TABUK CITY, Kalinga – On September 4, 2023, members of the United Ilocandia (UI) Fraternity and Sorority held their “Balik Eskwela 2023 Assistance and Feeding Activity” for preschoolers in Barangay Dilag with the intention of helping their community.
In collaboration with the UI Taiwan and Chiayi (UITC) Chapters, the UI Kalinga Chapter hosted the event.
Many chapters from across the nation, according to Chapter President Samuel Tabunigao, had prepared the same program.
Tabunigao requested them to help their chapter support the barangay of their choice, which they gladly did.
Each child received a bag filled with supplies for school, including paper, pencils, crayons, and sharpeners, as well as rice porridge for them and their parents or guardians.
In addition, Tabunigao congratulated the parents of the preschool children who came to the event despite the unfavorable weather.
“Pagyamanak ti panag umay yu uray agtudtudu,” he said.
He concluded by expressing his hope that the supplies they provided might, even in little ways, aid the kids in their academic endeavors.
City Mayor Darwin Estrañero attended the event as a former member of UI and currently serving as an advisor for both UI and Samahang Ilocano.
In his message, he explained that while the program is sponsored by the UI, it does not mean the assistance will be given exclusively to kids of Ilocano ancestry but the same is for all the preschool kids in the barangay.
Estrañero praised the UI for its initiative to help kids with their education by providing instructional materials.
“Gapu ti kinarigat iti biag, ad-adu iti kasapulan tayu ket pagyamanan tayu daytuy nga organisasyon ta ada naipaay da kadatayu tatta nga aldaw,” he said.
