With The Ati and Panay Bukidnon communities

Ati and Panay Bukidnon communities

Thank you very much Christian George Francisco Acevedo and Mata Ji of Seva Group for joining forces with BalayniCharie Foundation to give school supplies and food packs to the Ati and Panay Bukidnon indigenous communities in Dumarao, Capiz. The food packs were donated by Gov. Fredenil Castro and Luvim Amores. Selma Villagracia Templanza generously provided the backpacks and school supplies. Capt. Cyrus Papna Hitalia, Barangay captain of Aglalana, coordinated this event which brought 120 kids together at the Barangay hall. I'd also like to thank our Anonymous donor. It was a special day of partnership and giving.

The table of food packs from the Seva Group.

Children waiting for their names to be called.  Photo courtesy of Cyrus P. Hitalia.

This is the Barangay hall where two indigenous communities came together to receive school supplies, food packs and clothing for the mothers who brought their kids. Photos courtesy of Cyrus P. Hitalia

These backpacks and school supplies were given by Selma Templanza. Notebooks were donated by BalayniCharie and an anonymous donor. Photo from Capisnon.com.

Our Lady of Snows

Dumarao is known for its pretty pink church. We had to stop and say a prayer before leaving the town. Don’t miss it when you come to Capiz.

BalayniCharie Foundation is now on its 20th year of giving school supplies to the children in Capiz.

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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

 

20th Year at Quinat-uyan ES

 

Finally! We have a sunny day. The kids at Quinat-uyan Elem School in Maayon enjoyed the outdoors with us even more so when they received some school supplies. Thank you Diane Acas for the backpacks. BalayniCharie is now on its 20th year of giving school supplies to the children in Capiz.

Images from 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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At Duluan Integrated School

It was a pleasure to give school supplies once again to the students of Duluan Elementary School. They are always so warm and welcoming that the long trip to their school is well worth it. Many thanks to the Gary Steele Family Foundation for making this happen. (This school supplies distribution took place on March 13, 2024.)

We also gave new shoes to some of the children who didn't have shoes to wear to school. We are grateful to the Smiley and Kai Shoes Project for their generosity.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of UNIFFIED teachers of New York and Nieva Burdick we were able to give children's books to the school's library. 

Duluan has designated a small area in the Teachers Room to store their library materials. Hopefully they'll have the resources to build a library for their students in the near future.

These are the notes and cards the children gave me. It's heartwarming. Thank you so much.

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Images by TravelswithCharie

Book donation from New York Public Schools

BalayniCharie is the recipient of four boxes of children's books from the New York City public school system. The books were sent to Roxas City through the generous support of Nieva Quezon Burdick. These books will be distributed to various schools and libraries in Capiz. We are grateful for this important donation which will benefit the children in Capiz. 

 

If you're interested in supporting our school supplies program in Capiz, please contact balaynicharie@gmail.com. Thank you. 

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Images by BalayniCharie

Balay Mapanag

One of the main goals of BalayniCharie Foundation is to support literacy and education in the province of Capiz. We met Fretzie Henderin Feria of Balay Mapanag, a Museum, Library and Archives in Cuartero, Capiz and presented her with books for the town's library. Cuartero is the only town in Capiz with its own museum and library. Many thanks to my Paulinian colleagues, Jazmin Gaite , Nievz V Quezon and Smiley and Kai Shoes Program for these books. Thanks too to Christian George Francisco Acevedo for introducing me to Ms. Feria and this important literacy project.

Fretzie Henderin Feria, Balay Mapanag

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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.

2018-2019 School Year Report

As the school year 2018-19 draws to a close, BalayniCharie Foundation is happy to conclude another successful season of giving school supplies to elementary school students in Capiz. Twelve schools and a day care center were the beneficiaries of the 2018-2019 school year. Here is the list of schools we visited:
1.  San Esteban Elementary School In Pilar, Capiz
2.  Dolores Elementary School in Dumalag
3.  San Jose Elementary School in Dumalag
4.  Maninang Elementary School in Sapian
5.  Culasi Elementary School in Sapian
6.  Jesus G. Albaña School in Panitan
7.  Agoho Elementary School in Pan-ay
8.  Tapulang Elementary School in Maayon
9.  Duluan Integrated School in Maayon
10. Lacaron Elementary School in Dao
11. Ameligan Elementary School in Pontevedra
12. Nipa Day Care Culasi, Roxas City

Maninang Elem School

We also had the opportunity to give school supplies to some thirty students in Mararison, Antique. That happened when we were enjoying the white sand beach of this beautiful island and the hike up to Mararison Elementary School.

San Jose Elem School

About 1,860 children received school supplies during the 2018-2019 school year from BalayniCharie. We are grateful to all the donors and friends who continue to support BalayniCharie most especially to Gary and Nancy Steele, Diane and Mon Acas, Rudynelia Valencia, Monike Alberjeun, Nieva Burdick, Consuelo Almonte, Nathan, Amy and Michael, Smiley and Kai Rice and Shoes Program, Leda Albar, Rick Albar and Jasmin Declaro. You keep us going. We look forward to 2019-2020 school year and our 14th year of providing school supplies to the children in Capiz.

Thank you Smiley and Kai Rice and Shoes Program

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Images by BalayniCharie

School Year 2017-2018 Report

You can make a difference

These are the schools where BalayniCharie distributed school supplies for the school year 2017-2018.

September 18, 2017
Linambasan Elementary School, Jamindan - 238 children
Aglibacao Primary School, Jamindan - 31 children

October 4, 2017
San Julian Elementary School in Tapaz - 165 children
Sponsored by Aimee, Michael and Nathan of California
Agpalili Primary School - 50 children

October 10, 2017
Antonio Belo Elementary School in Panitan  - 407 students

November 2017

Pawa Elementary School in Panay - 318 children

February 2018
Doña Fructuosa Elementary School in Sigma - 120 children

March 2018
Cogon Elementary School in Sigma - 179 students
Sponsored by Rudynelia Valencia

Thank you to all our sponsors: Monique Albar Jen Rice and Shoes Program, Rudynelia Valencia, Aimee, Michael and Nathan of California.

If you would like to donate school supplies, please contact BalayniCharie at balaynicharie@gmail.com. Thank you.

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Images by balaynicharie

School Supplies Distribution in Sigma, Capiz

"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one." Malcolm Forbes

Balay ni Charie was at Doña Fructuosa Elementary School on February 26, 2018 to give school supplies to 120 students. The Monique AlbarJen Rice and Shoes Program joined us and they gave bags of rice to each of the schoolchildren.

Some disadvantaged kids from Doña Fructuosa Elementary School received new shoes from the Monique AlbarJen Rice and Shoes Program.

We distributed more school supplies to 179 children on March 7, 2018 at Cogon Elementary School in Sigma.

Many thanks to Rudynelia Valencia for her generous financial support of this distribution at Cogon Elementary School.

If you would like to donate school supplies to BalayniCharie, please contact us at balaynicharie@gmail.com. Thank you.

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Images by BalayniCharie