We just arrived from Besigan, the place where we did today’s outreach and feeding program. We visited Cadayunan Primary School and getting there was not an easy journey.

We had to take an almost three hour drive on a bumpy god forsaken road on a dump truck, as there was no other means to go there in that condition, especially on a bad weather.

When we got to the site, we had the choice to walk going up the muddy staircase or go around on a not so steep, but still muddy path towards the school which is perched high up the mountain, overlooking Marawi, Iligan, Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon. It was actually a magnanimous view— which we enjoyed while walking under the raindrops, and after the rain has subsided.

Anyway, horrific as it may seem, all difficulties we have experienced while traveling can not compare to the happiness we felt when we were already serving the kids at Cadayunan Primary School. The kids number thinned as we arrived late. Some of them have gone home, but we were left with the majority of students so it was still a good number for the outreach and feeding program. We enjoyed giving them games, and prizes and interacting with them in the best possible way. Oh they enjoyed the gifts they received and it was really good that it was obvious with their reaction, participation and of course, facial expressions.

If there is one thing I admire about the kids that we saw today, is the fact that they are yet innocent, and happy. I mean, they may be in the poorest state, physically, but they are not bitter kids unlike the materialistic kind that we have so many of in the city proper..  I just wish the government would do something about their educational system in the area. Perhaps give more for the improvement of their classrooms, as literally, the blackboards were wet during the rain, as the roof had so many holes that water gets in through them. So just imagine having a class in that state..

Anyway, the CDO Bloggers shall be visiting them again, and we shall bring in more help that we can get. Perhaps get some funds to buy them slippers next time, or get them a better black board, or get help for a better classroom with locks and of course add more materials for them to use. We shall be knocking on our friends’ hearts and ask for more donations of old books, school supplies, and everything else.

To sum up, the trip was quite tiring, and “challenging” as it progressed, but definitely, it was worth all the things we went through. I wish my daughter can join us next time so she can see their current state. But even in pictures, my daughter feels for them already. At the same time, she is filled with gratitude for everything that she has continuously enjoyed since she started going to school.