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

Update on the Book Donations by UNIFFIED, New York Chapter

Here’s an update on where the books sent by United Federation of FilAm Educators, New York Chapter and Nieva Q. Burdick were donated:

Tabuc Norte Elementary School, Panitan, February 5, 2024

Lawaan Integrated School and Basa Barangay, Roxas City, February 7, 2024

Capiz State Univ (CAPSU)

Capiz State University (CAPSU) Library, February 8, 2024. Photo courtesy of Christian George Acevedo.

St. Mary’s Academy, Roxas City, February 13, 2024

Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Roxas City, February 14, 2024

Anatolia Arcenas Memorial School, Roxas City, February 15, 2024

Panitan High School, Panitan, February 19, 2024 

Balay Mapanag, Cuartero, February 20, 2024

Duluan Elementary School, Maayon, March 13, 2024

Handing of books to Maayon Ladies' Library through Ma'am Noemi Unating. March 18, 2024

Thank you UNIFFIED, New York Chapter and Nieva Q. Burdick for your generous donation.

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Images by BalayniCharie

Antonio Belo Elementary School

 

Last year we gave school supplies to the fourth, fifth and six graders at Antonio Belo Integrated School. This year we came back to give the younger kids some school supplies. Antonio Belo is in Timpas, Panitan and has a large number of students. This is why we had to divide the numbers so we could also give to other schools in Capiz. The kids were all happy to receive their school supplies.

Many thanks to our generous sponsor, Gary Steele and the Steele Family Charitable Trust. Your continued support has allowed us to reach out to more schoolchildren in Capiz. 

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Images by TravelswithChari

BalayniCharie turns 18

BalayniCharie kicked off its 18th year of service to the children in Capiz, Philippines on February 5, 2024 at Tabuc Norte in Panitan, Capiz. The school has 117 students from Kinder to Grade 6. The Principal, Jessiemar Diaz, gathered all the children at the quadrangle so we could give them notebooks, pencils, and pens. Afterwards, we did a Q&A with the kids and those with correct responses received a prize.  

Some of the children receiving their school supplies.

We also delivered the books donated by Nieva Q. Burdick and the United Federation of FilAm Educators (UNIFFIED), New York Chapter.

We had the chance to tour the school's vegetable garden where they grow eggplant, upo (bottle gourd), cabbage and okra, among others. Lettuce is also thriving in a separate area. These vegetables are used for their feeding program. The best thing about this garden is that the kids not only have nutritious meals, they also learn the importance of growing vegetables for food sustenance.

Lettuce Garden

While the school is small and short of classrooms, the Principal with the teachers and PTA work hard to give their students the best education. 

Many thanks to our sponsor, Gary T. Steele of The Steele Family Charitable Trust, for his generous support of BalayniCharie throughout the years. With Gary’s support, we have been able to reach thousands of children in Capiz and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in their studies.

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Images by BalayniCharie 

 

Activities November 14, 2022 - November 30, 2022

Cabungahan Elementary School, Maayon November 14, 2022

215 students

Sponsored by Diane and Mon Acas and L & M Fun Channel

Shoes donated by Selma Templanza and Smiley and Kai Shoes Program

Books donated by Jazmin Gaite, L & M Fun Channel and Diane Acas

Culasi Elem School, Sapian

November 17, 2022

133 students

Sponsored by Odette Aquitania Ricasa

Shoes donated by Selma Templanza and Smiley and Kai Shoes Program 

Gabuc School, Pontevedra

November 21, 2022

41 students

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele

Image by Jofelyn Rosales

Cabugao School, Pontevedra

November 21, 2022

26 students

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele

Agcabugao Elementary School, Cuartero

November 22, 2022

103 students

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele Charitable Trust

Shoes donated by Smiley and Kai Shoes Program

Antonio Belo Integrated School, Panitan

193 students, Grades 4-6

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele

Shoes donated by Smiley and Kai Shoes Program

Ameligan Elementary School, Pontevedra

Kindergarten students, 24 students

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele

Books donated by L & M Fun Channel and Nieva Burdick

Images by Rhea Bolina

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Images by BalayniCharie 

Our work continues - 2022

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Balay ni Charie is back. This year we are celebrating 16 years of giving school supplies to the children in Capiz, thanks to the One for making it happen. Today we were in Bagongon to give school supplies and chicken soup to 99 children from Sitio Pook and Puting Balas. Many thanks to Gary and Nancy Steele for their generous support of this event, Nievz V Quezon and L&M Fun Channel for the clothes and shoes, Julie Ann Rosales Acer for preparing the soup, Joemel Acer for organizing this event, Jofelyn Mendez, Felixbert Dela Cruz Rosales and Juvelyn Rosales for helping with the distribution.

Tabuc Norte Elementary School 

BalayniCharie was at Tabuc Norte Elem School which was heavily affected by typhoon Paeng last week (see photos). The floodwaters peaked just below the windows. Many thanks to Gary and Nancy Steele for sponsoring this event. It was so timely because most of the 127 kids lost their books and school supplies to the flood and mud. The kids enjoyed the prizes for the Q&A donated by L & M Fun Channel and Nievz V Quezon . Thanks also to Jazmin Gaite for her donation of children's books. The distribution was coordinated with the school head, Jessiemar Diaz, who also received the books from Jazmin for Cabugao Elem School where he was assigned prior to getting the post in Tabuc. Thanks to the Rosales family for helping me prepare and distribute the school supplies for this event. If you can or know someone who can help this school, please let me or Mr. Diaz know. 😀

Floodwaters claimed the school which has two classrooms. The other buildings are owned by the barangay and are used for now as classrooms for the lower grades. *Photo from Jessiemar Diaz

Books spoiled by the flood.

Thanks to Smiley and Kai Shoes Program for the shoes we gave to some children.

We were at San Esteban Elementary School in Pilar on November 8 to give school supplies to 291 students. We are grateful for the generous support of Florence Barredo Panes and Nievz V Quezon. Thanks also to Ms. Villasin of San Esteban for coordinating this event and the Rosales family for helping with the preparation and distribution of school supplies. 

BalayniCharie will be distributing school supplies through December before school breaks for the holidays. Contact balaynicharie@gmail.com if you would like us to visit your school in Capiz. Please get in touch with us through same email if you would like to contribute to this cause.

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Images by BalayniCharie unless otherwise indicated.