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Dreaming of a new school

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga (June 1) — In a few days, classes will begin. While most parents and students are busy buying notebooks, ballpens, books and uniforms and teachers are sprucing up their classrooms, a community is looking for ways to ensure that their children will be able to go to school this June.

Last December 2004, typhoon Yoyong struck the country leaving casualties and damage to property. While no one died in Barangay Ngibat, part of the roof of the community’s school building was blown away by strong winds, including its walls and other equipment. Books were soaked and scattered on the mountainside. The school catered to the learning needs of children from grades 1 to 5. Upon reaching the sixth grade, the children have to hike an hour to attend classes at the school in Tinglayan Proper.

Barangay Ngibat is one of the five barangays populated by the Butbut tribe in the municipality of Tinglayan, Kalinga. In 2004, it had a population of 270. The main source of livelihood is farming, both wet rice agriculture and swidden farming. To reach the community, one takes a two and a half hour jeepney ride from Bontoc, Mt. Province to Barangay Maswa (Lower Basao) which is the nearest entry point to the barangay. Another one and a half hour hike on foot trails through cogon grasslands and rice fields will bring the traveller to the village.

When asked where the children held classes after Yoyong, Barangay Captain Pedro Bumon-as said that they use the unfinished barangay hall or the Baptist church building as temporary classrooms. The children, the three teachers and the community helped in salvaging equipment and books blown off by the typhoon. These were left to dry in the sun in order to be used again. When we visited the area as part of our community immersion, we saw pages of schoolbooks scattered on the mountainside. All that remained were a few chairs and a blackboard. Beside the schoolhouse is the Roman Catholic church, also damaged by typhoon Harurot which also blew off its roof.

Kapitan Bumon-as added that the barangay purchased a lot located at a lower area of the barangay for the construction of another schoolhouse. The area is safe from strong winds. The old building was constructed at a higher part of the barangay, on a ridge with a view of the Sleeping Beauty Mountains. The municipal government took care of the roofing materials while the barangay was in charge of the posts and other parts. But even with the availability of land for the new school building, the children will have to stay in their temporary classrooms because funding is still being arranged.

The children still go to the old school building to play and act out the dramas they hear on the radio. With the Sleeping Beauty in view, they continue to dream for new books, notebooks, ballpens and a new classroom. # Mayette Iniguid for NORDIS

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