Memories are photo albums that people flip through to reminisce. Every page reflects cherished moments that shape a person’s life. To ‘Yolanda’ survivors, memories of ruthlessness and despair the super typhoon brought are vividly etched in pages they want to skip and forget. They just want to move forward and start anew. This is what the people of Coron, Palawan did – put the destruction of ‘Yolanda’ behind them.

It has been over a year since ‘Yolanda’ struck the beautiful island, and it is evident that the municipality got back on its feet with its tourism industry being active again. But with its recovery, the municipality’s students were left behind. The typhoon destroyed the balsas that were used to take the students to schools located in the mainland.

The children are brave to cross the open West Philippine Sea each day to attend their classes, but it is difficult to continue with no means of reaching your destination. For the students, it was as if the odds were never on their favor. But the hands of heaven opened and like how rainbow appears in after a storm, hope and help were given to them.

To help the victims of the supertyphoon, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program tied up with different organizations and agencies that are willing to extend help. St. Therese’s College of Quezon City Alumnae Association (STCQCAA) was one of the groups them. The association provided eight ‘school boats’ named “Bangka ni Teresa” to 90 Pantawid Pamilya children-beneficiaries who reside in seven barangays in Coron: Malawig, Borac, Lajala, Cabugao, San Nicolas, Turda, and Tara. Malawig and Tara each received two boats.

The ‘school boats’ were the result of the field visit of the various national government agencies last April 2014. They assessed implementation of different government projects and programs in the areas visited especially the effects of “Yolanda”.

With the initiative of Executive Director Emmeline Versoza of Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) to tap the Yellow Boat Foundation, the ‘school boats’ were immediately started to provide children-beneficiaries easier means of transportation going to schools.

Hernando Magahom, a father and in-charge boatman of the ‘school boat’ given to Barangay Lajala said, “Malaking tulong po ito lalo na po sa anak ko na sa proper pa po ang eskwelahan, hindi na po siya gagastos ng pamasahe.” There is no fare riding the boats and will be maintained and funded by the barangay for its gasoline.

The ‘school boat’ is made of fiber and run by a motor making it easier for the students to travel than a paddle boat.

Mark Bering of Barangay Turda said, “Masyadong nakakapagod sa mga bata ang de sagwan at minsan nababasa sila kasi nga maliit ang bangka at pag maalon ay mas delikado talaga.”

The hand extended by STCQCAA for Pantawid Pamilya children-beneficiaries is a hope that they can hold onto until they reach their dreams and achieve the change they want for themselves and family.