Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. The division of Tawi-Tawi observed the first ever Global Handwashing Day today at Sea Orchid ES (SOES) simultaneously together with the other divisions in the entire Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Bad weather condition caused the delay of the supposed 7:30 AM schedule but did not bar the activity which started with a motorcade around Bongao town proceeding to the SOES at Barangay Nalil with the Alert Network, a Radio Tranciever Organization leading the way.
Notwithstanding the heavy rains early on, the program proper started right after the motorcade and God is so good that for a while the rain stopped giving us the time to go on and continue with the GHD as planned.
It was the Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Kiram K. Irilis, Al-haj who spearheaded the activity and inspite of the fact that it was semestral break still the principal Mr. Sahilon Jailani successfully gathered the teachers, PTCA leaders, barangay officials and pupils of SOES. The support coming from the administrators/ supervisors of the districts in Bongao, school nurses, civic organizations, other barangay officials of the other model schools and Fit for School, Inc. were likewise undeniable making GHD a success.
The lady emcee and EHCP Division Program Coordinator Christine T. Sangkula took the lead for the pledge made by everyone to wash their hands with water and soap starting today and onwards making it part of a daily habit which according to SDS Kiram, “somewhat a form of ablution that Muslims do”. It was followed by community singing of the Nursery Song ‘I Have Two Hands’ in Sinug and English Versions led by Nurse Omar Yaseff.
Mr. Jailani or Apah Ilon as he is fondly called by everybody in his closing message said that “the donations both monetary and material goods collected by SOES were all made into what we have now: the wash facility (the longest so far) and the water tank stand which the donors can check on as a proof of our sincere effort to make EHCP succeed.” He further said that “for now we are like soldiers going into battle with guns sans bullets because we do not have our water tank and EHCP supplies and yet when put into test -fire like an automatic rifle we can fire.” For the moment the school provided a large water container borrowed from the parents that was used for today’s GHD celebration.
This prompted, the Fit for School Region IX Coordinator Noel Tarrazona who at the same time is handling EHCP in Tawi-Tawi to canvass and purchase a plastic water tank and PVC Pipes that were actually requested by SOES early in September 2012.
Indeed the triumph of any endeavor lies on the teamwork, sincere effort and back up of local partners, key officials, and stakeholders for without these, all efforts will be meaningless and will not march forward towards achieving the goals being set. (tinsangkula/DHNS DepEd Tawi-Tawi)
