In the craggy mountains of Anitapan, Mabini, Davao de Oro lies Sitio Singapore, a small community situated in higher grounds, far from buzzling crowds, commercial buildings, and busy streets.
Reaching the sitio would take a lot of courage and will only be possible on feet, muddy pavements won’t even allow vehicles to get there, and raging tropical weather; the heat of the sun and cold showers of rain adds the challenge.
Living in a simple way, the sitio has an estimated number of 42 households, and locals rely mainly on farming abaca and coffee to support the needs of their families. Children in the community will have to travel from the sitio down to Brgy. Anitapan to access proper education in the public school during pre-pandemic times, and it is not an easy feat.
“Amung mga estudyante, kaniadtong wala pay pandemic, muadto pa pababa padulong sentro sa Anitapan para mueskwela. Kung musakay ug motor, mamasahe pa mi ug 150 pesos para maabot sa sentro.” said Terisita Paican.
The call for a learning institution echoes in the vast environment of the sitio. The geographical location of the community seems to deplete the chance of putting up a school for them, but this doesn’t stop the spirit of bayanihan.
Dreams will do come true in no time as the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro in partnership with the Department of Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, private partners, stakeholders, and volunteer employees of the provincial government officially started the ceremonial kick-off of the “Bayanihan sa Paraalan Build 2021” on September 4, 2021.
The “Bayanihan Sa Paaralan” has always been one of the major initiatives of the provincial government under the governance of Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy. Since 2019, the upcoming school building in Sitio Singapore will be the 7th established learning institution, a byproduct of dabawenyos’ volunteerism.
“Ubay-ubay na nga kabukiran ang atuang natukuran ug eskwelahan. Karung tuiga aduna tay upat ka eskwelahan nga itukod tungod kay aduna pay mga communities sa kabukiran diin mubaba pa ang mga kabataan, mubyahe pa ug layo, para lang maka eskwela, why not atuang ibutang mismo sa komunidad ang eskwelahan. Mao na ang atuang purpose, dire sa Davao de Oro walay mabilin nga kabantan-onan ilabi na sa mga kabukiran.” said Governor Uy.
In more or less than a month, a One (1)-unit, two (2) classroom building will rise in the soils of the sitio, making quality education accessible for the children in the far-flung community.
It is never easy to get there, but nothing beats the bayanihan way. (Jasteen Abella, Information Division Davao de Oro, photo by Ronel Renz Alvarez)
