CAINTA, Rizal -- The Cainta Senior High School marked a historic Brigada Eskwela as it moved to its new stand-alone high school campus, with “Jungle Popoy”, the mascot of the Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID) joining the school's preparation and clean-up drive.
Brigada Eskwela is an annual campaign of the Department of Education (DepEd), which prepares schools nationwide for the classes.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Dr. Nerissa Dalumpines, Cainta Senior High School principal, thanked the volunteers for helping transfer school equipment and supplies to the new site.
“Mahirap, many challenges, pero nakakataba ng damdamin dahil nakikita ko naman ang support ng various agencies na talagang tumulong sa amin dahil June 3 pasukan na po (It’s difficult, there are many challenges, but it is heartwarming to see the overwhelming support of the various agencies that are taking part because of the opening of classes on June 3),” Dalumpines said.
BRIGADA ESKWELA. “Jungle Popoy,” the official mascot of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division (2ID), greets the participants and volunteers of Brigada Eskwela 2019 at the new Cainta Senior High School in Cainta, Rizal on Monday (May 20, 2019). (Photo by Saul E. Pa-a)
She said this is the first time they would use the new school facilities.
She also thanked the Philippine Army’s 2ID soldiers and reservists, led by Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, chief of the 2ID public affairs office, who participated in the campaign as part of the military’s community support projects (CSPs).
“Very blessed kami na meron tayong mga kasundaluhan dahil first time po ito na may tumulong sa aming katulad nila, full force, at dahil dyan 'yung challenges unti-unti nagkaroon ng linaw (We are very blessed that we have the soldiers, for the first time, who help us, full force, and because of them, the challenges have been clearly addressed),” she said.
Dalumpines said half of the 1,900 school population would be accommodated at the new site while the remaining half would remain in their old campus, sharing classrooms with the Cainta Elementary School in Parola until the completion of the two school buildings by June and July.
She said the teacher-student ratio of 1:45 is "very manageable" as she looks forward to more science and technology equipment and school facilities this year, through the support of the DepEd, Cainta local government, barangays, and donors for the school supplies.
Following the parade, Brigada partners cleaned classrooms, corridors and stairways while other teams of parents, soldiers, students, youth volunteers and construction workers leveled the school grounds for gardening and planting of ornamental plants.
Other teams also inspected electrical wirings and connections, checked on water supply system, and the construction of a temporary school fence.
As the new school campus is spruced up, fumigation and final inspection would also be done in school offices and classroom before the opening of classes on June 3.
Mascot “Jungle Popoy”, along with Army and reservist troops, joined the Brigada Eskwela with the senior high school academic staff, students, General Parents Teachers Association (GPTA) members, Boy and Girl Scouts, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) village youth council members, volunteer residents, sponsors and donors early Monday morning around Cainta’s San Roque and Sta. Rosa barangays.
"This is the first time we have showcased 'Jungle Popoy' in public schools in the Calabarzon Region, aimed at reaching out to the public and promote the army’s community support engagements," Retumban said.
“This is one way we could connect to the community so they would understand the soldier’s work more than just the military image, but most especially on the non-combatant and civic duties, community support such as this Brigada Eskwela,” he added.
He said the Army is intensifying its support to the DepEd, students and the community in the Calabarzon region, as well as the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon even after Brigada Eskwela.
“We have soon-to-be scheduled lectures on the government’s anti-insurgency campaign, promotion of the ROTC program and invitation to schools for their 'Lakbay Aral' to the 2ID at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal,” Retumban added.
Alex Pleno, of the business process outsourcing firm Inspiro, the school's partner-sponsor, said their company’s participation also aimed to assess how they could help students and the school through their donation of techie gadgets and school supplies.
It would also serve as invitation for interested senior high students, who would like to work with the BPO firm.
“We would help students by providing them the opportunity to work with us through their teacher coordinator Dhelle Casco Balubar through school partnership with Inspiro that caters to the market with at least senior high school graduates,” Pleno said. (PNA)
