Schooltime will start soon in the Philippines. However, all the students are lucky enough to have new books and school supplies. And despite the free education in the Philippines, not everyone is lucky enough to go to school due to luck of money to buy school supplies and allowances. Some kids even have to help their parents work for a living. They don't have the luxury and the privilege that some people have.

This is the case for the kids of Ogo-og Elementary School in Ogo-og, Barlig, Mountain Province, a remote village in the Philippines. I discovered this village while I was doing a research about Jeyrick "Carrot Man" Sigmaton when I decided to write a novel about him.

Carrot Man's viral photo when photographer Edwina Bandong captured his photo while carrying a basket of carrots.

It was February 2016 when the viral photo of a handsome and mysterious farmer from Mountain Province. Ogo-og is his home and I was invited to go there during his homecoming. Nestled in the Cordillera Mountain Range, Ogo-og is a beautiful baranggay but it would take more than sixteen hours from Manila by land vehicle and another two hours more or less by foot. You can't access the village by car because you have to traverse mountains and rice terraces.

On the Way to Ogo-og Village.

The never-ending stairs to the village.

Mostly farmers, parents really strive hard to send their children to school. Some had to stop attending classes to help their parents in farms. I started coming here two years ago because of my book research. The people are kind and hardworking. The proof is that until now, their centuries-old rice terraces are still maintained. But their community is isolated because there is no direct public road to the village. It is also hard for the government to give them help because it is not easy to reach their place.

I started coming here two years ago because of my book research. And luckily, I was able to help with Cheerinatics (fans of Jeyrick Sigmaton and Chee-nee de Guzman who helped in discovering Jeyrick) when they organized their gift-giving last 2016.

I was inspired to keep on helping the kids. On summer of 2017, I organized my own fundraising with the help of Precious Pages, its readers, and fans of Carrot Man. I sold some of my books and the income helped the logistics. The volunteers themselves spent their own money to bring the donations.

Volunteers with Mayor of Barlig, Mountain Province and cultural head Sir Dionee.

We had to battle the high altitude, long journey to the community, cliffs, strong rains, muddy roads and long walks to the mountains. Everything was worth it when the kids greeted us with a welcome song and how their faces lit up as they welcome us.

We also heard the stories of the people of Ogo-og.Some parents didn’t finish school and some were lucky to even go to high school. And because life is not easy, one high school student asked for extra notebook. We only got extra noteooks for Grade 1 and he still took it. He told us that it is okay as long as he got something to use.

The nearest high school is an hour or two walk to the mountains. And experiencing it first hand when I first visited the community, walking on the rice terraces with pouring rain, these kids are survivors and really hardworking to accomplish such feat. But life is really harsh. And a little help could go a long, long way.

For more photos during last year's gift-giving you can check it here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/FindingCarrotManPHR/photos/?tab=album&album_id=816591881827220

The event was a success and we would love to help some more. Hopefully not just the elementary kids but those in high school as well. Aside from school supplies and food for the kids, we will also buy teaching materials to help our teachers who painstakingly work hard to teach the kids. Hopefully it would also help with the volunteer's logistics.

Now, we are knocking on your kind hearts, Steemit friends. This June 1, we are leaving for Ogo-og to give gifts to these kids. Your donation help a lot with helping these kids to pursue with their studies and inspire them more to reach for their dreams.

With your help, hopefully we can reach out and help more kids in other communities in the future. We are targeting 100 students for now but we are hoping to get more.
You can donate the following:

Notebooks (Kinder to Grade 6)
Notepad (Kinder to Grade 6)
Pens, pencils, sharpener, rulers, erasers
100 long plastic envelope
100 scissors
ABAKADA booklet
Crayons
Box of chalk for teachers, manila paper, art paper, record book, pentel pen
Books for the library
Clothes, shoes and school bags
Cupcakes, tetra pack juice, biscuits, crackers, candies (target: 175 pax for children, volunteers, parents and teachers)

Bring them at the following Precious Pages Store and c/o to Sofia:
SM North EDSA (3rd Floor Main Building)
SM Manila (lower ground near foodcourt)
Precious Pages Camarin
Precious Pages Pasig (near Immaculada Concepcion School)
SM Calamba
SM Mall of Asia (near Starbucks IMAX)
Sto. Domingo across Angelicum College
SM Dasmarinas (SM Annex)

For monetary value, you can donate thru Steemit, BDO my Paypal. For inquiries, please send me an email at sofiaphr1@gmail.com or PM this page: https://www.facebook.com/FindingCarrotManPHR/. Bless your hearts, Steemit friends. Let's bring hope and smile to these kids.
This will be a yearly event and we are planning to help more kids if possible.

jernalie

Helping the Kids of Ogo og Barlig Mountain Province

Helping the Kids of Ogo og Barlig Mountain Province

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