Last smile, lasting smiles: Bringing hope and education to remote communities

We went to Butuan City for an important activity. Our first stop was a school under the Schools Division Office of Agusan del Norte. During our courtesy call, my team and I were introduced to the superintendent, Jean Mativo. During our short talk, she mentioned that her team would be attending the inauguration of a last-mile school located in the northeastern part of the province and asked us if we would want to join. Since our activity would begin in the afternoon and we landed early in the morning, we were happy to accept the invitation.

Minutes turned into hours. It was a long, challenging, and bumpy drive, but it was worthwhile as we enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and the green scenery. We even crossed a stream before finally reaching a small community.

As we stepped out of our service vehicle, we were greeted by a lovely crowd, all bearing their most beautiful smiles. There was a group of marshals, uniformed men, officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units, and tribal leaders. Even the mayor was present. We were also welcomed by this woman, who was so happy as she greeted us warmly. She took our hands one by one and kissed us on the cheeks as we were introduced to her. She is none other than the governor of the province, Angel Amante.

She was so happy to have us; her enthusiasm and joy were contagious. We also kept smiling all the time. She proudly introduced the community leaders to us—the chiefs and councilors—and announced to the entire community that we came from the DepEd Central Office. She also assured the community that our presence meant support for the inauguration of their new school.

In that moment, I witnessed true leadership. This leader not only made promises but also worked to fulfill them, bringing quality education and a school closer to a humble and deserving community.

The school was built from simple materials, like pawid and light construction. It has two classrooms, one for Kindergarten and another for Grades 1 to 3. We also had a chance to talk with the officer in charge, who shared that learners had to walk or travel nine kilometers to reach the nearest schools, Simbalan Elementary School and Lekda Elementary School. The existence of these schools in their community means that children now have easier access to education since it is their right. He also shared that teachers often cross rivers to reach the school in the community. Hearing this left me amazed, in awe, and with so much respect for the sacrifices made by the assigned teachers, some of whom are volunteers, to make learning accessible for these children.

When we were inside the classroom, I saw that some students had no decent clothing, while some had no slippers. Their smiles were inevitable. Despite the many things they lack, they don’t see these as limitations, and they haven’t hindered their ability to gain knowledge, wisdom, and achieve their dreams.

These children deserve nothing less from us. This experience reminded me that the heart of our work in education beats strongest in the most remote, often overlooked corners of our country. The inauguration of this last-mile school is more than just the opening of a physical structure; it is a symbol of hope, equity, and the steadfast commitment of leaders, teachers, and communities to bridge gaps and bring education to where it is most needed.

In the smiles of the children, we find the reasons why we do what we do. May we continue walking these last miles, no matter how long, so that the smiles we bring and receive last a lifetime.

Dean Owen J. Doncillo,

deanowendon@gmail.com