BalayniCharie, 20 for 20

20 Years of Service

Twenty years have flown by since BalayniCharie gave its first school supplies to children in Roxas City, Capiz. I'm deeply grateful to all the people who have generously supported our program through the years. As I've said many times before, BalayniCharie would not have made it this far without your unwavering support.

For our 20th year, BalayniCharie connected with 20 schools, barangays, the indigenous people of Capiz in Dumarao, a senior home, a blind and deaf community home, feeding programs at two schools, day care centers and a catechism class in Roxas City. We were also able to get more books for our Little Free Library and various school libraries in Capiz from UNIFFIED of New York through the help of Nieva Burdick so we can continue to provide reading materials to the community. Many thanks to Odette Aquitania Ricasa, Connie Collo, Selma Templanza, Smiley and Kai Foundation, Diane and Mon Acas, Anonymous and all the coordinators and operations staff who helped us make our 20th year a huge success. 

Here is a list of the schools and various organizations we were privileged to reach:

1. Tinigban Elementary School, Panitan - November 28, 2025

2. Minoro ES, Mambusao - December 4, 2025

3. Quinat-uyan ES, Maayon - December 10, 2025

4. Ati and Panay Bukidnon communities, Dumarao - January 10, 2026

Many thanks to Christian George Acevedo, Governor F. Castro and Atty. Luvim Amores for the food supplies.

5. Binantuan ES, Pan-ay - Dec. 15, 2026

6. Bato ES, Pan-ay - Dec. 15, 2026

7. Conrado Barrios Memorial School Feeding Program, Roxas City - Jan. 15, 2026

Many thanks Christian George Acevedo, Mataji and Atty. Luvim Amores with whom we worked at this feeding event. 

8. Anatolia ES Feeding Program, Roxas City - Jan. 22, 2026

9. Barangay Culasi, Roxas City - January 31, 2026

10. Almon Primary School, Ivisan - Dec. 11, 2025

11. Pontevedra ES -Kindergarten - December 2026

12. Cabugao Summer Catechism class, Roxas City - May 26, 2026

13. Pondol ES, President Roxas - August 19, 2026

14. Aranguel ES, President Roxas - August 19, 2026

15.  Bagacay ES, Pan-ay - Sept. 8, 2026

16.  Bun-od ES, Cuartero - Sept. 16, 2026

17.  Book Distributions in Capiz - 5 schools, one community home and the Little Free Library including St. Lawrence Parish School in Panitan, Our Lady of Snows Institute in Dumarao, Balay Dalayunan in Roxas City, St. Isidore High School in Pontevedra, Little Free Library in Roxas City, Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parochial School and St. Catherine Academy in Mambusao. Many thanks to Fr. Ryan Barrios and Mercedes Ignacio for coordinating with the schools to make these distributions happen.

Books from UNIFFIED

18.  Home for the Aged, Banica, Roxas City - Jan. 20, 2026

19.  Balay Dayonan, Roxas City - Sept. 30, 2026

20.  Three Day Care Centers in Timpas, Panitan - October 2, 2026

21.  Little Free Library, Roxas City - ongoing project

at Jacques, Baybay Beach, Roxas City

As we look forward to the next 20 years, we are excited to join hands with Smiley and Kai Foundation which is an organization that provides medical devices to senior citizens and people with mobility issues.

Recipient of scooter

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” Maya Angelou

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Images by BalayniCharie

20th year at Two Schools in Pan-ay

Binantuan Elem School

This school in Pan-ay is managing to stay relevant despite the lack of classrooms yet the kids are sharp and friendly. One child came up to kiss me. I was moved by his gesture. Thanks to an Anonymous donor for helping us with this event. And to Diane Acas, the kids always love your backpacks. 

Binantuan Elem School

Binantuan Elem School

The way to Binantuan Elem School.

Bato Elementary School

Bato Elementary School in Pan-ay is our 12th school supplies recipient for 2025. With only three classrooms and the stage area for Kinder to 6th grade, the students have to share classrooms. But the principal's determination has converted the former primary school to an elementary school. Kudos to Marivic Barrera for her hard work through the years. Thanks to Selma Villagracia Templanza for the backpacks we gave away today. So glad to have visited Bato ES. BalayniCharie Foundation is now on its 20th year.

Bato Elementary School

Bato Elementary School

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Images by TravelswithCharie

 

February 2014 Activities

First Grade classroom, Agsilab Elem. School

February was a hectic month for Balay ni Charie. We distributed school supplies in four elementary schools in Capiz. Our first stop was in Sapian at Agsilab Elementary School. 300 students received notebooks, pens and pencils from Balay ni Charie. At Agsilab, we saw first hand the damages wrought by super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. In one building, three different grades had to share the same room. Blackboards were used to separate one class from the other. The ceiling was gouged out. In another classroom, a red plastic tarp keeps the children dry from the rains. The kindergarten and day care kids were installed at the barangay hall across the street as there were no classrooms available for them. The good news is that all the children were able to continue with their studies. And maybe the buildings will be repaired during the summer break.

Agsilab Elementary School

Our next stop was at Agoho Elementary School in Pan-ay which is right on the beach. It has the most beautiful setting of all the schools but vulnerable to storm surges and flooding. I would have a hard time concentrating on learning anything if I were one of the students here because I would probably be gazing out the window or be distracted by the calming sounds of the sea. 290 children received school supplies at this school. We happily observed the work on the roofs of the buildings. Fortunately, the school received much needed help for repairs from a Christian group from Texas, USA.

Agoho Elementary School

Nieva Burdick and her friends and family sent a generous contribution of school supplies to Balay ni Charie. She shipped these supplies and t-shirts from New York in December 2013 and it was delivered in Roxas City in February 2014. This helped us immensely so we could reach out to two more schools - Malonoy Elementary School and Ilas Norte, both in Dao, Capiz. I was quite impressed with how the Principal, the teachers and the parents of the students at Malonoy Elementary School worked together to make all the necessary repairs to the classrooms damaged by the typhoon. What a herculean effort on their part to pick up the pieces and put everything back together in record time! Bravo!

Malonoy Elementary School

The sixth grade kids at Ilas Norte Elementary School received t-shirts and they were so excited to wear them. Here they are showing off their new tees.

Students at Ilas Norte Elementary School 

About 204 students in Malonoy and 295 schoolchildren at Ilas Norte Elementary School received school supplies. These distributions totaling 1,027 grade school students in Capiz were much needed replenishments after the super typhoon claimed all of the children's books and supplies. As Balay ni Charie, a grassroots foundation, enters its 9th year of service to the children of Capiz, it is grateful to all its generous supporters whose invaluable contributions allow it to reach out to more schools in the community.

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Images byBalayniCharie and TravelswithCharie