Importance Of Education

When I was in the Philippines this last month I stayed in Barangay Dumolog, Roxas City, Capiz. Across from the house is a fish drying compound where people work for $1 a day. On a previous trip, I had taken photos of people working in many of these compounds. Upon returning, I had printed and given out those pictures to the subjects. This is how my interest to help with the education of these people began. I was out filming night shots for my Aswang documentary and a girl came up to me and said,"Where's my picture?" I replied "I don't have any." "Okay, give me candy." "I don't have any candy either." "Okay, just give me pesos." she said with a huge smile. Her lola (Grandmother) came out scolding her - I laughed. We asked each others name, she told me about the stray dogs in the compound and then we parted ways. It dawned on me that we had the entire conversation in English. English is not, by any means, uncommon in the Philippines, but it is very uncommon amoung children in the Visayan provinces - in the poorer areas such as Dumolog. The extent of their English is usually "Hey Joe!", "California." "Hey man!" "What's your name?" and "Happy Birthday".

I asked about this girl the next day and found out that her father was murdered two years previous on the street in front of the compound and her mother had just recently taken off with a man, leaving this girl 'Mary Grace' and her 7 brothers and sisters. The two older brothers work in the fish drying compound while Mary Grace, 12 years old, takes care of her 5 younger brothers and sisters. Upon further inquiry, I discovered that Mary Grace was at the top of her class when she was forced to drop out.

I could take one of two approaches at this point. Just move on because such are the hardships of life in the Philippines, or I could take some action to affect change. I found out that there are 15 children in this compound whose parents can't afford to send them to school. The cost for an entire year of school is $50. This includes miscellaneous fees, exams, uniform, and shoes. I visited the compound with, my friend, Board Member Rommel Lastimoso and he explained that the parents will still be responsible for food, but the education would be paid for providing I can get the needed donations. The funding will be administered via an employee of Rommel to ensure that every penny goes towards education, minus a small fee which will be used for transportation to take the children to get their uniforms.

This is part one. Part two is to educate the children on hygiene, especially their teeth. An education will allow the children to gain employment in the city where they can earn $80-$120 dollars a month, as opposed to $30 a month in the fish drying compound. However, there are not many employees in restaurants and retail that have rotten teeth.

A trusted local dentist, Lovelle Licanto, has agreed to see these children as the funds are raised to send them. This will start with a cleaning and examination. The work needed will be forwarded to me and each child will be treated as necessary. Lovelle has already donated tooth brushes and tooth paste to each child in the compound. The Philippines does offer some free dental programs, but the often prescribed treatment is extraction as opposed to restoration.

I am asking anyone who is interested in sponsoring a child for $50 a year to contact me and I will send you their picture and ensure updates are given as regularly as possible. Also we are hoping for donations towards dental work, vitamins, tooth brushes and tooth paste.