The St. Andrew's Society School

The St. Andrew's School, which was opened in June 2002, is located in Sitio Alunan, Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac.  EVACF, together with the St. Andrew's Society, Manila, has recently provided the school with new supplies and additional equipment.

We are pleased to note that the school now has an Aeta teacher, Leumer Hope Divad, who has been provided by the Department of Education and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).  He is a college graduate in education and a certified teacher. Before the school opened, there had not been a school in the area at all, so all of the newly enrolled pupils - ranging in age from 6 to 16 - had to enter Grade 1.  Since then, the parents have built another small classroom for the younger children, and a second teacher, Leguya Lenon - also an Aeta and an experienced teacher - has now been employed to work with this group.

In all, the school caters for 125 pupils, including 25 from a neighboring sitio, who are also boarding there.

On 18 December (2002), the school held its first Christmas program. The parents, most of whom cannot read or write themselves, were beaming with pride and delight listening to their children read, sing and recite the meaning of Christmas.  Traditional dances and songs were also performed by pupils wearing traditional costumes.

The school and its achievements have begun to kindle real hope in the people of this village.  In the words of one Aeta father, "I have been praying for this school for a long time".