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

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

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 

 

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.

BalayniCharie Report for June 2019 - Sept. 2019

Canuto Fuentes Elementary School

The start of the 2019-2020 school year in the Philippines was a frenzy of preparations for BalayniCharie. We reached out to 15 schools and communities in Capiz beginning in June. BalayniCharie is celebrating its 14th year of giving school supplies to elementary school students in Capiz, thanks to our generous sponsors. We are excited to celebrate our 15th year of service to the Capiz community in 2020. 

Panfilo Mendoza Elementary School

These were the schools we visited:

1. Balaring Elementary School - Ivisan - June 4, 2019
2. Sinandigan Elem School - Sigma - June 7, 2019
3. Cabugao Elem School - Panitan - June 10, 2019
4. Agbatuan Elem School - Dumarao - June 13, 2019
5. Alipaciawan Elem School - Dumarao - June 13, 2019
6. Madulano Elem School - President Roxas - June 20, 2019
7. Valentin Punsalan Elem School - Pilar - July 1, 2019
8. Canuto Fuentes Elem School - Sibaguan - July 12, 2019
9. Panfilo Mendoza Elem School - Ivisan - August 6, 2019
10. Culasi Day Care Center - August 7, 2019
11. Carida Elem School - Tapaz - August 15, 2019

Culasi Day Care Center

List of communities we visited:

Story telling at Gawad Kalinga with Christian George Francisco Acevedo

1. Gawad Kalinga (GK) - Dinginan - June 23, 2019
2. Ati and Panay Bukidnon Communities - Dumarao - July 6,  2019
3. Juvenile Crisis Center - Roxas City - Sept. 5, 2019

Books from Amy and Nathan of California 
(photo courtesy of Abner Abs)

Book Donation:

1. Duluan Elementary School - Maayon - June 22, 2019

Shoes from Smiley and Kai Rice and Shoes Program

Many thanks to all our sponsors who made these school supplies distribution possible: Gary and Nancy Steele, Dr. Lilia Chung, Diane and Mon Acas, Smiley and Kai Rice and Shoes Program, Amy and Nathan for the book donation, and all our event coordinators especially Clara Salame, TinTin Alvarez, Dolly Buday, Quitty Gadian, Christian George Francisco Acevedo, Ryan de la Luna and all the principals and teachers for the smooth operation of these distributions. 

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Images by  BalayniCharie Foundation