BALILI, BONTOC – Balili Elementary School concluded on October 1, 2019 the activities lined up for the month of September to October this year. This are the IPED Month, Family Week and the month long World Teachers month which started from September 5 to October 5. Just like the other schools nationwide, these activities are being celebrated to give importance on the indigenous culture and traditions as part of the educational curriculum of DepEd, the family day celebration to show the importance of the family in molding children to be better citizens and the Teacher’s Day to give tribute to the mentors who work twenty- four seven to prepare their lessons for our children.
The IPED and Family Day was conducted in the morning giving emphasis on the importance of indigenous education and the role of family as a nucleus of basic learning in the community. The Barangay IP representative, Mr. Gabriel Boyagao Sr. gave his message to the pupils regarding the unwritten laws of the past but is a very good tool in disciplining the children. He further added that the “ATO” is an institution in itself in the community since this is the place where the old folks converge to settle disputes or misunderstanding among the villagers. Children who commit misdemeanors in the community are brought to the “Ato” for advices and possible punishment depending on the offences they have committed. Mr. Boyagao said he and his fellow senior citizens are willing to help the school in disciplining the pupils when they commit infractions in the school.
On the part of the Speaker on the family day, kagawad Felix Langcao based his message on biblical passages in training kids within the family. He said, to train a child during his formative years the way we want him to be depends on the way the family trains him to be in the future. If the way we train them is punishment and with anger, the children will develop resentment toward us their parents so we must have to explore other mode of approach when disciplining the children, Mr. Langcao Said.
The Senior Citizens were invited on this special occasion and they came in full attendance and in uniform. They were elated with the different revival presentations of the pupils regarding the custom and traditions like the “bayanihan” system of building abodes for newly married couples where the able-bodied men of the community are called to bring home the wood materials needed to construct a house for free. The women are likewise gathered to cook food for the men who went to carry the wood materials needed from “Pagpag”. The Senior Citizens are one in opinion that hopefully this kind of helping each other in times of need will be imbedded in the minds of the younger generation now so that the spirit of “bayanihan” will not be lost in the community. According to these senior citizens, this is also true in building the house, each family will donate 2 or more days to help build the house for free. If the couple can afford to pay the labor of the carpenters, then they will hire for carpenters but if they cannot then the community will alternately build the house for free.
The culminating activity of the world Teachers day celebration followed in the afternoon after all the participants partook their pot luck lunch where each family brought their own cooked food to school.
The pupils and parents entertained the teachers with their gong playing antics. Pupils made greeting cards for their teachers and they read their prayers and compliments to their teachers.
The message for the teachers was given by Punong Barangay, Henry L. Atiwag. Mr. Atiwag told the teachers that his office and his Sangguniang Barangay members will fully support this activities of the school since it is a collaborative activity where it involves all the stakeholders of the school. He assured the school that they will be part of this activities already because their presence and participation is a lesson they will also learn to be more responsive to their kids and grandchildren.
The program was formally ended with the closing remarks of the PTA President, Erlinda Dicang. She told the body that the program was happy and successful. She acknowledged the participation of the Barangay Officials, Senior Citizens, PTA and other stakeholders for the success of the activity. She then expressed her profound gratitude to each and every participant and challenged them again to attend this once a year activity of the school.
By Rebecca M. Bacala
