The Freeman Foundation, Star Group's Damayan project: School in Manatad, Sibonga to get supplies, satellite set

A total of 307 pupils of the Manatad Elementary School in Sibonga will receive donations of school supplies today, as part of the Balik Eskwela program of The Freeman Foundation.

The school is also set to receive from the foundation, in coordination with Operation Damayan of the Star Group of Publications, a 25-inch Kolin color television set, a Dream satellite dish and other apparatus, for the Dagdag Karunungan School Caravan Dream Satellite Project.

Now on its 20th year of public service, the Star Group's Operation Damayan would distribute 20 sets of satellite equipment to selected schools, which The Freeman Foundation would identify as recipients. Three of five sets have been given to the Visayas area.

During the past two weekends, the foundation took the satellite sets to Tan-awan Elementary School in Tubigon, Bohol, and to Bitaug Elementary School in Enrique Villanueva town of Siquijor.

The Manatad Elementary School, headed by Ms. Ofelia dela Torre with eight teachers under her, has 72 pupils in Grade I, 44 in Grade II, 43 in Grade III, 53 in Grade IV, 56 in Grade V, and 39 in Grade VI.

Each of these pupils will receive from the foundation plastic cases containing notebooks, pad papers, ball pens, erasers, and pencils.

Before the distribution of school supplies and the turnover of the Dream satellite equipment, 11 of the 16 members of the foundation's core group and The Freeman general manager Melandro Mendoza yesterday arrived at Manatad to assemble new school desks.

These new desks were funded from donations of the University of San Carlos-Alumni Association headed by Mr. Derek Go, and the USC-GHS Elementary Class 1981 Alumni Association of Mr. Nimrod Quiñones, who is also the managing editor of The Freeman.

Members of the Parents-Teachers Community Association came to eagerly help assemble the readied parts for 40 desks of the school in Manatad, Sibonga that is 50 kilometers away from Cebu City.

The foundation had also asked for assistance from Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas for the construction of a one-room building for that school in Sibonga where the satellite equipment will be kept and set for viewing.

Another active partner, the SM City Cebu Foundation, is also scheduled today to turn over books and a computer unit to the Manatad Elementary School.

Last year, Mendoza along with Philippine Star photojournalist Revoli Cortez surveyed this mountain barangay of Manatad and they found the school there with dilapidated buildings and lack of facilities and equipment.

The foundation, in its mission to serve indigent children, had also established the Balik Eskwela's fun day project.

The joining of Operation Damayan to the mission, the foundation would now be able to meet the needs of children for school supplies, school desks, and the satellite equipment that teachers will use as teaching medium. - Garry B. Lao