Merry Christmas

During this time of giving, I would like to thank you, our generous donors and friends, for supporting Balay ni Charie. You have brought miles of smiles to the children in Capiz.

"Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

The good you do for others is good you do yourself." Norman Wesley Brooks

Wishing you all a blissful Christmas.

At Lacaron Elementary School in Dao, Capiz

It took a week for the floodwaters to subside so we could get to Lacaron Elementary School in Dao. The roads were muddy and slippery in some areas and thanks to our driver we got there safely.

The children were well behaved and quiet. They each received a notebook and pens from Balay ni Charie. They were a little shy raising their hands when I asked them to spell some words and write them on the blackboard. But they were all delighted with the prizes for each correct spelling - crayons, scissors, sharpeners, pencil cases with pens, pencils, erasers, and rulers. First graders were asked to spell boy, girl, cat and jam. Third graders were asked to spell family, friends and school. Fifth and sixth graders were asked to spell Philippines or Republic of the Philippines.  It was delightful to see the focus every child gave to the word they were asked to spell.

Teachers and staff at Lacaron Elementary School

The teachers treated us to early lunch with adobo, soup, balut and kutshinta (a Pilipino "kakanin" and a specialty of Lacaron). We were famished after distributing school supplies to about 250 children. But it went smoothly, thanks to the principal and teachers for facilitating the event.

I am grateful to all the people who donated school supplies and who continue to support Balay ni Charie including Diana Acas and her family and friends, Rosemary Driscoll, Leda Albar, Ditas Fuentes, Ray Wong and Bock Loo.

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Images by Charie

Sewing Machines for the Home Economics Class

Dao Central Elementary School

Last July when I was distributing school supplies in Ilas Norte in Dao, Capiz, one of the teachers from Dao Central School asked me to donate a sewing machine for her Home Economics class. I had a portable sewing machine at home which I had never used so I promised to give her that machine.

But as luck would have it, I received a generous donation from Diana Acas and her family and friends so I was able to get a manual Singer sewing machine for the kids to use in class. Prior to receiving this sewing machine, the kids were shown photos of a sewing machine to learn its parts. They never had hands on training. Until now.

These kids attended the turnover ceremony prepared by Mrs. Rose Dalid and other teachers at Dao Central School. They are the students from the Home Economics class under Mrs. Dalid.

My donors and I believe that learning a craft or trade will benefit these children who may not otherwise be able to continue through high school. At the very least, they will learn to sew for themselves and hopefully help them make a living.

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Images by Charie

Agoho Elementary School, Pan-ay, Capiz

This is the first time Balay ni Charie gave school supplies to the children at Agoho Elementary School in Panay. There were approximately 340 students who received notebooks, pens and pencils. Some of the kids earned a backpack or calculator of one of many prizes by demonstrating their spelling ability.

The shy little kid above won a backpack for spelling "malakas" (strong) correctly.

These bright siblings (from different grades) spelled Philippines correctly. Congratulations to all the winners!

I was touched by the drawing of the students of Balay ni Charie. What a beautiful house it is surrounded by flowers and trees!  (Balay is Capiznon for house.)

Thanks to all our donors especially Diana Acas and her family and friends and Leda Albar for the backpacks. God bless you all.

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Images by Charie

Lawis Day Care Center, Roxas City

This is my first visit to a day care center. There are 48 children enrolled in two sessions at Lawis Day Care Center in Baybay, Roxas City - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  The ages of the children range from 3 to 5 years old.  Balay ni Charie gave each of the kids notebooks and pencils. Some of the boys received white T shirts thanks to the generosity of Teresa Smith.  The center also  received crayons and plastic numbers and letters for use in class instruction.

The children in the center receive instruction in writing and they enjoy listening to their teacher's story telling. They also have creative projects using clay. There are two other day care centers in Baybay which I would like to visit on my next trip.

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Images by Charie 

Olotayan Elementary School, Olotayan Island

Olotoyan Island is a 40-minute boat ride away from Banica pier in Roxas City. Students at Olotayan Elementary School came to school on a Saturday morning to receive school supplies and slippers from Balay ni Charie. Not everyone received slippers to the dismay of the other kids. We only had enough for one class. The rest of the kids received crayons, rulers and pencil cases.  The City of Roxas had previously given the schoolchildren their school supplies so Balay ni Charie gave school items and accessories that were not included in the City's school pack. Some of the kids who won our spelling and math contests received backpacks, books and markers. Here's one of the kids who received a backpack. She won the spelling contest.

These happy children received slippers, thanks to the generosity of Rosemary Driscoll.

About 160 children in Olotayan Island were the beneficiaries of Balay ni Charie School Supplies Program. I hope to return to this beautiful place and give slippers to all the children.

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Images by Charie

Back in Ilas Norte Elementary School in Dao, Capiz

6th Grade students at Ilas Norte 

After two years since we last visited Ilas Norte Elementary School in Dao, Capiz, I went back to distribute school supplies last June, the beginning of the 2011 school year. Some 348 children from Kindergarten to 6th grade received notebooks, pens, pencils, and crayons. I  also conducted a spelling and math contest at each class and gave away pencil cases, colored pencils, project folders, erasers and pencil sharpeners to the winners.

