Jaymmars Nolasco, a 3rd-year student of Dominican School in Camalig, Albay, sent me a SMS yesterday informing me that the latter issued him and the other four (4) scholars a statement of account demanding for tuition and computer fees for December, 2007. Well, one may think this is usual but considering the fact that the children are under the school's contracting program since 2005 - this is not. For 2 consecutive years, the usual procedure is that the monthly tuition and computer fees are being deducted from the so-called ESC Funds, which is amounting to Pesos Four Thousand (P4,000.00) per year and per child. This year, this seems to be different.
The old principal is gone and the new one imposes other rules. Unfortunately, for small child-help project like mine, new rules are not always advantageous and acceptable. I have written a letter to the principal stating that the new rules would lead to a sudden and immediate termination of all scholarship grants due to limited source of funds. Five (5) sponsor children will be affected by this, namely: Maribel Nacor, Rosemarie Nacor, Joey Nantes, Jaymmars Nolasco, and Margie Nacor. This letter will be mailed on December 17, 2007 via LBC Express, and is expected to be received by the Dominican School Principal by December 18, 2007.
This situation makes me sad. After a series of harassment and extortion in Quirangay, Camalig, Albay, and after almost six (6) years of getting help, support and understanding from my FRIENDS IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA, I do feel that my homeland, Philippines, and the Filipino people themselves should be concerned in helping these needy children to at least finish High School Education. I have been through all the process of a very tiring registration for the purpose of accreditation and am still in the process of documentation for this project but until now, I do not see any sign of help from my countrymen. My letters to the Department of Social Welfare and Development remained unanswered and my calls were not returned. Those concerned were in important conferences and could not (or would not) attend to my requests.
My Friends in Germany are informed of the financial flow and situation on this project thus they know that from December to March of every schoolyear, the tuition and computer fees of their sponsored children are being covered by this ESC Funds as a part of this school-community project. My friends in Germany have also their own expenses and problems. One is facing a cancer operation, one has a disabled child to take care of, one has two (2) kids to support, one has anxiety over a possible loss of job, and the old ones getting small pensions has problems coping up with the inflation. But still these people extend their help. Early December, they sent the children some amount for Christmas Gifts. On December 23, 2007, these gifts (already wrapped and sent together with the remaining cash gifts to the project caretaker last week, will be distributed. A week before the Christmas Holidays, the children were given the billings and they were told that they cannot take the Examinations when they do not pay. Now how can I explain to the sponsor that suddenly, the Dominican School in Camalig is no longer willing to shoulder the usual expenses for December to March?
I am not willing to add another burden to my friends in Germany for this. They are giving more than enough and why should we feel responsible for these children when the Filipinos themselves do not? I do not have the financial capabilities to cover the costs. Hence, it seems that I will have no other choice as to stop this project, if the school and the local government are not willing to do their part.
I just hope that the new principal of Dominican School in Camalig will understand the situation.
Rich people of the Philippines, where are though?
