FINISHED PRODUCT. The newly-painted Miarayon Community Preschool now stands with various vibrant colors in the covered courts of Barangay Miarayon in Talakag, Bukidnon. All photos supplied by the Development Communication Society.
Representatives from four interest pools of the Development Communication Society (DevComSoc) of Xavier University recently painted a preschool classroom and conducted various workshops in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon.
DevComSoc officers, led by designers pool head Chicco Libarnes, painted with bright colors the walls, windows, tables, and chairs in the lone classroom of Miarayon Community Preschool on Friday, July 29.
“Kung hindi dahil sa kanila wala sana kaming ganito kaganda na classroom. Grabe ang pangungulit namin para mapinturahan itong classroom namin dito sa Miarayon Community Preschool,” quipped preschool teacher Nette Hanginan.
(If it weren’t because of them, our classroom would not look as beautiful as this. We kept on pestering them so they would paint our classroom here at the Miarayon Community Preschool.)
She also expressed her gratitude to the group for this initiative.
“Siguro sila ‘yung hulog ng langit dito sa amin. Akala namin pintura lang ang kanilang ibibigay, pero sila din pala ang magpipintura. Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa DevCom Society,” she added.
(Maybe they were heaven sent for us. We thought they would only give us paints, but as it turned out, they were also the ones who would be painting our classroom. We are extremely thankful to the DevCom Society.)
PAINTED. XU DevCom Society designers pool head Chicco Libarnes shows the brush he used in painting the Miarayon Community Preschool.
Through Project Empowering Development Initiatives through Technology (EDIT), DevComSoc also held a workshop on basic journalism with DevCom graduate and writer Stephen Pedroza, attended by 20 St Therese School of Miarayon high school students on July 30.
Pedroza encouraged the students to write more stories about their Lumad (indigenous people) community, culture, and farm products. “Miarayon needs more storytellers so we need to equip young local writers on how to showcase the narratives of its people, challenges, and opportunities,” he said.
Other workshops covered the fundamentals of photography with DevCom junior Kurt Chan, introduction to performance arts with XU Cultural Dance Troupe member Friah Pagaduan, and do-it-yourself shirt dyeing with designers pool member Ruth Esther Bermundo.
The said four workshops formed part of Project EDIT, the flagship program of DevComSoc for the present school year.
“In the Development Communication Society, we have four [interest] pools: designers, writers, performers, and documenters. Project EDIT aims to make use of the talents and skills of the members in a meaningful way. We decided to implement the project in Miarayon because our hearts are really close to Miarayon,” said DevComSoc president Ryan Tulba.
“We thank all the students, teachers, and the community here in Miarayon for inspiring us and for giving us the motivation to take time and effort as we implement the activities.”
The Development Communication department of Xavier has also adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations in its theme for this academic year, “Transforming our World through Communication for Development.” ∎
PROJECT EDIT. DevComSoc officers strike a pose with the St Therese School of Miarayon high school students after their workshop on basic journalism with DevCom graduate and writer Stephen Pedroza on July 30, as part of Project Empowering Development Initiatives through Technology (EDIT).