Saklolo po Gng. Cynthia Villar

(Part I)

Kahit wala pa tayong pormal na pag-uusap, bilang kampeon ng kabataan at kababaihan sa Pilipinas, nais ko sanang tulungan ninyo na maibalik ang OB Montessori Pagsasarili Preschool sa CAA, Las Piñas. Malakas po ang tiwala ko sa inyong paglilingkod sa bayan. Bilang kinatawan ng Las Piñas sa siyam na taon, pinilit ninyong maitayo ang 11 Regional Centers for Women to protect them from abuse. Kinilala kayo ng UN Human Habitat sa pagpapaayos ng Las Piñas-Zapote River. I remember very well how your husband, former Senate President Manny Villar and you were fully encouraged by my late husband Max in your earnest endeavor to help the country. You enthusiastically welcomed our adding the new OB Montessori School in BF Las Pinas with its unique farm project for students while providing an affordable version, the Pagsasarili Preschool for the disadvantaged community at Phase II Calle Saging. Pahintulutan po ninyo akong isalaysay ang pangyayari.

Ang paglilingkod ng Pagsasarili Preschool sa Las Piñas sa loob ng 24 taong

Mula noong 1983, anim na Pagsasarili Preschool ang naipatayo sa depressed area ng National Housing Authority sa Metro Manila: West Crame, San Juan, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan, Tramo, Pasay, Karangalan, Pasig at Dasmarinas, Cavite. Naging matatag ang mga proyektong ito dahil sa pagiging financially stable nila, sa pamamagitan ng voluntary payment of tuition fees ng mga magulang at hindi umaasa sa mga donation. Ika-anim ang Pagsasarili Preschool - CAA, Las Piñas. Nagsimula noong 1986, kaya dalawampu’t apat na taon na ang paninilbihan sa kumunidad ng CAA ang OB Montessori Pagsasarili. May 3,688 preschoolers na ang nakapag-aral dito at 1,706 ang nakapagtapos. Marami sa kanila ngayon ay may mahuhusay na trabaho dito at sa ibang bansa, tulad ni Michael Tayactac, 30 taong gulang, na ngayon ay Project Engineer sa Singapore at Mary Grace Estevez, KFC manager sa Alberta, Canada.

Chronology of events: Will the 24 years come to an end?

The Pagsasarili School in Civil Aeronautics Administration in Las Piñas City was established by the OB Montessori Child and Community Foundation, through its partnership with the National Housing Authority, and the community of CAA. NHA provided the area for the land while the community-based organization (in this case the CAA Urban Bliss Homeowners Association or CUBHOA) provided the building. Initially, the Pagsasarili School occupied the CUBHOA building free of charge. Later, a rent of P1,000 per month was charged by CUBHOA for the improvements made in the building, which went up to P2,000 in 2002 to 2010.

Towards the end of 2009, the Housing and Estate Development Board of the City of Las Piñas informed the OBMC Child and Community Director Concepcion Suarez about the intention of the CAA Barangay to convert the church at Saging Street into a Parish Church. This would require the demolition of the CUBHOA building where the Pagsasarili School is housed. NHA representatives suggested the possibility of relocating the CUBHOA and the Pagsasarili School to another barangay property where a new building could be built.

Filemon “Sonny” Aguilar, the barangay captain, questioned the legality of the presence of the Pagsasarili School in the area. He claimed that the MOA signed by NHA, CUBHOA and the Foundation was not binding because it was not notarized and did not bear the signature of the NHA General Manager (at that time, Atty. Raymond Dizon Jr.) and the signatory for CUBHOA, Gregorio Samonte, was already deceased. This suggests that we did not have a hold on our occupancy in Saging Street and that we could be asked to vacate it anytime. He was also upset that CUBHOA has been charging us rent for several years without his knowledge.

The Pagsasarili Preschools is under the legal custody and protection of NHA

Before the end of 2009, the church decided that it would take a long process to convert to a Parish Church so it would no longer need the space occupied by the CUBHOA building. However, by the following year, construction started in front of the CUBHOA building without any formal notice from the barangay and approval by NHA. It was the CUBHOA president Josefina Vitoriano who informed the Foundation that the barangay intends to put up a Health Center, Day Care Center and parking lot.

Pagsasarili parents fight for their rights to maintain quality education for their children

The parents of the school took it upon themselves to confront the Barangay Captain about this and to give consideration because the school was still ongoing. The parents were not met by Mr. Aguilar. Instead, his secretary told the parents that they should go to the City Hall because the project was being ordered by the Mayor. The parents proceeded to the Engineering Office of Las Piñas City Hall where Engr. Aguilar, who assured them that they should just cooperate because the school will be given a space in the new building anyway. When the parents heard this they were pacified.

On the part of the Foundation, a letter was sent to Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar through Atty. Glenda Lucena of the Las Piñas City Hall Legal Department, who also happens to be a parent of a student in OBMC Las Piñas Branch. The letter appealed to Mayor Aguilar that the Pagsasarili School has nothing against constructing a new building for better services, but that they should put off the demolition until the end of the school year so that the classes of the students would not be abruptly cut off. It also requested for a space to be rented by the Pagsasarili School in the new building. Although no written response was given by the Mayor, the demolition of the classroom was put off until the end of March 2011.

The Foundation sought for an appointment with the Barangay Captain on several occasions to clarify the status of the school in the new building. However, he was always unavailable or would constantly reset the schedule of the meeting. Letters were also sent to Engr. Natino of NHA to seek support and to follow-up the status of the school’s occupancy in the new building, but their response was always tentative. They are offering an open space where a building would still have to be built. Assistance was also sought from Atty. Lucena through Mrs. Indiongco, Administrative Coordinator of OBMC Las Piñas, but she also could not give any definite answers. Due to the uncertain situation of the building, and space for the school in it, the Foundation was forced to seek a temporary classroom to house the school and continue its operation for School Year 2011-2012.

Finally when the Barangay Captain met with Mrs. Suarez and the Foundation Staff, he was not inclined to recommend giving the Pagsasarili School a space in the building, since it was a government building and its services would be catered to the public for free. The space would be given to the barangay day care centers which do not charge the residents.

Umaasa kami sa inyo G. at Gng. Manny Villar

We are very hopeful Mr. and Mrs. Manny Villar that you will find a solution to restore the Pagsasarili Preschool and protect the rights of the disadvantaged children of Las Piñas. They and their parents are our pledge to a sustainable future for the Philippines. Your determined advocacy for the welfare of families will be nationally noted, as you persevere in the vision of leading the country one day.

(Part II: “Incomparable advantages of Pagsasarili Preschools”)