One Candle School:

A
merican couple Bill and Diane Pool docked their sailboat Pilar in Tambobo Bay of Siaton in 2000 after sailing for years across the Pacific. They did not imagine that their stay would stretch to more than a decade and counting. The experience with six year old boy called Nino whom Diane engaged in reading an English childrens book, led to more children eager and willing to learn. Eventually, the learning program expanded to include young adults coached on life skills by the couple. A school was born in April 2002, fittingly called One Candle School (OCS), the name lifted from a Chinese proverb Better to light one candle than curse the darkness. This is akin to the Visayan phrase Kusug sa Siga which loosely translates into the power of light. OCS opens its services to children aged 5-18 years old. It sends a strong message of getting involved and making a difference. The communities served by OCS became drawn to what the school did as positive feedback from participating children and young adults gathered strength. The One Candle School Set-up Diane and Bill, both committed sailors, have always considered their boat as home. To this day, despite Bills death in 2010, when it is time to call it a day, Diane paddles back to their boat. For their day time activities, that includes running OCS, the couple rents a place in a compound owned by an expatriate.

A Spark

Shines Brightly on Two Communities

The building of OCS has an interesting story. Diane is an artist but does not have the expertise to draw technical building plans. In her minds eye, she knew exactly how she wanted the school-cumday residence to look like. Using paper, she built a miniature model. I had the opportunity to stay for a day and night at OCS and I have this to say: a space planner and artist on a limited budget could not have done better. Counter tops and cabinets/drawers were designed for free flowing access and are child-friendly. The photos I took prove this. I asked Diane how she managed to organize her space so efficiently, and she said, If youve lived for extended periods in a boat, as I have, you will learn the art of organizing compact systems. The couple has a shed which originally was Bills workshop, and is now used as a wood-working laboratory. On the week-end that I stayed there, Renato, a staff of OCS, had a group of young boys gathered around observing closely how Renato uses the tools to build a miniature boat. Afterwards, the young learners were given the opportunity to try their skills. With or without the presence of Diane, the children moved in and out of OCS like it was their home. A young girl made a surprise visit to Diane for a chat. The Birth of Bright Lights Community Centers in barangay Siit and Bonbonan The demand for opportunities for more children to participate in the programs of OCS made Diane and Bill reflect on their next moves. Rather than physically expanding OCS, the Pool couple perceptively thought that the community must own the expansion initiative. That meant the community must be part of management and the learning center should be located in a place more easily accessible to children and adults. Thus, the Bright Lights Community Learning Center (BLCLC) was built, the first one in Barangay Bonbonon in 2008 and the other in Siit in 2009. In both cases, the learning centers were built with the help of the community. When Bill died, Diane returned to the United States and came back after six months, ready to take on the work of OCS and the BLCLCs. She told me, The grieving period is not completely over, but I realize I am happiest when Im able to help others. The communities of Siit and Bonbonan have become extended family to her. The Learning Centers Programs a. Focus: life skills on critical thinking, arts, environmental awareness and livelihood skills, still following the idea of the One Candle Schoolhouse. She considers life skills such as critical thinking, confidence-building skills, interpersonal communication skills as vital for personal development and growth in children. There is no intention to supplant formal schooling and this explains why the Learning Centers programs are conducted on Saturdays. Diane considers the arts as important vehicles in teaching life skills. Painting, drawing, theater arts, and music are taught and encouraged. She explains that when children are engaged in the arts, they have the opportunity to express their feelings, tell stories and give their ideas in concrete form. Decision making is involved as well. The children decide on how they will express their ideas. Will it be in the form of painting or comic strip drawing? Will it be in color? If so, what colors will they use? What tools will be best to execute their ideas? When we visited Bonbonan

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, thereforethat I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. Stephen Grellet

In her blog (see URL address below), Diane clearly states that emphasis is

BLCLC, we were struck by the openness and flexibility of activities. Two girls were engaged in a board game. One girl was absorbed in the comic strip she was creating. I asked her what the story was all about. The characters and plot she wove revolved around friendships, family relationships, past and present conflicts between the characters. How did you learn to draw manga (Japanese comics) style. I asked her. From the internet, she said. Of course! I looked around and saw PC stations. But internet in this rural setting? It turned out that Fred Dael, owner of IT est, an internet provider, gives them free internet access. Some of the paintings that adorn the classroom walls depict their everyday experiences and observations. The works drawn in a workbook by Shane Mae, an eighteen year old girl who spent her growing years in OCS are so good that some of her art works now adorn teeshirts that are now being be sold for fundraising. Shane Mae works as a volunteer art and crafts teacher in the centers. Some of the art pieces hanging on the walls of the centers are indeed impressive. Bookmarkers made from paper in origami-like costumed dolls are clipped along another wall of the center; these are crafted products of the children after a hands-on session for two Saturdays on the folding techniques with another volunteer-guest of the Center, Nell Delzares. These crafts can be potentially lined-up with the other existing products on sale to fund the Centers. Health and nutrition are not forgotten. Students from both Centers benefit from the feeding program during Saturday classes. The children are engaged in cooking their simple but nutritious lunch. In Siit, the kitchen was built with the support of the former Austrian ambassadors wife Irmgard Krepela with her friend, Gunther Wegricht. The German Development Service donated gas stove, an oven box and dinnerware. b. Volunteers Fill Up the Gap in Human Resource Volunteer para-teachers coming from the two communities provide the steadfast adult presence to the children. While the

