Please Help! Talacogon National High School

A friend, Teacher Amyll Josielou Blanco, who graduated from Philippine Normal University-Manila (PNU) with the degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English (BSED) has decided to teach in Talacogon National High School - Labnig Annex, Agusan del Sur (Philippines). 

Teacher Amyll Josielou told me:  

Mas pinili ko pong dito ako magturo sa probinsya kasi alam ko I can do better at marami akong matutulungan. Ayaw ko masayang yong natutunan ko and I know it's God plan for me to stay here. Ibang fulfillment pag natuturuan ko sila. Actually I travel everyday going to school,  2 hours ang travel. Kung nagtatravel po ako papuntang school, 2 rides po ako, from our place in San Francisco to Prosperidad, then from Prosperidad to Talacogon. Pwede bus or multicab ang means of transportation. Pag nasa school kana, mahirap din, kase wala kaming tubig, at walang kuryente kaya mahirap magturo sa madilim. I know it is hard, pero I find joy naman po sa pagtuturo sa kanila. I say this as it may seem exaggerated, but it has been one of my purposes – I want to reach for these kids and their future. I act not only as a teacher but as a guidance counselor. Most of them came from broken homes. Child labor is also rampant. I have been trying not to be really involved in their personal lives, but it is one of the so many unwritten job descriptions of a teacher like me. 

Talacogon National High School - Labnig Annex, Agusan del Sur (Philippines). Classrooms for first year and second year students. 

 Classroom for third year students and the school office. 

I told her that since December 17, 2011 in the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Sendong, all the efforts of help are on CDO, Iligan and Dumaguete. I just thought that maybe there are other parts affected by Sendong that were not given that attention. Her school was never a topic over news and social media sites. When I asked if they are also affected by Sendong, she said : 

Signal # 2 sa amin. Apektado especially ang Talacogon area. Actually sa amin po kahit hindi man Sendong, mapalakas lang ang ulan, talagang binabaha. All I wish this Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012 is for our students to have books and school supplies. We have 80 students from first year to third year with 5 teachers. The First Year students are 35, the Second Year students are 30 and the Third year students are 15. They have no books and as hard as it is for us. 

The available instructional materials.

The library and the only books in school. Most of them are obsolete, dated 1940's - 1990's.

The discomfort room! Where is the comfort in this room?  

When I told her that three of my friends would like to donate books and school supplies, she replied: 

Tiyak pong ikatutuwa nila to. At matutulungan din ako ng malaki para mas mabilis ang pagtuturong gagawin ko. Maraming salamat Sir Toni. 

Then I asked how to get to Talacogon National High School, she explained: 

Kung sa plane po kayo from Manila to Butuan it will be 1 hour 45 minutes, then you take a bus from Butuan to Talacogon, mga 2 and a half hours po. Kung sa ship naman, from Manila to Butuan, 2 nights and 3 days po, then the same, you take a bus from Butuan to Talacogon din po. Maraming salamat po. I pray that God will bless you more. Sana po marami ka pang kaibigan na wiiling to help us. Thank you so much!

Teacher Amyll Josielou is searching for generous individuals who would donate to her school for her students books and school supplies. But Looking at the depressing sight of the school buildings, I think Teacher Amyll Josielou needs are not just books and school supplies, she needs new classrooms, if not a new building.

If you think you can make a difference, please help! Just text me at 09178661006 or email me ingles.antonio@gmail.com