By RUBY RAYMUNDO (edited by Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz) | ANG MISYON TALIM ISLAND SATELLITE DIRECTOR
Thank you to all the donors of TEACH CLASSICAL MUSIC TO POOR KIDS OF TALIM ISLAND! The raised amount of US$1,680 so far has helped the Ang Misyon Talim Island satellite take its first baby steps. Now the kids there are beginning to play Classical Music!
THE REALITY OF TALIM ISLAND
In the Island of Talim, the foremost problem is the growing number of Out-of School youths. After the secondary schooling, it is so hard for parents to send their children to college because of so many factors to consider. Aside from high tuition fees & transportation allowances, board & lodging contributes to the much bigger outlay. In true sense, a simple family cannot afford all of these.
Among the annual high school graduates, only 20% of those have been able to move on to college. Even if they avail of the scholarship grants, there are still more expenses not covered by the grant-in-aid. Another 40% seek employment in factories, fastfood restaurants, and construction sites, while the remaining 40% remain in the Island, most of whom get hooked on drugs and perhaps rush into early marriage.
HOW TALIM ISLAND BECAME AN ANG MISYON SATELLITE
It’s been a year now since Ang Misyon’s Managing Director Tinky Cruz & her staff took a trip to Talim Island. They offered free music lessons to the less fortunate children of Talim Island. From the 20 kids that have already benefited from the lessons conducted, 20 more recipients of free lessons & meals have been added. The children have been taking music lessons every weekend at the island proper because of frequent occurrences of typhoons and strong winds. Ang Misyon assigned three teachers in strings, winds, percussion, and the rudiments of music such as Music Theory. They have been compensated with teaching allowances, meals, and transportation. These efforts have been secured by your magnanimous efforts of donating.
SPOTLIGHT ON 12-YEAR-OLD VANA
There is a story behind every member of Ang Misyon Talim Island Satellite, mostly depressing. Here's one of them. Her name is Vana, 12 years old, and currently enrolled at Balibago Elementary School. Noticeably, her physical appearance does not resemble her age, due to malnourishment.
Vana is the third child among four siblings. Her father is a part-time laborer. Their income is not sufficient enough to provide three meals a day. They even haven’t had electricity in their home for more than three years because of unpaid bills. Their house was hit by a major typhoon, and left with no choice but to stay.
She is one of the aspiring students among the group. She was so eager to learn that Talim Island Satellite Director Ruby Raymundo asked Ang Misyon to sponsor her a second-hand violin. Under only a gas lamp light, one can hear her play her new violin, her new best friend. On one weekend, Vana did not appear for her lesson because she was ill. The other kids informed us that she passed out during the school's flag ceremony. She came to school with an empty stomach. After asking her why she didn’t eat, she replied "Wala pong pagkain sa bahay" (“There is no food in the house”). Director Raymundo promised Vana that she will do everything in her capacity to be able to send her to college.
If not for your donation, she would not have the refuge she finds in her violin, nor a future to aspire for.
SOCIAL & PERFORMANCE ACHIEVEMENTS
One of the activities already experienced for the first time by the Island kids was their field trip to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where they have been able to watch the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. They were so excited and at awe! In fact, this was the first time they have ever seen a concert hall, or riden on an elevator, or realized what the stripes were for on a pedestrian crossing lane.
They also performed a "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" medley and an arrangement of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" at the Department of Education Amphitheatre last December 20 for Ang Misyon’s Satellite Showdown, with two hundred other youths. They were provided uniforms, meals, and transportation assistance. Even the parents & guardians of these children were given the similar allowances. All of them received grocery items as Christmas gifts. The Satellite’s current instruments were provided by Ang Misyon in collaboration with other donors and sponsors, including you.
On April 15, 2015, the Talim Island children will perform their first ever satellite recital. It is because of your donations that made it possible for this milestone to happen!
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