volunteer teachers prepare lesson plans prior to conducting class sessions, nothing is rigidly structured in the learning centers. One moment the children are engaged in learning the basics of computer and using the internet, and another time they are drawing, coloring and painting or doing numbers. Visitors are sometimes roped in as resource persons, as what happened to us during our visit. Diane, unceremoniously asked the children of Siit BLCLC, Children, would you like to know how a magazine like Dayon is done? For our efforts to explain the technical subject of publishing, we were rewarded by hands enthusiastically raised when we asked the children whether they would like to be involved in magazine publishing one day. The good word has spread around about the innovative learning environment of the BLCLCs. Assistance from individuals and organizations, both here and abroad poured in. From the locals, there is Antulang Resort, located in the same town (Siaton) as OCS and the BLCLCs. The owner, Lee Adriano, not only donated several books

but she actively networks support from among her friends. The Rotary Club East of Dumaguete likewise donated books. Simon and Tata Stack also share their time and talents in the Centers. We met Simon during our visit and we were impressed by his adaptation of the Indian notation of reading notes. The phonetic pronunciation of notes was closer to the Filipino way of enunciation and thus made for easier recall and recognition. Atty. Myrish Antonio offers her legal services pro-bono and was instrumental in working for the recognition of the ICS and LBCLCs as a non-profit organization. As an NGO, OCS has become part of the Oriental Negros Childrens Advocacy Network (ONCAN), an umbrella organization for over 30 NGOs that serves more than 5000 children throughout Negros Oriental. ONCAN serves as information and resource center for its network of members by planning, facilitating and coordinating inter member resource sharing opportunities, training, income-generating activities and child protection media promotions.

proactive participants in the activities of the school. Douglas Shuck, an American, who came in his sail boat in February this year readily immersed himself in sharing his know-how: initially, he taught the children basic photography and digital editing. In summer, he launched swimming and sailing lessons that must have been made the childrens summer experience unforgettable. Further, Douglas built three dinghies that served as hands-on instruction for building boats and maintenance for the community. c. Establishment of the Community Livelihood Center in Siit Another new landmark now dotting the area of Siit is the Livelihood Center that has been put up by the Community. A loom machine is now available, a donation from the Sinco family, owners of Foundation University. Training on loom weaving has been undertaken with the help of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) in Dumaguete and women in the community have already made samples of their weaving. Mothers and other women of the community have also tried doing abaca scrunching, a technique that uses abaca waste fibers and it is expected that they could fashion out trendy stuffs that would eventually be one of the incomegenerating products. With the support and dedication of volunteers and various donors, One Candle School with the BLCLCs that it has spawned, have truly become part of community learning and are truly making a difference in the learning journey of the children and women of Bonbonon and Siit. As a non-profit organization, this homegrown, barangay organization is challenged to meet the costs of operation. Your support means that the Centers and the school can help some of the most vulnerable children of the community gain the tools they need to transform their lives and give them a better future. It will also guarantee the continuation of this unique program. HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate. The classroom supplies like art supplies, feeding program, need-

based scholarship, books and stipend/ allowance for the volunteer teachers are among the operating costs. The electrical consumption would be another expense if the LGU is unable to allocate funds for such purpose. Volunteer. You can volunteer your time and services to the Centers. The CLCs welcome volunteers who can serve as learning facilitators or as general office assistants . You can also volunteer as caring adults who will serve as tutors or mentors to help children with academic and /or social struggles. Those who have volunteered their services also benefited from the experience. Theyve gained direct experience to the teaching career, and have unique experiences interacting with the children. The interaction also provides an opportunity to gain skills working with local people, especially with children and develop a lasting relationship with the community. But the most rewarding albeit non-quantifiable benefit one can derive from volunteering is the interminable joy of seeing children experience all the wonderful sensations learning can bring. Sponsor a Field Trip. There are various interesting places around Negros Oriental or outside of the province that can be explored by the kid s like museums, historical sites, recreational parks, factories or industrial complexes. Buy their Products. Some of the arts and crafts like small gift boxes, greeting cards and paintings of the children are sold at the Terracotta Haus and Souvenir Shop in Sta. Catalina Street, Dumaguete. The hand painted tee shirts unique and interesting pieces as pasalubongs or as presents. Visit this website to view details of their Talagsaong Kaantigo tee-shirts and how to order: http://2tktees.wordpress.com/ products/

CONTACT INFORMATION: One Candle Schoolhouse Tambobo, Siaton, Negros Oriental Bright Lights Community Learning Centers (BLCLCs) Bonbonon and Siit, Siaton, Negros Oriental brightlightslearningcenters@gmail.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 150 Dumaguete 6200 Negros Oriental, Philippines Contact Persons: Janefel Palalon ( BLCLC Bonbonon) 0916477-4861 Evelyn Bucal (BLCLC Siit) 0905-807-8574 Founder/Director: Diane Pool 0906-318-7577

Being a recognized NGO and part of ONCAN facilitates access to organized foreign donors. Initial inputs came from the Australian Business Volunteers in the Philippines not only in planning and strategizing the creation of the learning centers but also who assisted in training the staff in basic bookkeeping and accounting procedures. The German Development Service seconds three German youths annually. One ONCAN member that provided its free services is the Youth Advocates Through Theater Arts (YATTA) of Silliman University. YATTA members performed for the children and later

taught them the rudiments of theater arts. The children quickly applied what they learned when they put up a fundraising production that focuses on the environment, the climate change and marine destruction. The children gamely made a repeat performance for our benefit and it was heartwarming to see these children engaged in a relevant activity that they themselves produced. Many of the sailors who would dock at the Tambobo bay have become major contributors of the learning centers. They heartily donate money that go into the operation of the centers as well as being