REP Culmination Day Palimbang

Pasali TCDP staff with some of the REP children of Palimbang

Setting up two Culmination Days for the year 2015, Pasali Philippines started the first round in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat with four participating elementary schools, including the host school, last February 12. The event was held at the gymnasium of Milbuk Central Elementary School with attendants including students, teachers and school heads, DepEd personnels, Marine Corps, LGU representatives and Pasali Staffs, numbering to almost six hundred. It was a program both to commemorate students, teachers and the community for their participation and support, and to bring a happy ending to another fruitful year of Respect Education Program (REP).

Early that morning vans have been busy going to and fro picking up students from their respective schools; Palimbang Central, Kanipaan and Usman Emban, to Milbuk. It was a fun start for the program with students arriving together, their vehicles lined up and them marching to the venue wearing proud smiles and this year’s REP tee shirts. The event then begun with the opening of the two Masters-of-Ceremonies, Norsheena and Myrt, both Grade VI students of Milbuk Central, calling each school to stand and give their respective yells. Then a doxology and the singing of the national anthem lead by selected students of Kanipaan followed. The program manager Jayne Isha Christine Boholst welcomed and acknowledged the attendants of the day, put in plain words the objectives of Pasali for helping tri-people children, enlightened everyone of the occasion’s theme and she even continued to say that today the children were the main characters. Then the students of Milbuk performed their dance version of the song “Purihin mo ang Pilinas”, it was then followed by an audio and visual presentation (AVP) of the whole year’s REP activities.

“Ang batang may respeto, kapuri-puri at iniidolo” was the slogan of Julhaimen Condo, a Grade IV student of Kanipaan, thought up like countless other students for the Respect Day, not knowing this simple but meaningful message would be chosen as the best and used as a medium to convey the finale of REP 2015. And who better to give the thematic message than the child that envisioned the theme. In his short but direct speech, Julhaimen phrased his masterpiece to mean that “…ang isang bata na may respeto sa kanyang kapwa, ay maaaring hahangaan at tutularan ng iba pang mga bata o tao.” (…a child who respects his fellow human, maybe admired and emulated by other children or people.)    

After a colorful Muslim dance number presented by Kanipaan students, snacks were distributed accompanied by games and an entertaining dance given by Jollibee and Hetti with their crew. The children at the sight of Jollibee instantly stood from their seats, jumped up and down yelling for him to come near them. For some students it would become one of the day’s highlights, especially those who have never seen the mascot before. It was an unexpected bonus.


“Di po matatawarang pagpapasalamat ang gusto naming ipahatid sa pagbigigay sa amin ng pagkakataon na maging parte sa programa, sa willingnesss ninyo na turuan kami, at sa karagdagang kaalaman na ibinigay ninyo. Maraming salamat po!” (There are no amount of gratitude we want to express for giving us the chance to become part of this program, with your willingness to teach us, and for the additional knowledge that you gave us. Thank you very much!) This was the response of the Respect Club President of Kolong-kolong Elementary School. With the same sentiments from other Respect Club presidents of each schools, also thank Pasali and the Respect Education Program. Aside from thanksgiving, it is also their way of expressing their thoughts and ideas especially with what they want to achieve for their respective clubs. They were able to relate to how they were changed and what they have learned from the project. This is also the vision of Pasali for the children, after all it was an event for the children and by the children. In the words of Von Gregie, Respect Club President of Kanipaann “Natuto po kaming maging magalang sa aming kapwa.” (We learned how to respect our fellow humans.) Then it was followed by the giving of certificates to each student honoring his and her participation in the program.

And as with the students, the teachers gave their own responses and messages in summing up the whole year. There were the usual appreciation and gratitude for everything that REP has given; there were expectations for the future for a similar project. But most importantly the teachers themselves were able to testify of the growth and outcome of the program towards the students’ values and attitudes, changes that might just be the beginning of a better and peaceful future for each child.

​“Po at Opo” 
Ang bilin sa akin ng ama’t ina ko , maging magalangin mamopo ako, kapag kinakausap ng matandang tao, sa lahat ng lugar sa lahat ng dako, 
Kapag ang kinakausap ko ay matanda sa akin, na dapat igalang at dapat popoin, natutuwa ako na bigkas-bigkasin, and po at opo ng buong paggiliw.

-Ma’am Guerra, Milbuk CES