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April / 2003
A free school at the foot of Garbage Mountain, Philippines
"Paaralang Pantao" (Humane School) NEWS

Paaralang Pantao 2002-2003

June: the new semester
A total of 154 children aged 3 to 17 were admitted. Those aged 3 to 8 attended morning classes, and those aged 9 and above studied in the afternoon. The teaching staff headed by Principal Letty included Baby, Christina, Eden and Mariaferre.

July: Free lunch provided
The children were served lunch free of charge Mondays through Fridays. It has, however, been suspended due to the shortage of fund.

August: School festival (22nd)
The children staged such attractions as singing and dancing. The audience included Japanese students in the Philippines and other guests from overseas.

December: Excursions and a Christmas party (10th) (21st)
The outings in two groups took the children to Manila and Quezon City in two chartered buses. The junior group accompanied by parents went to Manila Zoo, Children's Museum and Quezon Circle. The senior group visited National Museum in addition to Quezon Circle and a planetarium. While some of them felt uneasy and threw up in the air-conditioned bus, the boys and girls fully enjoyed playing in the Circle.

The children also had a good time singing and playing games in Christmas celebrations. At lunchtime they were served special lunch of fried chicken with rice and juice. Japanese students presented them with T-shirts which carried the name of Paaralang Pantao.

(Two Photos by Kayo Sawaguchi)

A branch of Paaralang Pantao requested
    On July 10, 2000, the huge Garbage Mountain in Payatas, Quezon City, suddenly collapsed in the wake of typhoon-triggered heavy rains. Several hundred people were buried alive and found dead. The victims included 23 of the Paaralang Pantao children. After this tragic incident, a number of residents were forced to move to a new settlements area by the name of Montalban, popularly known as Erap City, in Rizal Province, about 40 minutes away by car.
    Quite a few children of those families eventually lost the opportunity of learning. Their concerned parents filed a petition that a free school like Paaralang Pantao be established to alleviate the problem.
    As of now an empty house in Erap City is being transformed into a classroom. It is hoped that a new branch of the school will soon launched and be opened in June this year.
    Your understanding and generous support is requested.

    (Photos show children waiting for the opening of the Paaralang Pantao branch.)

Letters of appreciation
　Julian Donaire, 21, completed the college level of education in October 2002, while Ma. Elaine Joy Reyes, 17, is now advancing to fourth year in high school. We wish on this occasion to express our profoundest thanks for the untiring support and encouragement you had extended to both of them.

    A simple message from me: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! for your love, caring, understanding and support! Also THANKS for not getting tired of remembering us! especially of helping poor people and children, who are concerned about their future while upkeeing their ambitions!
    I've finished my studies last October, and am now hunting for a job. Because of you, your friends and the other sponsors, I know, we could reach our goals. Simply saying thank you may not be enough.
    But, again, THANK YOU for all that you have done and that you'll continue to do for us. Now I pray for God to help me find a good job so that I can also help others, like you have done for us.
    Thank you very much! Always take care of yourselves, wherever you are, whatever you do! We never forget you, wherever I am...

Julian Donaire

    Before anything else let me greet you first with a flying HI! and with a floating HELLO! How are you? How's life going on there? We are fine, I'm fine. I'm still studying, and this is a very hard year. What I mean to say is that my school work is very hard and that I always face so heavy homework and projects. But it's fun. I have many friends and am happy in my new school.
    By the way, a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And, also a Happy Valentine! Hope to see you soon....
    Always take care, and God Bless you always...

Elaine Joy Reyes