Bayanihan spirit lives on in Ilocos Norte’s ‘Brigada Eskwela’

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Burgos, Ilocos Norte—Teachers, parents and other concerned groups banded together in this year’s Brigada Eskwela to prepare schools all around the province for the new school year.

At Burgos Agro-industrial School (BAIS) in this town, the school is now all set to welcome more than 800 learners on June 4, 2018 with its well-polished classrooms, newly-painted walls, clean playground and re-energized teachers after they went through a series of self-mastery and capacity building.

On May 25, 2018, almost a thousand Brigada Eskwela volunteers both from public and private sectors gathered at the Burgos school as they removed dust and cobwebs in school classrooms, arranged cluttered chairs, pruned trees and cleaned pathways.

In an interview, BAIS principal Josephine Pascual, said she is very thankful for the show of solidarity and volunteerism among the entire community of Burgos including other stakeholders who shared their time, money and effort in fixing and cleaning the school.

“This is a big deal for us because the support is overwhelming. Some donated paints, brush and other painting materials, brooms and even snacks for the volunteers,” said Ms. Pascual.

Every year, Brgy. Poblacion chairperson Joegie Jimenez, who is also the incumbent BAIS alumni association president, said they always look forward to the opening of schools and one way to show their support is to make their presence felt in the school community.

Armed with brooms and other cleaning materials, municipal and barangay officials, alumni groups, representatives of the Energy Development Corporation, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police and other youth volunteers joined the kick-off of the Brigada Eskwela in this town.

For SPO1 Noel Abad of the Ilocos Norte Mobile Force Company based in Camp Valentin S. Juan in Laoag City, he said, “It’s a happy feeling to be of service to the school and to ensure that learners have a safe learning environment.”

During the Brigada Eskwela, some police personnel were on their comfortable working clothes and painted some vandalized walls of the school.

After the school clean-up activity, Mr. Jimenez reiterated to all school workers and volunteers to always practice waste segregation which is being strictly enforce in the barangay.