New school kits bring joy to kids in several public schools nationwide
Thursday | Oct. 19, 2017 | 9:00 AM
Pupils of San Rafael Elementary School in Zambales pose with their new backpacks and the employees of Casino Filipino during PAGCOR’s distribution of school kits to public elementary schools in the province.
San Narciso, Zambales – Like most underprivileged public schools students in the country, majority of the students in San Jose Patrocinio Elementary School (SJPES) do not have the means to buy basic school necessities.
This pathetic scenario is something that SJPES Principal Rommel Rosete wished he could do something about. “Nakakaawang tingnan yung mga batang kapag may gawain sa klase eh lingon nang lingon sa mga katabi para manghingi ng papel o manghiram ng panulat dahil wala na silang magamit,” he narrated.
The much-needed aid came last October 4, 2017 when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) distributed backpacks containing assorted school items, slippers and hygiene kits to more than 1,000 pupils from Grades One to Three in ten public schools in Zambales, including SJPES.
Volunteer employees from Casino Filipino (CF) Olongapo, led by Branch Manager Gil Madlambayan, visited the schools to personally distribute the new bags to the students. “Napakalaking bagay nito para sa mga bata dahil hindi lang ito makakatulong sa kanilang pag-aaral kundi magbibigay rin ng dignidad dahil hindi na nila kaaawaan ang kanilang mga sarili,” Rosete noted.
Beddeng Mabangcal Elementary School (BMES) Principal Venus Delante said the school kits and backpacks that their pupils received will motivate them to regularly attend classes and reduce absenteeism. “Karamihan sa mga bata, madalas na nag-a-absent dahil walang gamit o di kaya ay nahihiyang pumasok dahil sa mga panahong ito na kalagitnaan na ng school ay sira na ang mga bag. Ngayon, siguradong mae-engganyo na silang pumasok lagi kasi mayroon na uli silang mga bago’t maaayos na gamit,” she explained.
Apart from SJPES and BMES, other recipients of school backpacks in Zambales included Alusiis Elementary School (AES), Casa Tondo Elementary School (CTES), Dallipawen Elementary School (DES), La Paz Elementary School (LPES), Namatacan Elementary School (NES), San Pascual Elementary School (SPES), San Rafael Elementary School (SRES) and Simminublan Elementary School (SES).
PAGCOR has also distributed school kits to thousands of elementary pupils in Pampanga, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, Masbate, Ilocos Norte, Manila, Mandaluyong, Parañaque and Quezon City.
To date, the agency has already distributed 30,000 school bags to impoverished school children nationwide.