Working together: Engineers from the Guam National Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines work together to rebuild damaged classrooms and buildings at Marasbaras National High School in Tacloban City, Philippines, following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan last November.
Some of the airmen and soldiers from the Guam National Guard helped a high school in a devastated Philippine city recover from Supertyphoon Haiyan almost a year ago.
About 80 Guam airmen and soldiers joined some of their counterparts from Hawaii and the Philippine military's Reserve Command in rebuilding seven classrooms at Marasbaras National High School in Tacloban City.
The rebuilt classrooms were turned over on Sept. 14, said Maj. Josephine Blas, public affairs officer of the Guam National Guard.
The project began in July with teams of airmen and soldiers from the Guam Guard's 254th Red Horse Squadron, the 1224th Engineer Support Company and the Hawaii Guard's 230th engineers rotating every few weeks through completion of the humanitarian assistance project, Blas stated.
Spc. Nelson Soliva, a Guam Guard soldier who spent several weeks in Tacloban for the rebuilding, said it's been his goal to become more involved in humanitarian efforts.
Almost a year since Haiyan devastated the Visayan region in the Philippines, Soliva saw the continuing suffering of many who survived Haiyan, which was dubbed one of the world's strongest typhoons.
In certain areas, people still live under tarps or in tents, Soliva said.
Schoolchildren arrive in their classrooms soaked when it rained, he said.
"Our reward is seeing your smiling faces and knowing that in some way, we were able to help you," according to Paulino's statement at the Sept. 14 turnover of the keys to the rebuilt classrooms.
The high school serves hundreds of students who have had to attend classes outdoors since the typhoon.
For Soliva, the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening.
"I became a lot more appreciative of the stuff we have here on Guam," said Soliva, who is a medic in the Guam National Guard.
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20140923/NEWS01/309230010/Guard-assists-rebuilding-RP-classrooms
About 80 Guam airmen and soldiers joined some of their counterparts from Hawaii and the Philippine military's Reserve Command in rebuilding seven classrooms at Marasbaras National High School in Tacloban City.
The rebuilt classrooms were turned over on Sept. 14, said Maj. Josephine Blas, public affairs officer of the Guam National Guard.
The project began in July with teams of airmen and soldiers from the Guam Guard's 254th Red Horse Squadron, the 1224th Engineer Support Company and the Hawaii Guard's 230th engineers rotating every few weeks through completion of the humanitarian assistance project, Blas stated.
Spc. Nelson Soliva, a Guam Guard soldier who spent several weeks in Tacloban for the rebuilding, said it's been his goal to become more involved in humanitarian efforts.
Almost a year since Haiyan devastated the Visayan region in the Philippines, Soliva saw the continuing suffering of many who survived Haiyan, which was dubbed one of the world's strongest typhoons.
In certain areas, people still live under tarps or in tents, Soliva said.
Schoolchildren arrive in their classrooms soaked when it rained, he said.
'A new beginning'
Maj. Gen. Benny M. Paulino, the Guam National Guard adjutant general, said the project provided "a new beginning" for the students of Marasbaras National High School."Our reward is seeing your smiling faces and knowing that in some way, we were able to help you," according to Paulino's statement at the Sept. 14 turnover of the keys to the rebuilt classrooms.
The high school serves hundreds of students who have had to attend classes outdoors since the typhoon.
For Soliva, the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening.
"I became a lot more appreciative of the stuff we have here on Guam," said Soliva, who is a medic in the Guam National Guard.
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20140923/NEWS01/309230010/Guard-assists-rebuilding-RP-classrooms
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