Ilas Norte Elementary School

Thanks to Ray Wong for  his most  generous donation, Balay ni Charie was able to give school supplies to all the students.

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Images by  Charie

Balay ni Charie Goes to Olotayan Island

Early this month, Filomena Bolaño Beluso, traveled to Olotayan Island (which is across from Panay Island to the northeast), to distribute school supplies to the children there on behalf of  Balay ni Charie. She visited the second grade class shown here holding the notebooks and pencils they received from Balay ni Charie. Students from other classes received pencils. There are about 170 schoolchildren on the island. It's my fervent hope that we will be able to give all the kids the tools they need so they can stay in school.

The school staff drew this little nipa hut to represent Balay ni Charie (balay means house). It's a warm and welcoming house which serves the needs of young and disadvantaged students in various towns in Capiz. Thanks to Ms. Beluso (shown above) for making this visit to Olotayan Island and extending help to the kids through our program.
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Photos  by Charie

At Conrado Barrios Memorial School in Roxas City

Third Grade students

We celebrated our fifth year at Conrado Barrios Memorial School, the first school we visited 5 years ago when we distributed school supplies to 20 of the most disadvantaged children.  This year we reached out to 600 children, thanks to the generous contributions of friends and family.

First Honor Students

New this year was the awarding of backpacks to 20 deserving children who were ranked first in their class for academic excellence. Thanks to the generosity of Rosemary Driscoll and her family and friends, these kids received much needed backpacks. The awarding of backpacks took place on school grounds in front of all the students. The Principal encouraged all the kids to study hard so they will also receive backpacks in the future.

Kids and teachers gather for flag ceremony

There are 3 sections each for first through 5th grades and two sections for 6th grade. Kindergarten is divided into the morning and afternoon sessions with a total of 60 kids enrolled. There are 130 first graders and an equal number in second grade, 135 third graders, 114 in fourth grade and 105 in fifth grade. There are 114 students in the graduating class of 6th graders.  There were several students who missed school during the 2 days when we were distributing the school kits. Extra supplies were left with the Principal and all the rest were sent to the schoolchildren on Olotayan Island. (I will feature this separately.)

Fourth graders

School kits include pens, pencils, crayons, and pad paper or notebook.  We had question and answer sessions in every class and students who gave the correct answer were given prizes like pencil cases, scissors, colored pencils, calculators, notebooks, extra pad paper. All the kids raised their hands excitedly to answer questions in Math or History and in some sections, we asked the kids to sing or recite a poem. It was all so heartwarming.

First grade students

Thank you to all the generous people who support Balay ni Charie including Diana Acas and Family, Rose Driscoll and her friends and family, Gilda Ramirez Saluta, Bock Loo, Teresa Smith, Dita De Jose, Gabriel Gonzalez, Ditas Fuentes, Anthony Albar, JR Jen, Monique Alberjieun, and all the people who helped us distribute the school kits at the different schools we visited recently and in the past years.

We hope to return next year to Conrado Barrios Memorial School. The kids are waiting for us.

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Images by Charie

Preparing for our Fifth Year

In November I will be distributing school supplies in Roxas City at one of the grade schools. There are about 600 students currently enrolled at the school and my goal is to give school supplies to all the children. So I started early this year and asked my friends and family for help and they have responded so generously. The photo above shows some of the donated school supplies. I have at least two big boxes full to send to the Philippines at the end of September.

Thank you everyone for your overwhelming generosity. The children are blessed by your magnanimity. And you are doubly blessed for your kindheartedness.

"The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving." Albert Einstein

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Image by Charie

Balay ni Charie in Dao, Capiz

With the help of friends we visited three schools in the barangay of Ilas in Dao, Capiz. We were able to give school supplies to some 123 children in the third and fourth grades.

The road to Ilas is partially unpaved and narrow. At some point we had to get off the car and walk a half mile along a muddy stretch of road with potholes. We had mud in our shoes and clothes. But it was well worth it when the kids came up to us to say "Thank you".

I would like to thank the Dalid family - Clay, Wilson, Rose and Rene who facilitated our visit to Ilas Norte, Ilas Sur and Centro Primary School. Bless you all.


Wish we could have reached out to more students especially since we heard some kids from other grades asking where their school supplies were. That was heartwrenching.

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Photos by Charie

Celebrating our fourth year

Third Graders in Milibili

Last Thursday, November 5, 2009, we distributed school supplies to 92 children at the Manuel Arnaldo Memorial School in Milibili, Roxas City. Three sections of the third grade and one section of the fourth grade were the recipients of pens, pencils, erasers, and pad paper. Some students who won in the informal math contests we held received children's books, crayons, notebooks, pencil cases and other prizes. It was a great day to help the children in Milibili. Many thanks to Leda Albar, Bock Loo, Terri Smith, Monique AlbarJen, Diane Acas, Anthony Albar for their generous support. Next stop, day care center in Lawis.