CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – His face radiating with confidence and gratefulness, Howard Sam Ibañez thanked the soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), US Armed Forces and Australian Defense Force for building new classrooms for him and his schoolmates.
Speaking from past experiences as a student of Sta. Lourdes
Elementary School in Puerto Princesa, Palawan , Ibañez said he is thankful for the new
classrooms built there by the participating soldiers as part of Balikatan
Exercises 2015’s (BK15’s) Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) events.
Wilmalyn Esoy, principal of Sta. Lourdes
Elementary School
“We assure them that these buildings will be used for the
utmost benefits of our youth,” she said.
Calamity-resistant
Lieutenant Commander Mike Guzzi, US Navy, operations officer
of the Balikatan Exercises 2015 (BK 15) HCA programs in Palawan and Panay, said
that the combined soldiers participating in the bilateral exercises built eight
classrooms in Palawan and two classrooms in Panay .
He said the classrooms could accommodate 30-50 students.
He added that they chose the Sta. Lourdes as one of their
beneficiaries because they were considering the possibility of further
overcrowding in the school as an effect of the newly-adapted curriculum K to12.
Commodore James Meyer, US Navy, said in his speech during
the turnover ceremony and inauguration of the school buildings in Sta. Lourdes
that the combined efforts of the AFP, US and ADF soldiers is leaving behind
typhoon and earthquake resistant structures to students. He said that these
buildings will be able to withstand calamities in the future.
He also said they hope these could serve generations after
generations of Filipino students who would one day lead the country.
Testaments of friendship
Meyer said the strong foundations of the school buildings
they were leaving behind to students in Palawan and Panay
are manifestations of the soldiers’ commitment to service.
“The United States
remains committed in its friendship to the Republic of the Philippines
He also said the construction of the school classrooms left
behind fond memories in the US soldiers’ minds that they will forever treasure.
"As the soldiers are preparing to part ways as
Balikatan wraps up, we are not just leaving behind a school, not just memories.
We are leaving behind friendships...friendships that would stand the tests of
time...We'll be leaving a part of our hearts behind," he added.
Vice Admiral Alexander S Lopez, AFP, BK 15 Exercise
Director, called on the students of Sta. Lourdes to take care of the classrooms
that this year’s Balikatan participants are leaving behind.
He set aside his prepared speech to speak from the heart for
the gathered crowd at Sta.
Lourdes Elementary
School
“We want to see these classrooms still standing eight to 10
years from now. Take care of them so future students could use them too,” he
said.
He said they opted to build school buildings because it
symbolizes the future of the country – the youth.
“It is where learning starts and with it you will be able to
help your fellowmen too,” he added.
He thanked the students, parents and teachers for allowing
the soldiers of AFP , US
"Let us remember our soldiers from the AFP, US Armed
Forces and Australian Defense Forces as the builders of peace, builders of
progress, builders of development and, most of all, builders of hope," he
said.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/109813/legacy-of-hope--balikatan-troops-build-calamity-resistant-classrooms-for-kids-in-palawan-panay
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