Manito Learning Center apat na taon nang nagtataong libreng edukasyon

Sira Mr. and Mrs. Cristy, an founder kan Manito Learning System.
Photo Credit: Ella Jamelle Balanlayos

Note: Below is the original (English) article

"The thing that didn't exist in Manito was a pre-school. It has a good elementary school, it has a good high school but no pre-school. In our experience in United States, pre-school is a very common thing, almost every child goes to pre-school and we thought that it's something we can do here - that was a gap that we can fill", iyan an sinabi ni Mr. Timothy W. Christy asin kan saiyang agom na si Mrs. Elfleda R. Christy, sinda an nagmukna kan Manito Learning Center.

An Manito Learning Center sarong pre-school, pero pwedeng mas pa an pwedeng itaong serbisyo kaini. Segun sa mag-agom na Christy, kan taong 2013 kan magretiro si Mr Christy, nahiling niya an mga kaakian sa Manito na wara man na piggigibo, kaya naisipan nindang tabangan an mga ini sa paagi nin amay na edukasyon.

Marso 10, 2014 an pinaka-enot na pormal na klase kan MLC kun sain an eskwelahan kaini itoon pa sa kataning kan simbahan. Naglipat sinda sa kataning kan Magdoong Inn kan Hulyo 2014. An mga enot na volunteer teachers kaini iyo sira Cristine Decano, Chinky Diane Decano, Doris Ramirez asin iba pang volunteer teachers hale sa Community College of Manito. 2015 na man kan nagpuon magturo si Ayra Perol.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, you revolve around the world. This is what we want to teach the kids especially with TIME. We are strict when it comes to rules because we are teaching the kids with behavioral skills for them to have a better outlook in life than what they see now", sabi ni Mrs. Christy.

Igwa na nin apat (4) na batch na nakatapos sa Regular asin Summer Class puon kan 2014. An mga asignaturang pigtuturo digdi iyo an English Math, asin Basic Computer Lessons (Age Appropriate).

An mga kaipuhan na rekisitos para sa regular classes iyo an photocopy kan Birth Certificate, 2 pcs. 1x1 picture asin 5 pesos para sa ID jacket, samantalang sa Summer Class kaipuhan sanang ipasa an photocopy kan Birth Certificate kan aki.

Dakul pa nin mga kamawotan an mag-agom na Christy para sa saindang eskwelahan, inot iyo an “Reading Program” sa tabang kan mga CCM Volunteers. Mapuon ini sa Hunyo pero para sana muna ini sa mga nagtapos sa MLC ngani mapadagos ninda an napuonan nang pagturo sa mga aki kung pa’no an pagbasa asin sa kagustuhan na man kan mga magurang. Ikaduwa iyo an “Library Room” para sa gabos pero dai pa ini sigurado sa ngunyan ta naghahanap pa sinda nin iba pang mga ideya asin mga suhestiyon.

Kan hinapot kung paano ninda napapadalagan an MLC, dahil daa ta sinda bukas para sa gabos buda daing pigtatago. Naghahanap daa sinda nin pondo, naghahagad nin tabang asin suporta, asin naoogma daa sinda ta dakol na tawo an nagtatao asin nagtatabang sa sainda lalo na an saindang mga pamilya asin mga barkada.

"The 4P's kids should come. Why are they not here? It's been opened and the coordinators of 4P's have been telling them that they will not lose their benefits. Where are they? What is the problem? We are not Private school, it's for the public! This school is equal and open to all the barrios and barangays in Manito". Iyan an sabi ni Mrs. Christy manungod sa mga 4P’s na aki.

Sa  laog nin apat na taon na pagserbisyo kan MLC, nagtutubod sinda na nabago ninda an ugali kan saindang mga graduates asin urgulyo ninda ini. Segun pa sa sainda, dai ini gabos mangyayari kung wara an suporta kan mga magurang asin syempre an tabang kan mga volunteer teachers na nagsirbing ikaduwang magurang kan mga aki sa pagtao nin marhay na edukasyon, asin dahil nagtutubod sinda sa kasabihan ni Nelson Mandela na: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

"The thing that didn't exist in Manito was a pre-school. It has a good elementary school; it has a good high school but no pre-school. In our experience in United States, pre-school is a very common thing, almost every child goes to pre-school and we taught that it's something we can do here - that was a gap that we can fill", thus uttered Mr. Timothy W. Christy together with his wife Mrs. Elfleda R. Christy, the founders of Manito Learning Center.

Manito Learning Center is primarily a preschool but can be more too. The idea of Learning Center makes it a broader term. According to them, they decided to put up a preschool because when Mr. Christy retired in 2013, they saw kids around Manito not doing anything that's why they wanted to benefit them with some early education.

March 10, 2014 was the first formal class of the said school. It was a classroom next to Manito Parish Church that time but because there wasn't any plumbing and bathroom, they moved in its current location in July 2014 and the first volunteer teachers were Cristine Decano, Chinky Diane Decano and some volunteers from the Community College of Manito.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, you revolve around the world. This is what we want to teach the kids especially with TIME. We are strict when it comes to rules because we are teaching the kids with behavioral skills for them to have a better outlook in life than what they see now", said Mrs. Christy.

There were four (4) batches of completers for both Regular and Summer classes since it started. The subjects offered here are English, Age Appropriate Math and Basic Computer Lessons. The requirements for Regular class are Photocopy of Birth Certificate, 2pcs. 1x1 picture and 5 pesos for ID jacket while for Summer class you just need to pass a photocopy of your child's birth certificate.

The owners also have future plans for their school. First is the "Reading Program" through the help of volunteers from CCM starting in June but it's exclusive only for their graduates because the teachers started teaching the kids how to read and also because some parents are asking for continuity. Second is a "Library Room" for everybody but they haven't figured it out yet because they're still looking for ideas and suggestions.

When asked if how they handle and manage MLC, they said that they're open and transparent. They raised funds, asked for support and they're very glad that many people contributed and helped them especially their family and friends.

"The 4P's kids should come. Why are they not here? It's been open and the coordinators of 4P's have been telling them that they will not lose their benefits. Where are they? What is the problem? We are not Private school -It's for the public! This school is equal and open to all the barrios and barangays in Manito".

So far in 4 years operation, they believed that they've changed the attitudes of their graduates and they're proud of that. According to them, none of these things will happen without the support of the parents and of course, with the help of the teachers who serve as their partners in giving good education because they support Nelson Mandela's quote - Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

-Ella Jamelle Balanlayos
Updated: July 23 2018