Kids receive gifts from construction firm
Sisters Soraya and Acmila Malic Mamocan and their children and siblings had nothing but the clothes that they wore when they escaped their home at Barangay Towak a Lapot of Marawi City and sought refuge in a hilly land in Cebu City.
Before that, they had been staying at an evacuation center for days, listening to the sound of bombs and gunfire surrounding them, until they finally decided to transfer to a safer place so their children can continue going to school.
“We did not know what happened to our houses since we were no longer allowed to return. For days, we would hear at least 10 bombs a day and watch some children die because of shock and fear. We knew we had to leave because of our children who are our main priority,”Acmila,motherofthree, said.
When they left for Cebu, the Malic clan of 17 (six adults, 11 children) had to walk to Saguiran so they could take a jeep for Iligan where a boat ride to Cebu was available. Their relatives took them in their home in Barangay Sapangdaku, where they can wait until the conflict is over and they can go back to their old lives.
But even if they had nothing, Soraya and Acmila felt more hopeful in their current situation, knowing that the threat on their children’s lives is now far away.
“I wanted my children to have a better future. They can’t have that if they stop studying and stay there. We can always find a way to earn but we can never bring back our children’s lives if they’re gone,” added Soraya, mother of two. "Best gift" Luckily, their children were among the beneficiaries of school trolleys and supplies donated by Fluor Daniel Inc. Philippines’ global backpack project, in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). The project was a big boost to the conflicttorn kids.
“We are very grateful for the bags. They came at a time when we needed them the most. We are very lucky to be in Cebu because the kindness that they have showed us here is just heartwarming,”Acmila said.
To help the displaced family, the faculty and staff of Sapangdaku Elementary School (ES)acceptedthenewtransferees so the children can easily return to a more normal school life. Because of the children’s sudden relocation, Sapangdaku ES principalBabylinPalbansaidthat the school still enrolled them even with incomplete school records.
“It is our directive in the Department of Education (DepEd) that all schools in the country should prioritize displaced pupils of Marawi because of their current situation. When they arrived in our barangay, we immediately included them in our list of beneficiariesfortheschooltrolley assistance. We are thankful that Fluor has been very generous in giving additional bags for these pupils,” Palban said.
For incoming Grade 5 pupil Jalanie Abdul Malic, the school trolley is one of the best gifts he received for the year because it made him want to go back to school even more.
“I thought I would go to my new school with nothing to use but that’s okay as long as I am safe and studying inside a classroom. But now I have everything I need in my classes. I liked the notebooks and school supplies but the bag is the best. I feel proud that I have a trolley like this that I can use to go to school every day,” he said.
Some 175 other Grade 1 pupils from Sapangdaku ES and Toong Integrated School (IS) also received trolleys which were distributed by the employeevolunteers of Fluor Philippines.
“The bags are really important for the kids especially the Grade 1 pupils. But if the family cannot afford to buy these bags and supplies, our pupils will really have a hard time studying. That is why we chose to provide these bags to school children in very remote areas and that also includes displaced pupils who needed the assistance so they can return to school,” Fluor Daniel Philippines Community Affairs Vice Chair Stephen Nocete said.
During the distribution, employee-volunteers of Fluor Philippines’ Cebu office braved the rain and steep terrain leading to Toong ES just to be able to give the trolleys and snacks to the pupils and teachers.
“We take corporate social responsibility seriously and it is always part of the Fluor culture to have a CSR program every year through Fluor Cares. We always select schools that receive the least form of assistance. Personally, giving back to the community where you grow up and actually work in is really fulfilling. You can see that your recipients are happy so you also feel happy,” Nocete said.
For the global backpack project, Fluor funds the backpacks while the employeevolunteers give their own donations for the school supplies. They are also in-charge of the packing and distribution of bags and supplies to selected schools.
“We know we can provide a big impact to these kids if we address their school needs first. I feel proud to be a part of Fluor, a company that imbibes a culture of paying it forward to its communities,” Joy Roman, recruitment lead for the Philippines, said.
FluorPhilippines,amember company of PBSP, has been supporting school communities intheCebuHillylandssince2012. Aside from the trolleys, the company has provided more than 3,000 school backpacks and over 100 teacher kits in the elementary schools of Buhisan, Pamutan, Cantipla and Kalunasan.
Apart from the monetary donations, the company has encouraged fundraising activities among their employees to help support their own advocacies. Through the shared resources of Fluor Philippines and its employees, the company was able to provide e-classroom facilities and renovate the chemistry laboratory of Cebu City National Science High School.
The company also gave support to survivors of the Bohol earthquake in October 2013 and Super Typhoon Yolanda in November2013.