Twenty-three (23) kinder pupils from the Tribal Pre-School at Barangay Perpetual Help in Iriga City went up the stage and started to weave dreams and hope, not just for themselves but also for their community. The significant occasion took place at the Parina Indigenous Cultural Community at Barangay Perpetual Help, Iriga City during the Tribal Pre-School's 5th Commencement Exercise held May 18.
For some, the event could just be a simple graduation rite, but not for these children from the Agta-Tabangnon tribe who relished every note they scribbled on their papers - and not for their parents, who have longed for the fulfillment of a dream of seeing their kids spend their days in school.
Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) President, lauded the College of Education and the university's community extension service for faithfully conforming to the vision of the university. "This is exactly what the university wants to happen- to give these children an equal opportunity to learn and have access to quality education."
Tribal Chieftain Clemente U. Legardo, who had been serving the community for the past 20 years, extended his appreciation to UNEP for coming up with their community service. "I would like to thank the management of UNEP for opening their gates to our children and for giving them an opportunity to learn."
The Parina Indigenous Community is a hilly and rugged terrain where the Agta Tabagnon tribe resides. It is 8 kilometers away from the city proper and 2 kilometers away from the provincial road connecting the settlement. It became UNEP's Community Extension Service Community partner thru the initiative of former Tribal Chieftain Pepito Caneza.
Caneza was instrumental in the realization of the Agta Tabangnon's dreams of educating the Agta-Tabangnon children. In December 2004, he went to the UNEP-CES Office and asked for assistance on how to help bring education to his constituents, particularly to the pre-school children.
In January 2005, the CES Staff paid a courtesy call to the Barangay Council of Perpetual Help, IC and the office of National Commission on Indigenous People and had a dialogue with the community people. The dialogue produced a positive result. On the succeeding month, the CES Staff started identifying qualified children and started the pre-school on April 2005 with seventeen recipients.
In October 2005, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing between UNEP and the Barangay Council of Iriga significantly took place. This marked the start of a new partnership that will push for the education of the tribe's children. In 2007, it was recommended by PACUCOA Accreditor in 2007 LACOMED Accreditation out of the 3 partner communities of the University of Northeastern Philippines.
UNEP is not just the home of global achievers. It is also an instrument where the first step to real learning of every child begins.