A quick survey of some Marikina schools revealed that the flooding that was caused by Typhoon “Ondoy” wiped out their libraries, science labs, clinics, home economics rooms, and then some.

It doesn’t help that the students of these devastated schools come from homes that have been also been flooded. The kids are in need of uniforms, shoes, notebooks and sundry school supplies, dictionaries and other references, school bags or backpacks, not to mention vitamins.

We are only four months into the school year. There is still much teaching and learning to do in the schools. This is why it is imperative to help the schools recover. For those who want to do their bit, here is a list to give you an idea of what things are needed.

We encourage donors to contact the schools if they have questions and to bring their donations directly to the schools. Please do not wait for a third party to coordinate pickup and distribution. Time is of the essence here.

Inquirer cannot feature the turnover of donations to every public school. It is our hope that donors—whether individual or corporate—would want to help out of genuine concern and not for the purpose of gaining publicity.

Be sure to have donations received and signed for by the principal or his/her representative. Those who donate big-ticket items—computers, printers, television sets, refrigerators, fax machines—will do well to go back after a few months and find out if the donated items are still there and in use, especially if these are equipment that need maintenance.

Damaged textbooks and workbooks for public school students will be replaced by the Department of Education, but not all other books. Whether used or new, books don’t stand a chance against mud and water, and had to be all thrown out. Many public schools need donations of story books (series from Scholastics, Adarna, Anvil, Hiyas, Lampara; classics like Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen etc.), reference books (encyclopedia, dictionaries, atlases, charts), SRA kits, wall clocks, bookshelves, copiers, tables and chairs for their libraries.

Janet S. Amurao, principal of Concepcion Integrated School in Concepcion, Marikina, listed the most urgent needs of her school as follows:

2 LCD projectors
6 computers for the offices
3 printers
2 fax machines
2 TV sets and DVD players
1 bundy clock
1 set of public address system
6 office tables and chairs

Marikina Elementary School (Shoe Avenue, Sta. Elena, Marikina City; tel. 6461738) suffered a lot of damage because its clinic, guidance office, principal’s office, HE room and science lab sustained chest-high water. Principal Bella Zabala submitted this partial list of what they need to replace.

Guidance office:

9 teacher’s chairs
2 teacher’s tables
3 electric fans
2 filing cabinets
2 shelves
1 computer table
1 air-con
1 sala set
1 TV

Clinic:
1 glass cabinet
1 cabinet
1 teacher’s table
2 teacher’s chairs
1 medicine cabinet
1 bed
1 set bedding
1 pillow
1 digital blood pressure gauge
1 clinical thermometer
1 weighing scale
1 ice bag
1 kidney-shaped pan
1 blanket
2 sets of curtains
1 TV

Home Economics room:
1 refrigerator
1 electric fan
1 gas range
1 gas stove
1 center table
1 Superkalan, small tank
1 TV

Principal’s office:

1 laptop
1 digital camera
2 printers
1 paging system
1 DVD
2 typewriters
1 air-con
1 refrigerator
1 fax machine
1 risograph machine
1 scanner
1 LCD projector
1 copier
Cabinets with shelves

Kalumpang Elementary School principal Bernardita Bautista (tels. 4098304 and 09184805868) reported pages and pages of damaged or lost materials, such as the following:

Feeding room:
6 cups
1 can opener
1 weighing scale
24 plates
24 forks
24 spoons
2 soup ladles
1 chair
1 gas stove
1 refrigerator
1 flatware keeper
1 stand fan
1 pitcher
4 drinking glasses
7 drinking cups (stainless)

Home Economics room:
1 Osterizer
2 serving spoons
2 serving forks
2 chopping boards
1 knife rack
1 water station
1 pail
1 queen size bed
1 set of curtains
2 dividers
1 sala set
1 dresser
1 electric iron
1 ironing board
1 working table
1 stool
1 cabinet
Canteen:
1 air pot
1 freezer
1 rice cooker
1 radio
1 cabinet
1 set of curtains

Guidance room:
2 book shelves
2 ceiling fans
1 electric fan
1 rolling tray
1 sala set
2 teacher’s chairs
2 teacher’s tables
3 cabinets
1 wall clock
1 computer
1 printer
1 scanner

Science Lab:
Mason’s hygroscope
Boiling melting point
Simple distillation
Air thermoscope
Differential roehscope
Conduction apparatus
Water holding
Water turbine
Force pump
Inertia apparatus
Magnetic levitation
Filtration & evaporation
Electromagnetic crane
Hot-cold air balance
Electric circuits
Convection turbine
Demo lever
Differential thermoscope
Bimetallic thermostat
Electrolytic cell
Solar system
Concave mirror

Clinic:
2 bed sheets
2 pillow cases
2 tables
1 medicine cabinet
1 kidney basin
1 digital thermometer
1 ice bag
2 lamps
3 sphygmomanometer
3 stethoscopes

Industrial Arts room:
2 teacher’s chairs
4 universal pliers
12 saws
1 wood chisel set

According to principal Lilia Garperio, Concepcion Elementary School (J. Molina Street, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City) floodwater did not reach as high as it did in other schools, but their school incurred losses just the same because of theft or property destruction by evacuees. The school needs the following:

10 faucets
10 door knobs
12 padlocks
5 cork boards
50 charts
5 electric fans
1 DVD player
50 dust pans
50 brooms
10 wall clocks
2 book shelves
20 window blinds
6 fluorescent bulbs
2 teacher’s tables
2 computers
5 gals. floor wax
2 gals. paint
12 spiked shoes (for PE)
3 discus
3 shotput 5.44 kg
2 shotput 2.72 kg

If you need help with transporting goods to the schools, please contact Tulong Kabataan at tel. 09266677163 or 09186106275 or DepEd’s Adopt-A-School at tel nos. 6388637 or 39 and 0928-5039725.