‘It takes a village to raise a child’

The Brigada Eskwela is a government program termed as the National Maintenance Week that aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort and resources to prepare public schools’ facilities for the opening of the school year.

This program provides great help in the improvement of Juan Pamplona National High School in the municipality of Tabuelan to become known and has a resounding tune of appreciation throughout the Province of Cebu because of its claim for a consistent winner for the past succeeding three years now.

At first, the school’s teaching force didn’t know what and how to implement the Brigada Eskwela, but as time went by, these teachers were oriented on the program and started with the implementation. It did not take long before the school was included among the top 10 Best Brigada Implementers in the Division of Cebu Province in school year 2016-2017and school year 2017-2018. 

This gave the teaching force the courage to exert much effort to provide a better learning environment for the students. That students may not think of dropping out from their classes because the school itself catches their attention of going to school every day. Aside from this, the number of failures among the students was minimized.

 These teachers searched and found potential stakeholders like the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated (RAFI), the RAFI SEED, the City Savings Bank of Bogo City, the Equi Credit of Cebu City, the Alumni Association, etc.  And of course the local government unit of Tabuelan headed by the very friendly and dynamic  former municipal mayor Rex Casiano Gerona (who is now vice mayor) and his very supportive  First Lady Marifi Gerona, who became partners in the implementation. Thus this school was awarded as the first place winner during the Search for 2018 Best Brigada Eskwela Implementer in the Divison of Cebu Province held at the Philippine Eucharistic Congress in Mabolo, Cebu last December.

The school found another stakeholder, the Rotary Club, headed by Bing Martinez who donated equipment intended for the senior high school students that cost P4.2 million last April 12.

Through the Brigada Eskwela program, school administrators and teachers learn that with cooperation, anything is possible. It also reminds us that raising responsible children is a duty not just of the school and home, but of the entire community.

Nilfa D. Estañero

ASP/Brigada Eskwela Coordinator

Juan Pamplona NHS, Tabuelan, Cebu