Pusong Pinoy's "ALAY MULA SA PUSO" benefiting the Mangyan communities of Mindoro was the brainchild of our very own Quezon City Team Leader LANCE ROMMEL BUCOY and Vice-Team Leader SHARON BARRIOS. They were inspired by the story of JENELYN MARASIGAN BAYLON, 2008 Department of Education Most Outstanding Mobile Teacher and 2008 The Many Faces of Teacher Honoree.
Pusong Pinoy launched this school supplies project in May 2010. Within a month, we received the much-need supplies. Thanks to our wonderful heroes for their donations and continued support of our projects. On June 19, 2010, TL Lance along with Baguio-Benguet Team Leader Adi traveled to Mindoro to turn over the supplies:
PART I to MANGYAN KIDS OF SITIO MAKANGAS, NAUJAN, MINDORO
PART II to OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH IN THE ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS) OF SANTA MARIA, NAUJAN, MINDORO
We would like to thank TL Lance & TL Adi who traveled to Mindoro by ferry, bus, boat, and trekked the mountains to deliver the school supplies to our Mangyan recipients. Our greatest appreciation also to Sir Roniel, Ms. Nel, and management of Mountain Beach Resort for our team leaders' accommodation. Lastly, our greatest gratitude to Ms. Baylon for inspiring us to do well in this project. We are deeply honored to partner with you in this project.
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PROFILE of JENELYN MARASIGAN BAYLON
(Source: A Few to Inspire the Many: A Tribute to Teachers)
(Source: A Few to Inspire the Many: A Tribute to Teachers)
A motorcycle-riding mobile school teacher is The Many Faces of the Teacher last honoree, Jenelyn Marasigan Baylon, also from Oriental Mindoro. Ms. Baylon rides for hours, braving the threats of the mountains and using not just personal time but also resources to bring education to where it is most needed and to help organize communities. There have been also times when she sleeps with the Mangyan communities for a week to encourage them to attend the night sessions she holds on basic and functional literacy.
Aside from holding literacy class for out of school youths and adult learners, Ms. Baylon is the first mobile teacher to integrate cell phone repair into functional literacy. She also solicited funds to train Mangyans on electric arc welding.
Even during pregnancy, Ms. Baylon continued with her duties, even with the knowledge of risk to her and her baby. She went from one community to another to teach about proper recycling and to initiate the creation of Barangay Solid Waste Management Council and Materials Recovery Facilities. Her efforts were recognized and she was sent to Japan for a review and sharing workshop.
Her Japan experience is a story she fondly remembers. She traveled with only one thousand five hundred pesos in her pocket, most of which she spent on her traveling expenses.
Even during pregnancy, Ms. Baylon continued with her duties, even with the knowledge of risk to her and her baby. She went from one community to another to teach about proper recycling and to initiate the creation of Barangay Solid Waste Management Council and Materials Recovery Facilities. Her efforts were recognized and she was sent to Japan for a review and sharing workshop.
Her Japan experience is a story she fondly remembers. She traveled with only one thousand five hundred pesos in her pocket, most of which she spent on her traveling expenses.
