A beauty of Gulayan sa Paaralan

Gardening, planting or farming entails patience, hardwork, and diligence. It encompasses many positive
virtues that is why I salute those who are into gardening, planting and farming because through them
nature is preserved, green surrounding is experienced and most significantly sustain food that we enjoy
to consume.

The Gulayan sa Paaralan is a health project of Department of Education with the aim of raising
awareness about health and nutrition among students, teachers, parents, and community as a whole.
This is as well to provide support and sustenance in the feeding program of schools wherein crops
harvested from the garden will be utilize for food preparation and consumption. With this, we can help
combat malnutrition.

DepEd and other educational stakeholders dream of producing a globally competitive graduates. But
how do we do that when malnourishment is knocking at our door? How do we combat such depressing
reality? We may not eradicate malnourishment at once but with a steady program and awareness on
how to fight malnourishment is one of the best options. Gulayan-sa Paaralan is a good start. It promotes
awareness not only to students, teachers, parents but to the community as a whole. It provides a venue
to convene proper ways to eat healthy foods and on how to get them. The Gulayan sa Paaralan does not
only teach ways for gardening and showing benefits from it but also instilling good values.

Indeed you will see the beauty of your hard labor after the work is done. Just like in Gulayan sa Paaralan.
You will sit its beauty once it blooms and ready to be harvested.*

(Engr. Llenamar T. Melchor, NOHS Assistant Principal II for Operation and Learners' Support)

***

Brigada Eskwela 2019: Making our School a Home Conducive for Learning

By Bernard S. Juance

Brigada Eskwela is a program which objective is stated in Republic Act 8525, also as the Adopt-A-School
Act of 1998. RA 8525 establishes the Adopt-A-School Program, "which allows private entities to support
public schools, may it be in elementary or secondary. It is also known as the National Schools
Maintenance Week. Originally, this law was sponsored by Rep. Anne Marie Periquet at the House of
Representative and the full credit goes to former DEP ED secretary Edilberto de Jesus who pushed for
the promulgations from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The main objective of Brigada Eskwela is to motivate, encourage and foster the students. It emphasizes
amongst the students the importance of social responsibility which is geared towards the improvement
of the basic educational system in our country. Brigada Eskwela highlights the significance of creating a
school facility and school environment that is built and maintained by the people. It also magnifies the
idea that proper taking care of, and maintenance of school facilities and properties are not sole
responsibility of the administrators . RA'

May 20, 2019 is the opening ceremony of Brigada Eskwela nationwide with its theme, “ Matatag na
Bayan Para sa Maunlad na Paaralan.” Once again we will witness the widest community participation.
Surely, this will promote to advance professional , and leadership skills of teachers and administrators of
the different public schools where they are given the chance to communicate and deal with the different
people in all walks of life. Next, this endeavor will strengthen the relationship of school to community
where it belongs- like the families, barangay, PTA, stakeholders and other institutions.

Through this program, the Department of Education has given every Filipino the privilege to get involved
in the implementation of this advocacy, and be part of its development. Therefore, each of us is
encourage to join and support this program in any way that we can.*