DVIDS: Balikatan volunteers paint school in Puerto Princesa

From DVIDS (May 10): Balikatan volunteers paint school in Puerto Princesa

PUERTA PRINCESA, Philippines -- At the Barangay Inagawan Elementary and High School, volunteers from the US Marine Corps, Navy, Army and the Royal Australian Navy painted the student health center, two student bus stop shelters and planted 20 eggplant seedlings in the school’s garden.

At the Barangay Inagawan Elementary and High School, volunteers from the US Marine Corps, Navy, Army and the Royal Australian Navy painted the student health center, two student bus stop shelters and planted 20 eggplant seedlings in the school’s garden.

“I hope our efforts today reflect our respect for the people of Palawan. Getting out here and working together builds even stronger bonds of cooperation and friendship,” said U.S. Marine Lt Col. Brian Lewis, officer-in-charge of the staff planning exercise for Balikatan 2014.

The Puerto Princesa Mayor’s office suggested that the Balikatan participants volunteer in Inagawan to help with ongoing restoration efforts. The relationship with Barangay Ingawan is ongoing. In 2013, Balikatan volunteers painted several other buildings within the community.

“Inagawan is one of the adopted Barangays,” said Julie Blanco, coordinator with IReach, a popular non-governmental organization that helps out local schools in more than 63 Batangas in here. “We really appreciate the help from the Balikatan participants.”

The volunteers are here working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Western Command as part of Balikatan, an annual bilateral training exercise to improve the AFP and U.S. military force interoperability during planning, contingency, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

The principle of the school, Norma Delacruz, expressed her appreciation for the volunteers. Her administration oversees the wellness and education of more than 300 children. She said the school administration has been overwhelmed with ongoing renovations. She was very appreciative that the volunteers donated all of the paint and supplies, allowing the school to put the funds toward other needs.

Most of the volunteers were first time visitors to the Philippines.

“The best part of volunteering is seeing the smiles on the faces of the residents,” said U.S. Marine Capt. Christopher Wiese, a communications advisor for the STAFFEX. “Lending a helping hand is a universal way to communicate because at some point in time we have all needed a little help ourselves and understand the basic principle that we are stronger together.”

Local villagers, school administrators and volunteers from IReach soon joined the Balikatan volunteers. When the students return to school they will see their Student Health Center and bus stops freshly painted with the school’s bold colors, green and yellow.

After a long day of work, the guest volunteers joined the Inagawan local volunteers for a “salu-salu” or picnic by the beach. The local residents and volunteers shared stories and snapped some photos as a reminder of the event.
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