'I-Witness' 14th Anniversary Series: Sandra Aguinaldo meets teachers of remote barangays

14^TH Anniversary Special
“BUWIS BUHAY, GABAY BUHAY”
Dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo
December 2, 2013
 
In Pegalongan Elementary School in the remote barangay of Malabay in Davao, eight male teachers serve 210 students of the Matigsalog tribe. All of these teachers are from the city and have committed themselves to provide education to a group of people who otherwise, would not have access to it.
 
The school is so remote that the teachers have to face a 2-hour drive from the city, a 30-minute motorcycle ride, and a 6-hour trek that involves crossing 2 major rivers, every week. Not only is it far, it is also dangerous. 31 year-old Randy Halasan is the head of the school. He recalls that one time, he almost drowned crossing the raging river. Teachers and students from the surrounding communities in Davao and Bukidnon also cross the Sinod and Davao Rivers to get to school.  
 
Randy also served as the very first teacher there. Raised in the city, he says he never expected to last that long in Pegalongan—an area where there’s no electricity, no tv, and no cellphone signal.  Desperate for a job, he grabbed the teaching post when it was offered to him but with a clear mindset that he would get out of it as soon as possible. Five years later, he is still teaching in the school for he realized that he is needed not only by his students, but also by the whole community. He has gone out of his way to improve the lives of the Matigsalog tribe-- helping them with new farming techniques to lobbying for an extension to high school education   For his dedication, Randy became a recipient of Bato Balani Foundation’s Many Faces of Teachers Award in October.
 
This Monday, I-Witness continues to celebrate its 14^th anniversary with Sandra Aguinaldo's documentary honoring the brave and dedicated men who risk their lives for the children of the Matigsalog tribe.
 
(Filipino Version)    
 
Sa Pegalongan Elementary School sa malayong barangay ng Malabay sa Davao, walong lalaking guro ang nagtuturo sa mahigit dalawang daang estudyante ng tribong Matigsalog.  Lahat sila, mula sa lungsod pero nagsisilbi para sa mga batang walang pagkakataong makapag-aral dahil sa kalayuan ng lugar.   
 
Linggo-linggo, mahabang biyahe ang kanilang kailangang tahakin—2 oras sa sasakayan, 30 minutong biyahe sa motorsiklo, at 6 na oras na paglalakad kasama ang pagtawid sa 2 ilog. Hindi lang malayo, delikado pa ito. Ang tatlumpu’t isang gulang na si Randy Halasan ang namumuno sa paaralan. Hindi niya malilimutan na minsan na siyang muntik malunod nang itangay ng rumaragasang agos sa kanyang pagtawid sa ilog.  
Si Randy rin ang kauna-unahang guro sa lugar. Dahil lumaki sa lungsod, hindi niya inaasahang magtatagal siya sa Pegalongan kung saan walang kuryente, walang tv at walang telepono. Desperado siya noon sa trabaho kaya’t  sinunggaban niya ang pagkakataong magturo roon. Pero sa isip niya noon, panandalian lang ito. Limang taon na ang lumipas, nagtuturo pa rin si Randy sa Pegalongan Elementary School. Ramdam kasi niyang hindi lang ang kanyang mga estudyante ang nangangailangan sa kanya, kundi pati na rin ang buong komunidad. Tumutulong din si Randy sa pagbigay kaalaman ukol sa mga panibagong paraan ng pagtatanim at inilakad din niyang magkaroon ng high school sa lugar. Dahil sa kanyang dedikasyon, ginawaran si Randy ng Bato Balani Foundation ng Many Faces of Teachers Award noong Oktubre.
 
Ngayong Lunes, sa ika labing-apat na anibersaryo ng I-Witness, bibigyan ni Sandra Aguinaldo ng karangalan ang mga matatapang at dedikadong guro ng mga batang Matigsalog.

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To celebrate our 14th anniversary, we are giving away four signed DVDs from Howie Severino,Kara David, Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc. Each week, a question will be aired at the end of the documentary. Leave your answer on our Facebook and get a chance to win: http://facebook.com/IWitnessGMA

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Watch exclusive videos and excerpts from “I-Witness” documentaries: http://gmanetwork.com/IWitness