20th year at Minoro Elem School

We've had several typhoons and flooding in Capiz these past few weeks. But we made it to Minoro Elem School in Mambusao. Since it was raining, we all squeezed into the principal's office. But it was all good. Our sponsor today is Odette Aquitania Ricasa, the first Filipina to visit all 193 UN countries in the world. She is also the author of seven books and has generously supported many charitable causes including BalayniCharie School Supplies Program. Diane Acas donated the backpacks. We are grateful to our sponsors who made this event possible and drew smiles from the children. BalayniCharie is now 20 years old! Thanks to Odette Ricasa for sponsoring this event. 

These cute backpacks were donated by Diane Acas.

Images by TravelswithCharie

 

Celebrating our 20th Year

 

Tinigban Integrated School, Panitan

How we started: 

In 2006, I began giving school supplies to 20 of the most disadvantaged children in Roxas City. When we left the classroom, several children asked me, "How about us? When will you give us?" The following year I gave school supplies to the entire first and second grades. On the third year, I was able to give to the entire school. And now, BalayniCharie is on its 20th year, thanks to the generous people who supported our work. We couldn't have done it without their help. 

We kicked off our 20th year at Tinigban Integrated School where we gave school supplies to 133 students. This event was sponsored by Connie Collo. Many thanks to Connie for her staunch support of BalayniCharie. The backpacks which we gave to some deserving children were donated by Diane Acas who has been one of our steadfast supporters over the years. 

Images by TravelswithCharie

Balay ni Charie is now on its 19th year

It seems only yesterday when we started giving school supplies to the children in Capiz. In the beginning, we gave school supplies to 20 children at Conrado Barrios Elementary School in Roxas City. The following year we gave the entire first grade class and then both the first and second grades the succeeding year until we finally had the funds to give the entire school. Big thanks to our donors who have made this journey possible. Now we’re on the eve of our 20th anniversary. How exciting is that! 

In early 2025, we visited six schools and here they are: 

Catmon Elementary School, Panitan, Capiz, February 12, 2025

Donor: Leda Albar

Cabungahan Elementary School, Maayon, Capiz, February 18, 2025

Donor: Connie Collo, Odette Aquitania Ricasa

Culasi Elementary School, Sapian, Capiz, February 26, 2025

Donor: Florence Barredo Panes

Balaring Elementary School, Ivisan, Capiz, March 11, 2025

Donor: Smiley and Kai Shies Program

Nipa Day Care, Roxas City, March 12, 2025

Donor: Nieva Q. Burdick

Tugas Elementary School, Mambusao, Capiz, March 18, 2025

Donor: Selma Templanza, Rose Driscoll (Rose Driscoll made a special quilt and donated it as a prize to raise funds for BalayniCharie).

Big thanks to Diane Acas for the special backpacks she donated which we gave to a few of the children whose names were drawn from a hat by their teachers. The winners were so pleased with the backpacks. We are grateful to all our donors who made the children very happy and well prepared to tackle their schoolwork.

If you would like to donate to our school supplies program or would like your school to receive school supplies, please contact balaynicharie@gmail.com. The elementary school must be located in Capiz, Philippines.

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Images by TravelswithCharie

Re-launching of our Little Free Library

In May 2017, we launched the Little Free Library (LFL) at Jacques on Baybay Beach, the first LFL on the island of Panay. Locals enjoyed the books and magazines the LFL offered to both adults and children until the pandemic rolled in. People stayed at home and our library languished. Fast forward to 2025 when Mercedes Ortiz Ignacio decided to resurrect our free library and become its steward. The next step was to find a venue in a well trodden area. We were lucky to have found Mikhael Dayoub of Papa Mikhael's Restaurant who gladly volunteered to host the LFL. 

Michael Dayoub, our LFL hoat and Mercedes Ortiz Ignacio, our new steward.

On March 21, 2025, we re-launched our Little Free Library at Papa Michael's on Baybay Beach. It is one of 200,000 little free libraries in 128 countries. Our LFL is a charter member of this worldwide organization.

We're grateful to all the guests who joined us in celebrating this eventful re-launching of the LFL and who also gave books so we have a full house.

Our Little Free Library at the entrance to 

Papa Mikhael's

We hope you'll come to Papa Mikhael's on Baybay Beach to check out our library. The books are free to take. But if you give a book, you'll help sustain the library for years to come.

About the launching of LFL in 2017:

https://balaynicharie.blogspot.com/2017/05/little-free-library-launched-in-capiz.html?m=1

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