and looking at the pages with their eyes wide open. We review the experience in each community, gaining ourselves every time more experience and confidence as we were also getting more familiar with the stories and ways to interact with the children and catch their interest.

In 3 communities: Cambulo, Batad and Pat Pat, a drawing session: all children were asked to make a drawing about their village, culture or dream. This project is to collect all drawings and to have them scanned and printed in a book or poster for each community thanks to the BPP sponsor’s Canon! The drawings were amazing, and the children so talented! The children also loved to play game on the black board, for instance this game called pictionary, were we divide the classroom in two teams, and the children have to guess what is drawn on the black board! A very successful and fun interaction and exchange with the volunteers, children and teachers.
Pula: 4 hours trekking from Banaue, we could distribute pencils and start to experiment the story telling! Ngon Ngon: a very little village with a few houses, we distributed pencils to the local children who also loved the story telling. It was the first time this community had been targeted by Black Pencil.

In Cambulo, this children know about the Black Pencil Project, and it s in this village that the brilliant idea of the project was born. With more than 100 children attending our event on an holiday, we started with the story telling, splitting the children into 4 groups by grades and ages. Then we could experiment the drawing activity, distributing pencils and crayons to all children. We were so happily surprised to see their passion and talent. How they managed to draw beautiful art about their village and culture! At 6, even after the nightfall, we could go on celebrating this exchange by singing songs together!

The next stop Batad. The village has yet to be targeted by Black Pencil. But to be fair with all other villages and not exclude them, we stopped to present the Black Pencil Project and do the storytelling, drawing activities. As we were in the classrooms, we also experimented drawing games on the blackboard that we all liked very much.

One of our best even has been in Pat Pat. The village is quite isolated, there is no guesthouse for tourists, only a simple home stay. The site is beautiful, and the school with its two classrooms full of friendly and energetic children. In addition to the drawing and story telling activities, we even could spend time playing volleyball and chess together – a little 9 year old Ifugao girl even mercilessly beat one of the French volunteers at several chess games!

This shows how the project is a win-win rich exchange for the children and the travellers. The Black Pencil Project gives the children hope, and desire to go to school and learn; and let responsible travellers an opportunity to meet the local communities and have a unforgettable exchange with the children who have left a smile in our heart for ever and to see the true heart of the Philippines and its people. Thanks a lot to BPP and al the team for this successful expedition…. To be renewed !

Black Pencil Project volunteers arrival at the project site in Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac from Black Pencil Project on Vimeo.

Black Pencil Project volunteers distributed study kits to children of Sitio San Pedro, Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose Tarlac (Luzon island) Philippines. The project community is inhabited by Aetas, one of the cultural ethnic minorities in the Philippines. Various organizations including Canon Marketing Philippines, Namaste, Boondockers Mountaineering and Tarlac Mountaineering Club, supported the outreach.

Black Pencil Project is a grass root, hobby-based volunteer organization with core advocacies promoting child primary education in remote and indigenous communities in the Philippines, fosters volunteerism and shared responsibility.