Story & Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga

Books and plays for schools

As part of the solidarity and actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Community Extension and Development Office (CEDO) supported the School Learning Resource Centers (SLRC) of two adopted schools.

Books for nursery, kindergarten, and grades one through six, play rubber mats, toys and bookshelves were delivered to Katiclan Elementary School and Nabataan Elementary School last January 16 and 17, 2023, respectively.

Thomasian teachers and staff arranged and set up the books and shelves and welcomed the pupils of Nabataan ES into the SLRC, which was just a designated corner at the biggest classroom of the school. The pupils immediately found themselves seated on the rubber mats as they witnessed the short turn-over and signing ceremony between CST-R and Nabataan ES. This elementary school is home to 114 pupils and nine teachers.

Destroyed school

Meanwhile, in Katiclan ES, pupils eager to browse their new books had to visit the temporary pending space by groups two or three since their SLRC is yet to be re-constructed. The previous SLRC was completely destroyed by typhoon Odette in December 2021. The Katiclan ES Principal’s Office presently serves as SLRC and houses the learning support materials from CEDO.

Ms. Rose Almaras, principal at Katiclan ES, shared that the new SLRC will be fully completed in March this year. Almaras is grateful because the first batch of learning materials from CEDO will be the first for their new learning resource center.

The two schools were adopted under CST-R’s G.U.G.M.A. project. As an acronym, G.U.G.M.A translates into love or charity and it means the Giving of Ultimate Gifts, Memories & Assistance to public elementary school-communities in need of support.

Solidarity of Thomasian comunity

G.U.G.M.A. is the result of the solidarity of Thomasian alumni, private benefactors, the OAR Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, alumni of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, YACAP Partylist and the Thomasian faculty, staff and administrations.

Together this community of volunteers and benefactors work towards achieving Quality Education for all Filipino children.