News and Announcements
SHARING AMORE on CHRISTMAS: A Gifts-Giving Activity Series by AMORE Program and Partners
In the weeks leading to Christmas, the AMORE 3 Program and its partners embarked on a series of journeys that brought not only the usual gifts of electricity and safe water, but also goods, meals and school materials, to some of the program’s newest community beneficiaries of its rural and school electrification and safe water projects.
Sharing AMORE (LOVE) on Christmas, the staff members of AMORE 3 and representatives from program partners kicked off the activity series on the first of December in Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon, with a school electrification project turnover and a safe water project groundbreaking. The three succeeding weeks saw program staff and partners travelling for hours, and negotiating steep mountain roads and bumpy boat rides to reach remote communities and schools in the hinterlands of Saranggani and Sultan Kudarat, an upland farming community in Zamboanga del Norte, and an elementary school in the beautiful island of Isla Verde in Batangas City.
DAMHIN ANG LIWANAG NG PASKO SA ISLA
A School PV-Systems Inauguration and Gift-Giving Activity
Cagbalete Elementary School, Mauban, Quezon
01 December 2011
The pristine island of Cagbalete in Mauban, Quezon has got more than fine, sandy, unexplored beaches. Accessible through a 20-minute boat ride from the town center, the island has become home to dedicated teachers who, during the monsoon season, sometimes have to brave the furious ocean to get to their students. The tireless teachers recently got help from solar-powered electricity to liven up classroom interactions, through a partnership between Quezon Power and the AMORE Program. And to make their Christmas even brighter, the local government of Mauban gave out school bags and slippers to the overjoyed students of Cagbalete Elementary School.
LASAPIN ANG BUKAL NG TUBIG MULA SA BUNDOK NG MAGULING
A Community Potable Water System Inauguration and Christmas Fiesta Activity
Barangay Maguling, Maitum, Sarangani
08 December 2011
Along the coast of the town of Maitum in Sarangani are the fishing and farming villages of Mindupok and Maguling – home to T’boli natives and Ilocano and Maguindanaon settlers. The two coastal communities have recently begun to enjoy the benefits and convenience of potable water through a partnership between the Coca-Cola Foundation, Inc. and the AMORE Program. It was indeed a happy day, especially for the children who enjoyed the games immensely during this rare community gathering.
LILIWANAG ANG KAISIPAN SA TULONG NG ENERHIYANG SOLAR AT MALINIS NA TUBIG
A Potable Water and School PV System Inauguration and Gift-Giving Activity
Villamonte Elementary School, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
09 December 2011
367 meters above sea level stands Villamonte Elementary School, a school to nearly 600 students who travel as far away as 48 kilometers from the town center along a dirt road, on a habal-habal, to get to the school. The students – most of them Ilonggo – have recently begun to enjoy the benefits of easy and convenient access to safe, potable water through a partnership between the Coca-Cola Foundation, Inc. and the AMORE Program. To show their appreciation to program partner, CCFI, the students of Villamonte launched into what they called the “Coca-Cola clap” – a series of claps and vocal sounds drinkers of the popular drink make (as made popular in the drink’s television commercials) – during the event.
MALIWANAG ANG SIKAT NG ARAW NGAYONG KAPASKUHAN
A Celebration of (Solar-powered) Lights and Gift-Giving Activity
Barangay Panampalay, Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte
13 December 2011
Nestled within a beautiful mountain range, Panampalay is the last mile village of Roxas. In March 2004, the AMORE Program in partnership with the Department of Energy installed communal lighting systems in the barangay, which included PV streetlights and lighting systems in the community center. Residents have likewise begun to enjoy the benefits of access to safe water after a potable water system was completed in February 2011 by the AMORE Program in partnership with the Rotary Club of Dipolog. This Christmas season, AMORE staff, led by the Renewable Energy and Institutional Development units, visited the community whose individual households are now poised to benefit from the Program’s (RE) Business Development Assistance package; 29 households in the village have expressed interest to purchase solar lanterns to be paid to the BRECDA (local village association) on a comfortable, long-term payment scheme. The visit was made even happier with gifts of rice and basic food items collected by the Rotary Club of Dipolog. The children could not contain their joy upon seeing Santa Claus (a Rotarian) who gave out candies and toys to the community’s children.
IPAGDIWANG ANG LIWANAG NG KARUNUNGANG DULOT NG ENERHIYANG SOLAR
A School PV Systems Inauguration
Parang Cueva Elementary School, Isla Verde, Batangas City
20 December 2011
Being groomed to be a model renewable energy commnunity by AMORE project partner One Meralco Foundation, the picturesque Isla Verde—home of six recipient elementary schools of AMORE 3 Program’s school electrification project—can be reached after more than an hour’s banca ride from mainland Batangas. In time for the Christmas season, the first of the six 1 kilowatt-peak PV systems is inaugurated in Isla Verde’s Parang Cueva Elementary School. Residents of the island welcomed guests led by DOE Undersecretary Jay Layug and USAID-Office of Energy and Environment Deputy Chief Joe Foltz, with the trademark Batangueńo hospitality, complete with kapeng barako, puto, and local fruits.
