NEWS

BUGUEY, CAGAYAN - Under the warm summer sun of Barangay Villa Cielo, the spirit of Bayanihan and Thomasian service came alive on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

The University of Santo Tomas Golden Cross and Saber Alumni Association, Inc. (UST-GCSAAI) successfully mounted a meaningful Brigada Eskwela community outreach program. Moving in seamless synergy with the Operation Brotherhood Community Foundation (OBCF), Coast Guard District Northeastern Luzon and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, the mission brought crucial educational and health resources straight to the heart of this coastal town. This will be the third annual iteration of this program established in 2023.

Equipping the Next Generation

With the upcoming school year in mind, the project focused on lifting the burden of school expenses off local families. The group turned over 124 customized school kits and 124 matching hygiene kits directly to the students.

Inside each student school kit, children found:

• 4 customized notebooks, specially printed courtesy of Arch. Roland Diwa '70
• Essential paper supplies, including 1 long pad and 1 half pad paper
• A fully stocked pencil case filled with 1 crayon set, 2 to 3 ballpens, 2 pencils, a sharpener, an eraser, and fasteners

Recognizing that proper education thrives on good health, the volunteers paired each academic package with a comprehensive hygiene kit. These packs were filled with protective and wellness essentials, including hand sanitizer, face masks, vitamins, tissue paper, wet wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bath soap, and shampoo.

Fueling the Classrooms

The outreach team also turned their attention to the hardworking faculty members who keep the classrooms running. To ensure teachers have the administrative tools they need, the organization donated a substantial supply of teaching logistics:

• 20 reams of A4 paper
• 2 sets of printer ink (2 black catridges, plus 1 each of cyan, magenta, and yellow)
• 5 boxes of classroom chalk
• 100 brown folders complete with plastic jackets

A Bridge Across Generations

The successful turnover underscored the enduring bond of the Thomasian community, brought to life by a multi-generational group of alumni volunteers.

On the ground to personally manage the distribution were Buguey Vice Mayor Lloyd Antiporda of UST ROTC Class '91, Arch. Roland Diwa '70, Auxiliary Commodore Allan Sison '83, Auxiliary Captain Yvan Pagulayan '86, Rodivic Amante '93, and Jemimah David '23. The delegation was led by UST GCSAAI National Commander, RADM Jomar de la Pena '93. Their presence beautifully demonstrated how a legacy of discipline and compassion can span decades to make a tangible difference in the lives of young learners.