When a vision comes true

If there is one passion that drives the resolve of Mrs. Mary Ann Ramos, it was always the vision of technologically-skilled high school students. This was a goal this school head shared with the local government unit of Sabang when she was first assigned in the baranggay high school two years ago.

“I dream that our graduates here will be computer literate,” Ma’am Ramos told the baranggay council.

But this announcement was met with disbelief, not only by the baranggay council themselves but by both the teachers and the students. Who would not think of that when the school does not own a single computer unit for its students?

Despite this her resolve to reach her dream strengthened when Ramos heard of the first two iSchool’s recipients from Danao last year - Beatriz Durano and Lawaan. “Lawaan is a very small school located in the hinterlands talaga. So why not in Sabang? Malayong malayo (ang Lawaan). So why not in Sabang National High School? We are very accessible, along the road, internet connection pwede kami,” she said.

Ramos’ dream was now within reach but when the WVCST inspection team came to Sabang National High School last January, she knew her problems were far from over. Scheduling two batches of classes in a day because of lack of classrooms and teachers, Sabang does not have an extra classroom for a computer laboratory.

Perhaps it was in this unshakeable belief in her dream that the local government unit during a dialog with the WVCST iSchools Team revealed that they are constructing a new computer laboratory worth P300 thousand, to be taken from the local government fund.

“We came here in January, I said, “tumayo na kaagad ang laboratory in April?”

Sitting straighter in her chair, Ramos said, “In just a matter of weeks. Kasi I told them na na-ocular inspection na ang site ng computer lab. Paano nila madeliver (the computer units) kung wala silang makita na laboratory room na lalagyan natin ng mga computers? So medyo (kinabahan) din sila. Sabi ko remember, this is P1M project. So sabi ko, pag yan dinedeny natin, ewan ko lang kung magkakaroon pa tayo ng ganyan.”

Pushed now by the same vision both the school and the community tried hard to finish the project. The councilors even borrowed money to pay the labor expenses during construction. “Kami rin, meron din kaming maliit na money na nagamit diyan (computer lab) sa (pagbayad) sa labor ng mga tao, “Ramos explained, “pero binayaran din nila kami.Parang maraming obstacles ang dinaanan naming diyan. Pero ang constant communication naming at ng baranggay captain ay malaking factor kung bakit natuloy yung construction.”

“I heard you were able to use the equipment already”

With a happy laugh, Ramos said, “We had a beauty contest. Nagamit na namin ang projector at laptop. Sabi ng mga tao, ng mga tao, ‘high tech na high tech na ang Sabang ha!’”

In the end, what started as a vision became a happy collaboration. A collaboration that cultivated not only camaraderie, but a link that bonded the two forces of community together.