by Honey Pangilinan and Antonio Ingles, Jr
Frequently Asked Questions / F A Q
1. What is Aral Pinoy[1]: "Pag aaral mo, sagot mo, Baon mo sagot ko!" or Project Baon?
In the Philippines its 100% free education, both in elementary and high school levels, and yet students neither finish nor proceed to the next grade level. Why? Because despite having free education, many of them have no allowance nor ‘baon’ for their snack foods or meals for their schooling, no needed school supplies, no funds to spend for their school requirements, no transportation fair, etc.
This is the kind of assistance that Aral Pinoy Project Baon (APPB) for school year 2011-2012 does to support students in their studies and encourage them to go to school. APPB helps them in their schooling and furthermore encourages them to change their lives. First and foremost, APPB upholds their right to education, and secondly, APPB envisions to contribute to the progress of our country. APPB believes that the more children in school, the more we produce productive graduates, then the more we invest in a better future.
2. How much is the schooling allowance or ’baon’?
Typically in public schools, six (6) hours a day in two hundred (200) days are devoted to teaching and learning per school year. With Php 4,000 pesos, a student schooling allowance or ’baon’ would be Php 20 pesos a day or Php 100 pesos a week. With Php 4,000 pesos, Aral Pinoy can already send and sustain a student for one year. (Note: Php 20 pesos of ‘baon’ a day is just an example of the computation here, i.e., Php 20 pesos x 200 days = Php 4,000 pesos).
3. How do these students qualify for Project Baon?
All students both from public elementary and high school are qualified!
We uphold their right to education[2] and we promote equality, equal treatment and equal opportunity for all. As of July, 2010, the population of the Philippines is 99,900,177[3] and 32.9%[4] is below the poverty line. Despite this situation, Aral Pinoy believes that a great number of people would be willing to help out these 32.9% and more.
There are two types of support Aral Pinoy does, first, support for the Already-Scholars (AS) and second, support for the Would-be Scholars (WS). Technically, those who are already enrolled in public schools (both elementary and high school) are the Already-Scholars. Those who are out of school and would express the intention to study are the Would-be Scholars.
Sponsoring a student would mean that a sponsor may either choose an AS or a WS. Aral Pinoy highly encourage the sponsors to recruit their friends and relatives to support an AS or a WS.
For a share of Php 4,000 pesos a year or Php 20 pesos a day for 200 days of schooling a sponsor can already send and sustain a student for one year.
A sponsor can be a donor or may recruit their friends and relatives to become donors to gather the following but not limited to them: backpacks, notebooks, pencils, envelopes, erasers, ballpens, including teacher's supplies like utility boxes for books, whiteboard, board marker, pentel pen, assorted colored paper, bond paper A4 size, manila paper, plastic cover, file holder, puncher, cork board, log book, etc.
4. How can the Already-Scholars and Would-be Scholars apply for Aral Pinoy Project Baon?
Everyone is welcome!
Aral Pinoy works and will work in partnership with several urban poor and rural communities, NGO partners and public schools[5] in Metro Manila and outside Metro Manila. The objective is to introduce and orient them the Aral Pinoy Project Baon (APPB).
However, on the basis of the availability of funds and resources, priorities will be given to students who are in need the most and from their endorsements, recommendations and close monitoring and reports of their academic performance, then they become APPB the beneficiaries.
5. Who are the possible sponsors/donors for Aral Pinoy Project Baon?
Anyone and anybody can make a difference!
The practice of austerity for the blessings we have within us and within our reach implies two things: the how’s and the why’s towards a more sustainable way of living. While we must learn how to sacrifice for others for their own good, we also must realize that it would require giving up of anything that makes us comfortable and secure. This is best expressed by borrowing the favorite quotation of Viktor Frankl, the very words of philosopher Nietzsche who said that, “He who has a why to live can bear with almost anyhow.”
So who can be Aral Pinoy Project Baon Sponsor/Donor? Anyone and anybody whose why’s to live is to uphold the right to life, the right to education and equal opportunity for all and who can bear the ‘how’ through sending to school a student with Php 20 pesos ‘baon’ a day for one year.
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[1] ARALPINOY.ORG INC is a non-stock, non-profit organization registered under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 11, 2010 with Company Registration Number: CN201012580 and Company Tax Identification Number: 007-842-097
[2] The Constitution of Philippines Adopted 15 October 1986, amended 1987 EDUCATION. Section 1 declares that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Source: http://www.right-to-education.org/country-node/488/country-constitutional
[3] Source: (July 2010 est.) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html
[4] Source: (2006 est.) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2046.html
[5] On March 29, 2009, Aral Pinoy partnered with Mr. Santiago Flora, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Quezon City Polytechnic University through Aral Pinoy Alagang Silid-Aralan Project (adopt and nurture a classroom).
