At Barangay Culasi, Roxas City

 

It's been a rainy morning in Culasi, Roxas City. But 130 children from 5 sitios in Barangay Culasi were all smiles to receive school supplies from BalayniCharie Foundation. Many thanks to May Necesario and Konsehal Juanito Acer for organizing and coordinating this event which flowed seamlessly. Huge thank you also to Diane Acas for the unique backpacks and Selma Templanza for the ballpoint pens. 

BalayniCharie is now on its 20th year of service to the children in Capiz.

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Images by BalayniCharie

Feeding Program at Anatolia Arcenas School

 

Grateful to have been able to share blessings with the children at Anatolia Arcenas Memorial School in Roxas City. We were able to give school supplies and food packs to 43 children during their recess. We also fed them with Spanish bread for this morning's break. Thanks to Noel Tan and Ms. Jean Corros for coordinating this event.

The school selects the children deemed at risk for undernutrition to participate in the program. If you wish to take part in a feeding program, please contact a school near you. Most elementary schools in Capiz have one. 

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Feeding Program at Don Conrado Barrios ES

 

Don Conrado Barrios Memorial School

Wednesday is feeding day at Don Conrado Barrios Memorial School for 50 children deemed as at risk for undernutrition. Thanks to Mata Ji, Christian George Francisco Acevedo, Atty. Luvim Amores who brought food packs, fruits, toiletries while BalayniCharie Foundation gave school supplies. It's clear that when we work together we can do more good. If you're interested in helping with the school's feeding program, please contact Ms. Grace Baler who is in charge of the program. Conrado Barrios ES is at 2433 Arnaldo Blvd. Roxas City.

The children start the day with some fun exercises.

BalayniCharie Foundation is now on its 20th year of giving school supplies to the children in Capiz and coordinates the distribution of books to schools and libraries in in the province including the Little Library at Jacque’s Coffee in Roxas City.

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Images by TravelswithCharie

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 Almon Primary School

Almon Primary School

Some of the children from Almon Primary School have to walk an hour to school everyday from their homes up in the mountains of Ivisan. I admire their determination to learn and get a good education. Thanks to our generous donors Odette Aquitania Ricasa and Connie Collo for sponsoring this event today. BalayniCharie Foundation is now on its 20th year of giving school supplies to the children in Capiz.

Every child should have the opportunity to go to school and learn.

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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

20th year at Minoro Elem School

We've had several typhoons and flooding in Capiz these past few weeks. But we made it to Minoro Elem School in Mambusao. Since it was raining, we all squeezed into the principal's office. But it was all good. Our sponsor today is Odette Aquitania Ricasa, the first Filipina to visit all 193 UN countries in the world. She is also the author of seven books and has generously supported many charitable causes including BalayniCharie School Supplies Program. Diane Acas donated the backpacks. We are grateful to our sponsors who made this event possible and drew smiles from the children. BalayniCharie is now 20 years old! Thanks to Odette Ricasa for sponsoring this event. 

These cute backpacks were donated by Diane Acas.

Images by 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

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

At Jebaca Elementary School

 

We nearly didn’t make it to Jebaca Elementary School. It is located in a remote area in Maayon, Capiz and we had a difficult time to get there. As we have a compact car, we couldn’t forge through running water that had accumulated from rains of the previous day. We had to turn back and wait for the school to send us an SUV to help us get to their school. We almost left and it would have been a huge disappointment for the kids who had been waiting for us all morning. Thank goodness we didn’t go home after the initial setback.

The school is up on the hill with a narrow road leading up to it. Some of the classrooms are situated on the lower slope.

Here are the kids who patiently waited for us.

We passed by this hanging bridge on our way to the school.

The countryside is lush and green.

Here was our Waterloo. The descent is quite steep and the water was streaming down the side like a waterfall. 

We were also able to give shoes to some families with infants from the Smiley and Kai Shoes Program.

So glad we made it to Jebaca. It was a pleasure to meet Jibbs Bigas, the principal, and his staff. Thank you so much to the STEELE Family Charitable Trust and especially to Gary Steele for this wonderful opportunity to help the children in Jebaca succeed in school with the school supplies we gave them.

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Images by TravelswithCharie 

Forging ahead in 2023

Schools visited in January 2023:

Doña Fructuosa Alba de Romero Elem. School

Sigma, Capiz

Principal: Sherill Buni

January 7, 2023

Sponsored by Odette A. Ricasa and 

Nieva Q. Burdick

With Odette A. Ricasa

Agustin Navarra Elem School

Ivisan, Capiz

Principal: Judith P. Tu

January 19, 2023

Sponsored by Odette A. Ricasa and

Smiley and Kai Rice and Shoes Project

Duluan Elem School

Maayon, Capiz

Principal: Abner Damsani

January 2023

Books donated by Jasmin Gaite and 

Diane Acas

Dayhagan Elem School

Pilar, Capiz

Principal: Phincy Obligar

January 30, 2023

Sponsored by Gary and Nancy Steele Charitable Trust 

Odette A. Ricasa

Smiley and Kai Shoes Project

Butacal Elementary School

Pontevedra, Capiz

January 28, 2023

Kinder, Grade 1 and Grade 6

Photos by Elvina Benliro, Kinder Instructor

Many thanks to all our sponsors who are our backbone. BalayniCharie couldn't do it without your generous support. God bless you all. 

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Images by TravelswithCharie unless otherwise indicated.