Philippine American flaglets

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 8, 2010) – Pupils of Tuyan Elementary School wave United States of America and Philippine flaglets as they welcome United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Leslie A. Bassett (not Ambassador as earlier reported by Sarangani Information Office) and party with Governor Migs Dominguez to the school Friday, March 5, to inaugurate the USAID- Petron two- classroom building. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bassett inaugurates new school in Sarangani

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 7, 2010) – United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Leslie A. Bassett (not Ambassador as earlier reported by Sarangani Information Office) led the inauguration of a P700,000 two-classroom building complete with facilities for Tuyan Elementary School Friday (March 5) donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Petron Foundation worth.

Bassett’s first visit to the province was welcomed by local and school officials, and students waving flaglets of the United States and the Philippines.

“We have to pick the schools that have the support of everybody- the barangay captains, and to do the extra to partner with us,” Bassett said.

“We have to pick the schools that have great principles to what their school can do, schools that have wonderful teachers to work extra hard with pupils to try to improve education.”

“These are the schools whose pupils appreciate the peace programs that apply here, who have the respect of their parents, to try to build better future for their country. That’s why we are here,” Bassett added.

Bassett’s ten-man party with USAID Director Elzadia Washington turned over books to the school with USAID’s Education Quality Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQUALLS2) project.

Education is one of the centerpiece programs of governance under Governor Migs Dominguez.

Sarangani provincial government has opened 18 new integrated schools in its remotest barangays.

The Tuyan Elementary School is the only school of peace in Sarangani recognized by the United Nations.

“This is because we have the cooperation of the community,” said school principal Edgar Egano.

The school integrates the concept of peace in their curriculum which teachers have learned from the province-wide Culture of Peace training.

“We would like to thank the USAID and Petron Foundation and other donors for giving us a new school building which will be a great help for our studies,” Grade V pupil Cherrie Fe Habwanan said.

“This is a part of our commitment to the national government,” Petron Foundation Executive Director Malu Erni said.

Erni said Sarangani has the most in number of schools of the 120 new school buildings and 480 school building repairs of Petron Foundation education program.

“Petron fuels hope. Hope stands for Helping Filipinos Overcome Poverty through Education,” Erni said.

Expressing her gratitude to the donors, Department of Education Regional Director Isabelita Borres said, with the new school building, “our lives will never be the same again.”

“We promise to use our new school building and all its facilities wisely,” Ayesha Harid, a Grade V pupil, said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Classroom visit

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 6, 2010) – United States Ambassador Leslie Bassett and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Elzadia Washington asks questions to pupils of Tuyan Elementary School at the inauguration of the two-classroom building Friday, March 5, donated by the USAID and Petron Foundation. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Books

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 6, 2010) – United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Elzadia Washington moves forward for a symbolic turnover of books to Tuyan Elementary School principal Edgar Egano at the inauguration of the two-classroom building Friday, March 5, donated by the USAID and Petron Foundation. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Ambassador Bassett with Tuyan Elementary School pupils

MALAPATAN, Sarangani (March 6, 2010) – United States Ambassador Leslie Bassett gestures as she talks to the pupils of Tuyan Elementary School at the inauguration of the two-classroom building Friday, March 5, donated by the United States Agency for International Development and Petron Foundation. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)