AYR ACADEMY CHOIR (SCOTLAND) IN HARMONY WITH PUSONG PINOY

BY SCOTLAND TEAM LEADER DOUGLAS INNESS

It was a beautiful sunny day as I drove into Ayr.  It proved to be a great afternoon indeed. Pusong Pinoy had been invited to Ayr Academy, a school of around 600 pupils, in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on 15^th February as a guest of the Academy Choir.

A while ago, my wife was interviewing candidates for a school librarian post there and mentioned the work of Pusong Pinoy. I then contacted the Head Teacher, Mrs K. MacDonald, visited the school and gave her a folder about Pusong Pinoy.  We discussed how the school might support Pusong Pinoy. She also informed me that the school choir, which has raised money for a range of charities in Scotland, was keen to sponsor a scholar.  

It was good timing because Pusong Pinoy was about to launch its next project, Donasyon para sa Edukasyon, a scholarship project for our 17 high school scholars at De La Salle Lipa (Batangas) and 15 elementary scholars at Damascus Foundation (Bulacan) for the school year 2013-2014.

On that day, I met up with the students at the music room during their lunch break. I put up photographs, maps and tarpaulins and showed them video clips of the scholars as well as video of the De La Salle-Lipa choir on YouTube. They listened intently as I outlined Pusong Pinoy’s aims while they munched on their lunch. I talked about our outreach activities and described partnerships with various organizations, schools and communities. 

The message was a positive one- how education and literacy can help eradicate poverty.  The idea that the children we support are just like them- with the same needs and ambitions - was the core message. They were impressed by the De La Salle “Voices” choir.  I was then told that the Choir would donate money to sponsor a scholar. This was a bit unexpected but greatly appreciated.  

After the cheque presentation, photographs, and “thank-yous,” it was time to leave. It was a really enjoyable day. Hopefully, this is the start of a developing relationship between Ayr Academy and Pusong Pinoy.

Thank you to the Head Teacher, Mrs K. MacDonald, for affording Pusong Pinoy the opportunity to talk to the choir about our work.

Thank you to the Music Department staff, especially Ms. V. Gibson, Principal Teacher of Music, who also helped me with the tarpaulins and Mrs. E. Kelly, Principal Teacher of Guidance/Music Teacher for providing the children with lunch and juice. Their warm hospitality and support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to members of the Ayr Academy staff for their book donations especially Ms. L. Hutchinson for donating 24 lightly-used children’s books.

Last but not least, thank you to the Ayr Academy School Choir for supporting a De La Salle scholar. The gift of an education truly lasts a lifetime.

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"Donasyon Para Sa Edukasyon" (Donation for Education) is Pusong Pinoy's Annual Scholarship Project for Saint Brother Jaime Hilario FSC Learning Community at De La Salle Lipa (DLSL), one of the Philippines' prestigious educational institutions. It is a five-year program that provides secondary education to highly motivated and qualified students whose economic conditions hinder them to acquire quality academic formation.

Our scholars went through DLSL's screening process and are well-deserving of this scholarship. They worked hard all year long and are considered to be among the best in their class.

Click HERE for more information about this scholarship project or email us at pusongpinoyorg@gmail.com.