Makati City - Philippines' Black Pencil Project in cooperation with Climbagainstcancer Pilipinas and Cathy Babao-Guballa's Yakapin: Batang Hilagang Mindanao is spearheading a drive called "A Thousand Bear Hugs" a toy drive campaign that aims to collect stuffed toys; specifically cuddly and huggable plushies and teddy bears to be distributed to children of Iligan and Cagayan De Oro who are or possibly undergoing a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought by the recent flash flood caused by Typhoon Sendong.

What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the development of symptoms following exposure to a traumatic event. Any kind of extreme stress can lead to development of PTSD. Typically, it involves direct personal experience that involves threatened or actual death or serious injury, witnessing a stressful event, or learning about an unexpected or violent death or injury to a family member or close friend. PTSD is treatable. Some people learn that in the process of healing from trauma they discover strengths they didn't know they had.

Play and Stuffed Toys?

Play and toys have been very effective tools in helping children heal from trauma and tragedy. Stuffed toys have been known to be effective comfort givers in times of extreme stress and fear. To children, stuffed animals are more than toys, they’re imaginary friends who are always ready to give comfort or play. They provide a certain amount of security in a sometimes scary world.

What are needed?

Old and brand new stuffed toys/ plushies like teddy bear with ideal huggable size.?? Make sure the toys are cleaned and dry before bringing in to our drop-off points for sorting and inventory.

Where to bring the toys?

You may bring the stuff toys to any of the following drop-off points;

Black Pencil Project
9M The Columns Ayala Avenue Tower 1
Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.
Makati City

Climb Against Cancer
The Outdoor Project (Formerly Habagat)
Recto. 2077 Promenade Square CM Recto Ave.
Sampaloc, Manila

G.i. Outdoor Shop
Sta. Rosa, Laguna

Conquer Outdoor Equipment
Robinsons Pioneer, EDSA cor Pioneer St.,
Mandaluyong City

Bombproof Gear (Stoke, Inc.)
3rd Level Robinsons Galleria
EDSA Corner Ortigas Avenue Quezon City

Pitman (Habagat)
SM Megamall A
EDSA, Mandaluyong City

4B Nurses Station
Chinese General Hospital
Sta. Cruz, Manila
 

Institutions and organizations donating toys more than 30 pcs. may ask for the donations to be picked it up from their locations. Drop-off points are also welcome.

Toys must be received on or before February 11, 2012. Simultaneous distribution will be on February 14 (Valentines Day) in Iligan City and Cagayan De Oro City.

For more information, call or sms 09177961378, email info@blackpencilproject.org or follow A Thousand Bear Hugs on Facebook.com/groups/blackpencilproject.

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)

By Ronalyn R. Regino

IF not candies, then what?

It was in June 2008 when hobbyists photographers Mon Corpuz, Edwin Karganilla, and Zer Cabanatuan visited a small community called Cambulo in Banaue, Ifugao.  Since Ifugao is one of the culturally sensitive communities, tourists are discouraged to give candies and worse, money to children therein.

Instead of candies, and with the permission of Banaue Tourism Office, the three photographers ought to bring a bag of pencils to be given to the children as they pass through the village. Humbled by the warm welcome of the kids, the photographers realized the shared value of social responsibility and promised to continue the effort in their own little way. There began “The Black Pencil Project.”

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.

The Black Pencil Project is a hobby-based volunteer organization with core advocacies focused on children’s primary education. It promotes shared social responsibility throughvolunTourism and advenTourism.

Originally, the project was “Lapis Para Sa Batang Eskuwela.” Right from the start, it was set to address a particular segment of elementary education – the early learners. These children, particularly the incoming first graders, are the most excited to go to school despite of the circumstances such as a long travel by foot from home to school.

Since pencils are not as expensive as other materials, economically, the founders found the cause favorable to commit for it does not require donations from other people.

