Public school teacher in Lanao del Norte raises almost PHP200K to buy laptops for students

A public school teacher in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, has raised almost PHP150,000 to buy her students laptops for their online classes.

According to “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” one of Melanie’s students who graduated with high honors, Chrisken, used to work on the requirements for his metallurgical engineering course at computer shops because he didn’t have his own laptop.

When the pandemic began, however, he was forced to continue studying using his mobile phone because he couldn’t afford a computer.

His mom, a restaurant cook, and his father, a school janitor, also lost their jobs.

Learning about Chrisken’s problem, teacher Melanie decided to launch an online fundraiser called “Laptop Para sa Pangarap.”

“Mga dating honor student, sinasabi nila ’yung mga kaklase nila na naka-laptop, samantalang sila, dahil hindi nga nila afford. Papaano po sila makikipagsabayan? Para sa akin, dapat ang edukasyon libre, dapat lahat pantay-pantay. Pero nakita ko parang hindi po fair ang laban,” Melanie said.

[Our past honor students would share that their classmates have their own laptops, while they couldn’t afford one. How can they keep up? For me, education should be free, everyone should have equal access to it.]

After launching her online fundraiser, Melanie was surprised that some of her previous students, who were now successful in their own fields, responded to her call and sent their donations.

She was able to raise over PHP40,000, which she used to buy a laptop for Chrisken. Many donors also pledged to send him mobile phone load every month.

Soon enough, teacher Melanie was able to raise another PHP109,000, which she used to buy four more laptops for students with potential who lived in poor conditions.

She gave one to a carpenter’s child, one to a working student who used his money for his family during the pandemic, another to a child of a solo parent, and the last one to a self-supporting student.

Even before the pandemic started, Melanie had an “Adopt A Student” project where she looked for sponsors who would shoulder the school expenses of more than 50 students in need.

To express their gratitude, her students gave her a surprise— just in time for Teacher’s Month.

Thinking that it was just another Zoom meeting among teachers, Melanie joined the video call and was surprised to see the students she helped out. All of them couldn’t thank her enough.

“Sinisikap ko po makapagtapos po ng pag-aaral at maging isang engineer po. Para maipakita na worth it ’yung pagpili niya sa akin. Pangarap ko rin na makatulong po sa iba, ’yung mga kagaya ko po ngayon,” said Chrisken.

[I will work hard to finish my studies and become an engineer. I want to show Teacher Melanie that choosing me as a recipient of the project is worth it. My dream is to also help other people like me.]

Melanie said she hoped she could continue helping less fortunate students.

“Kailangan ko pong ipagpatuloy ’to lalo na ngayon na mas marami ang nangangailangan.”

[We need to keep going, especially now that there are more people in need.] – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News