A team of American and Filipino Operation Pacific Angel-Philippines engineers joined school teachers and students for a group photo at Pamplona, Philippines, March 9, 2013. The engineers completely renovated a building including electrical, drywall, windows and painting. Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance exercise held in various countries several times a year and includes medical, dental, optometry, engineering programs and various subject-matter expert exchanges. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. J.C. Woodring)
PAMPLONA, Philippines - U.S. and Filipino service members officially presented a completed elementary school workshop building to the school's principal March 9, here.
Operation Pacific Angel-Philippines engineers started the building's renovations March 3.
"When they came over, (the building) really needed repair," said Marina Guevarra, Pamplona Elementary School principal. "Now, it looks like a newly constructed building. We are so grateful."
The team rewired the building, added electrical outlets, and installed lights and fans on the ceiling. They also installed drywall, built a storage area to lock up tools, replaced the windows, and painted the entire building - inside and out. They even installed a chalk board.
"It's been great seeing all the kids watching us work on the site and knowing that they will have a chance to do some of the same work when we are done," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Carlton Hill, a civil engineer from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
The teachers and students grew attached to their new military friends and sang them a thank-you song as they were getting ready to leave the site for the last time. By the end of the song, most of the students and maybe even some of the teachers were weeping.
"The children will miss them very much; we are so grateful for this project," Guevarra said. "We hope you can come back and see us again."
http://www.pacom.mil/media/news/2013/03/12-us-filipino-service-members-build-school-during-pacangel.shtml
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