According to one of the founders, Mon Corpuz, “We can buy pencils ourselves, what we intent our friends to do, is to follow what we are doing. Start a cause no matter how small it is.”

The Black Pencil Project’s vision is to change the world one pencil at a time. But aside from providing pencils and material support that reportedly helped to increase the number of enrollees in schools visited, it also contributes psychosocial support to communities, particularly teachers in public schools devoting a lifetime profession teaching in remote areas.

The project taps Filipinos with passionate professions and hobbies to take part in the advocacy of being instruments of hope to the early learners by harnessing their passions, interest and preferred activity.

Three-pronged programs

The Black Pencil Project has three programs: Back-to-School, Immersion and Awareness Programs which runs all year through.

Back-to-School is executed during May to July, just in time for the opening of the classes. The idea is to bring the school supplies on or before enrollment period. With this, parents do not have to worry with the school supplies; hence, more children are enrolled.

Children are given basic study kit. These materials are cascaded into schools through organized simultaneous treks called “Pencil Treks.”

Immersion program happens from August to April. Invited volunteers and donors are invited to join immersion treks and conduct art workshops with the children. Interactive activities and exercises are encouraged during this time in order to build a bond between the volunteer and the community since there is a time limit during treks.

Lastly, Awareness program is carried out. As an organization, the project offers unique travel opportunities, self-empowerment, experience countryside back-packing and facilitate expansion of volunteer’s off-line social network.

It is no secret that Filipinos are willing to advocate on helping the ones in need, which is why The Black Pencil Project has been supported by a number of people. It started from three people and ended up growing and growing as days pass by.

“The small advocacy evolved from a personal project to a full blown collective initiative, garnering support from private individuals and various organizations,” said Corpuz.

The project provides alternate windows to private companies and organizations to maximize their social responsiveness programs. Mountaineering groups and photography clubs as well as foreign tourists and overseas Filipinos abroad have supported the cause.

Due to the size of and limited resources, The Black Pencil Project only goes to remote and indigenous communities as their area of focus.  Remote since it is only accessible by foot or has decent seaport such as Babuyan Islands. More than anywhere else in the Philippines, the public schools in the remote communities are important in promoting education as universal equalizer.

The project’s target communities normally comprise from 50 to 250 of school population.

Spirit of volunteerism

The Black Pencil Project is beneficial not only to the children and their parents alike but also the volunteers joining their treks. These volunteers are exposed to the project areas, immersing them to communities and experience unique travels. They also get to realize their significance to instill change or make change happen.

At the minimum, the project is only supported by local government or district levels of public schools. In Banaue, Ifugao, the project has worked with the local tourism office.

“This way we can also help contribute to the government programs in the countryside by becoming more of a proactive civic organization rather than a visitor to the community,” Corpuz said.

The Black Pencil Project is not yet recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, yet the project recognizes DSWD-run day care centers with their programs. They have helped in rebuilding a day care school in Talim Islands, which is located at the center of the Laguna de Bay lake under the municipality of Binangonan, Rizal.

The compensation of the project is the least thing they think of.

“Perhaps if we are to think of it, we could not have last even for a year. But luckily, our limited resources are ample enough to mold our programs and be successful,” said Corpuz.

In a way, this challenges the Project to focus on its key competence as a volunteer organization and effective models to sustain the programs.

The Black Pencil Project was named after the type of pencil the founders first brought to Cambulo, Ifugao in 2008. Coincidentally, the black pencil is the prescribed writing instrument for students in Kinder and Grades 1 – 3 in public schools because of the size and grip.

This is how the project grew to what it is today – from initial pencils, ideas poured in from friends as if each and everyone is putting school materials inside a bag, and another bring the bag to the mountains to hand it to a child.

As said earlier, The Black Pencil Project adheres to the spirit of volunteerism and individual commitment of goodwill, thus the organization does not run a list of membership, sign-ups and membership fees.

According to Corpuz, everyone who believes in The Black Pencil Project is welcomed to volunteer. A simple gesture of telling The Black Pencil Project exists is considered as help.

