JAEN, Nueva Ecija – The appearance of movie and television personalities coupled with the distribution of bicycles to over 200 of 500 enrolees spiced up the opening of a new six-classroom pubic high school annex in the outskirt village of San Pablo here Monday.
Actor Wendell Ramos, along with his comedian-buddy Long Mejia joined Gov. Aurelio Umali and his wife, 3rd District Rep. Czarina Umali, along with education officials and the town officials headed by Mayor Santiago Austria in the opening of Jaen National High School Annex, coinciding with the official opening of classes.
Character actors like Fernando Poe Jr. impersonator Bobby Henson, Danny Labra and Teddy Duran also made an appearance before parents and students preceding the formal inauguration of the school that was built in 38 days through the P1.2-million municipal fund and personal donations from Austria himself.
The Department of Education, the provincial and municipal government through their respective local school boards, provided teachers and staff, Austria said. Austria, who is in his third and final term as mayor, said the San Pablo Annex was the third school to have been built under his charge in villages “to make education accessible to the poor and help them fulfi l their dreams.”
“Pinagsusumikapan natin na maibigay yung unti-unting pangarap ng mamamayan,” he said. “Ang gusto natin ay wala nang pamilya na makapagsasabing hindi nakapag-aral dahil malayo ang eskwelahan,” the mayor said.
Ramos said he insisted to Austria that he be given an opportunity to be part of the activity. “On my part, parang ‘yun na ang pinaka-way ko para makasuporta rin dun sa mga bata. Kahit paano makapag-payback kami ng mga blessing na natatanggap namin,” Ramos said.
Andrea, a Grade 9 pupil from the nearby town of Sta. Rosa who transferred here for reasons of proximity and Ma. Christine, Grade 7, of this town said their back to school day was made colorful because of the artists.
Austria explained that students who come from a longer distance were prioritized in the distribution of bicycles.
“Nauunawaan nila ako, yung medyo malapit ay maglakadlakad na lang muna,” he said. The bikes, bought at P2,000 to P2,500 each, would make a savings of up to P7,000 of transportation allowance for every student for the ten months of school-year, he said.
He also purchased bikes for the local peacekeeping force to make themselves visible in all streets to the school, he said. Authorities, however, had to make classes double shift as enrolees ballooned to 500 from the expected 300 even as more students, mostly transferees were registering as of Monday.
Umali pledged P700,000 to create two more classrooms.
