Coron, Palawan is a magical place. It used to be a fishing village and now it is slowly becoming a dive and island tour destination. The beaches are great. The people are sincere. Commercialism is slowly creeping in but with the limited establishments, power and facilities, the place still has that "island charm".
Coron living is simple and no frills. I would walk around, have a cup of hot joe at Coffee Kong, a Korean owned cafe', eat the local food and hang out at the only place alive at night, the "No Name Bar". I would also marvel at the starlit skies a sight that I rarely see these days. By coincidence HBO played "Men in Black II" and had a quote about staring at the stars and saving the world.
DLSL '87 pledged the two classroom donation and refurbishment of an existing building at Colion Island Elementary School as a birthday gift to their teacher and life long friend Bro. Sec. Armin Luistro FSC. Bro. Armin, instead asking for anything from his friends for his birthday asked that Colion Elementary School be given the facilities. True to St. La Salle's mission, DLSL '87 humbly undertook this herculean task.
Upon DLSL '87's arrival we explored the islands and saw the majestic beauty of the place. As you can see in the video, clear water, fish everywhere and million year rock formations decorate the islands. As we hopped from island to island, all I could say was that there is a God for He created this all.
Now, DLSL '87 is a motley mix of personalities. They are actually members of their honor's class. As I observed them, they were amusingly close knit, very deep in their convictions and firm in their resolve for the project. All of them were also very humble yet accomplished in their own rite. There was a coffee magnate, a handbag fashionista entrepreneur catering to the highest echelons of PH society, a shipping tycoon, a couple of renowned doctors, a poultry baroness, a top management executive that could pass for a monk and a loving couple, captains of the industry doing a lot of laundry (as in clothes) with their kids both of whom are in LSGH.
There was also another donor Mr. Shimizu, a 75 year old Japanese national living in the PH for 45 years that donated earthquake resistant chairs and tables. Such a kindhearted and charitable man he was.
http://youtu.be/fkx3LRJ6MJA
On the first day of class we went to the school located in one of the Colion islands where the Lumber Camps were. Though inhabited by the indigenous Tagbanua tribesmen, the particular island was a leper colony as well.
I was kinda nervous about going to a leper place until I found out that leprosy has been eradicated with modern medicine. Good thing I kept it cool.
http://youtu.be/5muIShw7lVU
Simultaneous to the turnover ceremonies, DLSL '87 also conducted a medical mission. Amazing how orderly the local folk were in cuing for their turn to be treated. In addition to the classrooms, school materials and slippers were also distributed to the children.
http://youtu.be/D12TPgGVv14
As an observer, I kept a distance from the action. I was impressed at how such a few could do so much from the planning, funding to the project implementation.
http://youtu.be/ZL9nKd-kTes
In one word I can say that I saw "HAPPINESS". The smiles of the children made it all worth according to my Laundryman classmate and senior class president Dominador Asis that was with his DLSL '87 wife and sons. The Asis kids enjoyed the experience and even taught the kids on their first day. It was reminiscent of the LSGH Reach Out programs that we had in LSGH where we also did some teaching for our less fortunate brothers.
http://youtu.be/F9XgfG5Agek
The whole experience was worth it. I got a few days off, gazed at the stars, made friends and was witness to a noble cause. Thanks to Keats and DLSL '87 for the ride. It was not just an honor but my privilege to to join you in Coron. You may not have saved the world but by your action, you gave some kids in a remote island some hope for their future, to not just gaze but reach their "stars".
Animo! Bless you all!
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