Corpuz said, “Sama-sama nating abutin ang lahat ng mga bata sa pinakaliblib na pook sa Pilipinas, abutan sila ng lapis, hikayatin at turuan silang gumuhit at sumulat ng magagandang pangarap.”

For more information on their advocacy, visit their websitewww.blackpencilproject.org or email at info@blackpencilproject.org.

Let us all help and support typhoon relief efforts of government troops, social welfare institutions and non-governments organizations in areas most afflicted by recent typhoons in Luzon.

Black Pencil Project Org, in response to the multi-sectoral call for help and assistance for the victims of Typhoon Pedring and Quiel, had created a list of relief drive and efforts in typhoon-stricken communities in Central and Northern Luzon.

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Sagip Kapamilya
ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. Building
Mother Ignacia Ave., corner Eugenio Lopez St.,
Quezon City
Trunkline: +632-415-2272 loc 3765
Direct line: +632-411-4995
Email: sagip@abs-cbn.com
Website: www.sagipkapamilya.com
Fax No: +632-411-4995
Warehouse: ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya Warehouse(Edongs)
#137 Mother Ignacia Ave., Quezon City

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GMA Kapuso Foundation
Address: 2nd Floor GMA Kapuso Center
GMA Network Drive cor. Samar Street
Diliman, Quezon City 1103
Telephone Nos.: (632) 982.7777 loc. 9901 / 9904 / 9905
Telefax: (632) 928.9351 / (632) 928.4299
E-mail: gmaf@gmanetwork.com

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Philippine Daily Inquirer Typhoon Relief Drive
1098 Chino Roces Ave. corner Yague and Mascado streets, Makati City.
Tels. 899-4426 or 897-8808 and look for Connie Kalagayan or Bianca Kasilag.

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Philippine National Red Cross
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, PO Box 280, Manila 2803
Telephone: 527-0856
Fax: 527-0857
E-mail: prc@redcross.org.ph
Website: http://www.redcross.org.ph/

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National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
OCD Region III
Telephone: +63.45.4551145
Telefax +63.45.4550564

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Gawad Kalinga
Ground Floor, Cheng Building,
212 Haig Strteet, Brgy. Daang-Bakal,
Mandaluyong City, Philippines 1552
Mobile: 09175239777/09178888659/
+639163200809/ +639162738260

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Climb Against Cancer
The Outdoor Project (Habagat Recto)
Promenade Square
Claro M. Recto, Manila
Call/Text: Nini Andrada Sacro 09164388781

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Please help us update the list if you come across sites and links of the same cause. Please email info@blackpencilproject.org or SMS 09177961378. Kindly include the following:

• Name of Organization
• Complete Contact Information and Web links
• Things Needed
Salamat!

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.

Tupi's Tarsier

It was only recently that the local government of Tupi has discovered the tarsiers in Barangay Linan. From then on, protection and conservation programs have been created and done to help this endangered specie.

Cabatuan joined Allan Barredo* for an ocular visit last December 27 to a B’laan community in Barangay Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato. It was through Barredo, who hails from Koronadal, that Black Pencil Project found out about the community. The barangay is an hour drive from Barredo’s hometown and is situated at the foot of Mt. Matutum. It is now declared as a tarsier sanctuary wherein the locals are being educated about it.

The trip to Barangay Linan was also joined by Barredo’s wife, Jean, his kids, Creamy and Okie, and two of his photography buddies from Koronadal, Ric Samanio and Ron Payopelin. It was capped with the distribution of school supplies to around 40 kids of Barangay Linan, who are from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The school supplies were donated by various groups and individuals in Manila.

Jean distributing school supplies to the kids.

Group hug with the kids.

Group hug with the kids and mothers.

As an advocate for Philippine tourism, Allan Barredo aka Lantaw likes to travel and capture beautiful landscapes of the country.

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.

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.