Mary Jean Villacencio is a typical fifth-grader in a rural area—playful, studious and hopeful.
She hangs on to the hope of finishing her studies and earning an income so she can help her family.
Like many children her age, she has her struggles, from subjects that she isn’t fond of and strict teachers, the long walks from home to the Cansomoroy Elementary School in Balamban, where she is enrolled, to attending school penniless.
And if these were not enough, Mary Jean had to bear with the lack of basic amenities, like water and electricity.
“It was truly depressing, having to bear all these hardships every day,” Mary Jean said in Cebuano.
AboitizLand Inc.’s Cebu Industrial Park Developers Inc. (CIPDI), which developed and manages the West Cebu Industrial Park in Balamban, together with the Tsuneishi Foundation (Cebu) Inc. and the Department of Education, with the support of the local government of Balamban, recently donated a classroom building to alleviate the plight of Cansomoroy Elementary School pupils, including Mary Jean.
The group unveiled a brand-new four-classroom building equipped with power and water connections. The classrooms are also furnished with armchairs.
Mary Jean and her classmates said the donation inspired them to continue their studies, in spite of the hardships.
“Our life is a lot easier now. Thanks to our donors. Learning is more comfortable and enjoyable,” she said at the sidelines of turnover rites.
Winmundo Charcos, CIPDI assistant manager for operations, said the project was conceptualized during a gift-giving event that CIPDI held for the schoolchildren.
CIPDI employees noted that the classrooms were dilapidated and there was no running water and electrical connection.
“We wanted to provide the students a conducive place to learn and the new school building is one way of lifting their spirits,” Charcos said.
Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay thanked the active partnership of public and private groups in his municipality. He highlighted that partnerships like this helps the Cansomoroy children and ultimately Balamban thrive even more.