Ulog 5!: Para sa Bata at Para sa Bayan (for the children and for the country)

The schools, aside from being a conducive learning environment, should also be a place that is clean and a safe haven for students. In line with that, programs had been implemented in the Philippines under the leadership of Department of Education or DepEd.

One of the programs is called Brigada Eskwela . It is a community engagement with different stakeholders in the community. Members from different sector come together to clean and prepare the school for the incoming school year. To fully understand the mechanism of this said activity, I will cover a portion of the Brigada Eskwela with the released memorandum in consonance with the said activity. On the later portion, I will also share what happened during the first day of our school’s Brigada Eskwela .

DepEd Memo No. 066 s.2018 is the 2018 Brigada Eskwela Implementing Guidelines. The said memorandum is available online for preference. It is particularly for the DepEd’s Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Bureau and Service Directors, Regional Directors, Schools Division Superintendents, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools Heads, and all others concerned.

According to the Memorandum, on May 28 to June 2, 2018, DepEd will conduct the Brigada Eskwela with the theme Pagkakaisa Para sa Handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan (United for a Prepared, Safe, and Stable School Towards a Bright Future). The national kick-off program was hosted by General Santos City last May 24, 2018. Meanwhile, other offices held their kick-off ceremony on the May 28, 2018. One of the schools who had their kick-off ceremony was our school, Bayanga National High School.

The school heads were instructed to take the lead role in planning the activities geared on making schools ecologically conscious, resilient, clean, and conducive to learning. Other organizations who wish to help the schools and volunteers were asked to coordinate with EPS of External Partnerships Service at the Central Office.

As you have read, the Department of Education initiates nation-building into such activity which is a good thing and would set a good example to future leaders in the country.

Our school, Bayanga National High School commenced its first day of Brigada Ekwela. The volunteers are from Philippine Army 65th Infantry Division based in Balulang, Cagayan de Oro, the DSWD 4Ps beneficiaries, local government unit members, parents, and students.

I must commend them all, for they trooped themselves and flexed muscles and patience to carry out all Day 01 of Brigada Eskwela of the aforementioned school.

Major Meneses of the 65th Infantry Division of Philippine Army gave his wonderful remarks on our school grounds.

Boodle Fight
It was then followed with boodle fight at lunch time, where everybody is somebody as sumptuous foods were lined up to sustain energy for the stakeholders.

These are some of the shots I took during the Boodle Fight. The Boodle Fight has served as an exclamation point for awesome success during Day 01.

^{Volunteers are joyous preparing the meal for Boodle Fight.}

And here are some of the photos of the active participants of the Brigada Eskwela Day 01 of Bayanga National High School. Some of the volunteers are from the 65th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. Big tango for Major Meneses and 1Lt. Vinitayao.

This event would be successful on its first day without those who volunteered with us. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Reynaldo P. Tabios who sphere-headed the event, Major Invinzor O. Meneses who headed the 65th ID.

I am looking toward more partnerships with different stakeholders in activities such as this one. This is for the glory and honor of the motherland, and for God, the creator of all mankind.

Yours truly,
Alfred