It’s been in the planning for almost two years since I was first invited to visit the schools, but I’m delighted to say that I finally reached the remote islands of Lipayran and Doong, off the coast of Bantayan, this March. What an adventure it was travelling from Cebu City to Bantayan Island, then via small boats to the islets which are seldom visited by foreigners.

reaching the islands

From Bantayan Municipal Wharf there is a daily boat service to Lipayran Island which takes under 2 hours, weather dependent. Everything must be transported to the island by boat, from live chickens and sacks of rice to food, drinking water and building materials. As I took my seat in the packed boat, I was the subject of curiosity as the local people tried to work out who the ‘foreigner’ was and why he was going to the island. Suffice to say it is well off the beaten track due to its remote location.

lipayran elementary school

Arriving at Lipayran we were greeted by relatives waiting for passengers and shopkeepers expecting the delivery of their goods from Bantayan and beyond. My local contact, Grade 1 Teacher Mam Syril was waiting to escort me to the school, a short walk from the landing spot.

First up was a visit to the two Kindergarten sections and the two Grade 1 sections to distribute school supplies (pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, crayons, and pouch) and dental kits (toothbrush and toothpaste). The pupils were all very surprised and happy.

I had the opportunity to meet the School Head Sir Ismael Ompad and his staff of fantastic teachers to learn more about their activities and challenges. We also visited most of the Elementary and Highschool classes with some great fun and interaction. The students were initially shy speaking English but soon warmed up with some fun games, dancing, and Q&A. I shared with them about Ireland and the national holiday St. Patrick’s Day which was celebrated on March 17 during my visit.

A highlight of visiting the islands was the chance to eat delicious freshly caught seafood. Alongside rice, dried fish or ‘buwad’ is a staple here with many of the locals making their living from fishing. They also harvest seaweed which is dried and sent to the city to be made into other goods.

A major challenge for the teachers who live in Doong but teach in Lipayran is the daily boat ride. While it is just a short distance, it is really subject to local sea and weather conditions, becoming dangerous during the rainy season with strong waves make the crossing challenging. Hats off to these dedicated teachers who battle the weather in all seasons to serve the local community selflessly.

_{Check out the Lipayran Integrated School Facebook page below:}

• Facebook

doong elementary school

On the second day we travelled by boat from Lipayran back to Doong for a long overdue visit to the Elementary School. Greeted by School Head Mam Wennie C. Pastor, she gave us a tour of the school and facilities, and we visited each of the classrooms to interact with the teachers and pupils. We also discussed the needs of the school and upgrading works, and her specific focus on providing audiovisual equipment in all classrooms. With just a few remaining TV’s required to be purchased, we will look at how to help Mam Wennie complete this project with some financial assistance.

The teaching force and pupils had prepared a formal program with a moving welcome speech and Thank You song. Mam Wennie presented a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of the important financial assistance of ₱17,000 which I sent back in 2021 in reponse to their call for funds to purchase sanitation materials for the re-opening of the school under the new normal.

We spent some time with the Kindergarten sections and discussed their needs, including provision of a soft play area with toys and manipulative materials for fine motor skills development. Library books and supplies would be a great addition too. We will look at how to provide these items for the start of the new school year 2025/2026.

Two days and two nights in the islets flew by and soon it was time to return on the high seas to Bantayan, with lots of new friends and memories made… and ideas forming in my head for future visits.

_{Check out the Doong Elementary School Facebook page below:}

• Facebook

whats next

Following some good discussions about the needs of these remote schools we will look at ways to provide some support for the new school year 2025/2026. I’m very much looking forward to returning to the islands in the future. Look out for more updates!

Mike Hickey – Project Ripple