June 2, 2019 – For hundreds of years, the youth’s energies, strengths, and abilities have been assets to the community. They can build, innovate, inspire, and extend help to the different sectors of society. Hence, Talon National High School, as an academic institution, invests on the youth’s potentials in improving the community.

During the kick-off program of the 2019 Brigada Eskwela at Talon NHS, various youth organizations such as the Talon Youth Ministry (TYM) and Tau Gamma Phi–Talon Chapter eagerly joined and enthusiastically volunteered to be part of the National Schools Maintenance Week. These two youth organizations are culturally different but they bonded during the program with the chief goal of serving the school.

The TYM pledged to help in repairing and repainting classroom chairs. Hans Gabriel Pel, the president of TYM, brought 15 other young volunteers from their organization.

Kyla, one of its members, shared what a bliss it was for them to help the school. “Natuwa ako kasi kahit kabataan pa lang ako, kaya kong tumulong—hindi man pinansyal, kundi sa pamamagitan ng paglilinis at pagsasaayos ng mga gamit na mapakikinabangan ng mga mag-aaral,” she said.

Another member, Mark Joseph, added: “Hindi lang dapat sa aming kapatiran umiikot ang pagtulong namin, pati na rin sa komunidad na aming kinabibilangan.”

And the list of positive experiences goes on. These young preachers and church workers were school volunteers for a day, and even donated paint brushes and rollers the day after they volunteered.

At the same time, Tau Gamma Phi–Talon Chapter helped Talon NHS and its teachers by extending their arms in cleaning the school grounds, fixing school furniture, and classrooms. Lanz Clemente, a Triskelion and Talon NHS alumnus stated: “Nagkaisa po kaming sumama sa Brigada at dahil doon, naging masaya ako dahil alam kong nakatulong ako sa paaralang aking pinagmulan.” Lanz and his brothers in Tau Gamma Phi likewise wanted to change how society perceives an organization like theirs as they strive to become an organization of passionate and responsible citizens.

Talon Youth Ministry and Tau Gamma Phi proved that Brigada Eskwela did not only show the spirit of bayanihan, but also offered a chance for the community to set one goal and extend help to the education sector.

This DepEd-initiated program turned out to be an opportunity for the youth to be agents of change. Hopefully, their acts of volunteerism will echo and will inspire more young volunteers.

This year’s Brigada Eskwela, once again, defined kapit-bisig as keeping arms together, bringing people together, and working together with a common goal.

END

By:      Ruskin John Desingaño
Teacher II
Talon National High School / DepEd Cavite Province