Mayor Honey Lumayag-Matti of Polomolok, South Cotabato was among the local chief executives who participated in a Synergeia workshop for Local School Boards (LSBs) on November 8, 2017 in General Santos City.   She admitted the LSB workshop was an eye-opener for her.  She realized the challenge of providing good education to the 30,000 school children in Polomolok and did not want any child to be left out.  She firmly believed that “If we have to invest in human resources, we have to start by providing children with good education.  Education is a preparation for a good future.”

After re-examining its priorities, the Local School Board of Polomolok, which Mayor Matti chairs, approved its support for the training of teachers in reading.  If their teachers teach reading well, the children’s learning performance will improve.

Last July, Polomolok  gathered its grade school teachers to attend a remedial reading workshop facilitated by Synergeia.  The workshop was held at Our Lady of Mt. Matutum Trappistine Monastery, nestled at the foot of Mt. Matutum and a peaceful place that was conducive for learning.

On the first day of the workshop, Synergeia CEO Dr. Nene Guevara taught phonemic awareness to the teachers.  She emphasized that children do not learn reading by rote memorization but by knowing the sound of each letter and being able to blend them.

                                              Mayor Honey Matti  saying the sound of “F”  as  in “Fish”

She also taught the teachers how to develop comprehension among young learners.  When Ma’am Nene read the story titled “The Little Red Hen,” the teachers produced sounds for the different characters in the story, making the storytelling activity fun and exciting.  By making reading fun, children will develop love for reading.

On the second day of the workshop, the teachers were assigned in two groups under Ma’am Nene and mentor Sunny Sevilla.  After more practice exercises, the teachers were asked to come up with creative ideas and activities by which they can teach their students what they learned from the workshop.  One can see the excitement of the teachers as they presented their ideas such as colorful crowns, word mobile, alphabet wheel, flip charts, storybooks and many more. One can feel their personal fulfilment with the new skills they have learned.

                                          Teachers enjoyed preparing creative instructional materials.                                     

And when it was time to leave, one can see from the smiles on the teachers’ faces that they are ready and eager to be better reading teachers to their students.

The LGU and the teachers are prioritizing quality education for their children.  This is indeed a happy beginning for Polomolok.

This makes us proud and happy.  Five of our partner schools in Upi, Maguindanao scored very high marks in the March 2018 assessment of SGCs.  They used to have low scores but in just three years, these schools and their respective SGCs have definitely stepped up. Kabugkabug Elementary School, Passi Primary School, Renti Elementary School, S. Midal Primary School, Tenonggol Elementary School-Annex are now empowered to champion education policies and are more proactive in initiating programs for the schools.

Three of these schools share their stories.  Kabugkabug Elementary School credits the good relationship of SGC officers with stakeholders and the community.  SGC projects receive support from the barangay development fund and the secret ingredient is the SGC Chairmanship of the Barangay Captain and the membership of the School Principal in the Barangay Development Committee.  To raise funds for projects, the SGC has partnered with the alumni association and the PTA, held a bingo bonanza, a foundation day celebration and a “King and Queen” contest.  Some of their projects are concrete fence and installation of wash facilities in front of all classrooms.

Tenonggol Elementary School’s transformation came with the appointment of a new principal. Principal Joven Molanggana along with the SGC president Sheila Marie Arino did a complete overhaul on the SGC. According to Principal Molanggana, SGC President Arino has a gift for fundraising.  We can see this tenacity and drive at how in 2016, after the SGC Level 2 workshop, the SGC planned to construct a makeshift school building for third and fourth graders.  Through hard work, the SGC was able to construct a makeshift classroom made of wood and bamboo.

Many of the schools that Synergeia works with are in far-flung parts of the Philippines and S. Midal Elementary School is one of those, being in a DENR reservation site in the mountains of North Upi.  The population is composed of Teduray, a major IP group in Southern Philippines.  Florencio Midal, the barangay’s tribal chief, is the current adviser and major benefactor of the SGC. He donates wood from his vast farms and woodlands.  The SGC is comprised of dedicated officers who always attend SGC meetings.  Among the projects they have carried out, some jointly with the PTA, are the construction of 2 makeshift classrooms for kindergartens and third to sixth graders, construction of classrooms for first and second graders, a multi-purpose hall, and a school stage.

We imagine the happiness and comfort of schoolchildren in North Upi who have classrooms, wash facilities and school stage for their programs.  This is the true success story to tell.