How an accident solved a school problem in Sorsogon

SORSOGON, Philippines – Gubat is an enchanting seaside community where almost everyone knows each other. Imagine clear skies, fresh air, and Greek deity clones riding the perfect waves. But even a small, picturesque town is not spared from problems. 

Many schools nationwide face these concerns every year: lack of classrooms, materials, funding, and resources. First grader John Carl Gamba’s accident in 2014 lead to solving one of these needs.

The six-year old from the Bonifacio Elementary School (BES) got hit by a tricycle. Avid traveler Glenda Esperida was riding the same tricycle to the beach. She took a detour to the hospital.

Who to contact in case of emergency? The boy’s notebooks were only labeled “John Carl” and he did not have an ID. He suffered cuts on the head and got several stitches. Luckily, the tricycle driver knew him. 

Things fall apart to fall into place

Esperida happened to be the vice president of Burugkos Incorporated, a non-government organization focused on education and environmental advocacy. “Burugkos” in Gubatnon means united.

Esperida shared the incident on Facebook and began the Help BES initiative that seeks to provide IDs and school materials for the elementary school. The project raised at least P22,500. This helped provide IDs for 280 students. 

Impact of social media

“One of the best things about social media is that people are easier to reach,” Esperida said. The remaining amount went to renovation efforts in the school.

Fellow traveler Philipp Dukatz was one of those who recognized the project’s potential to succeed. He became good friends with Esperida during his trip in the Philippines and was in Canada when he found out about Help BES. 

“I told John Carl’s story in a nutshell and pushed it on my accounts. You’re dealing with a limited attention span on social media, but you can reach a lot of people in a short period of time.”

Dukatz enjoys a huge following online: from Twitter, his own website, to his Facebook page.

“It was a ripple effect. You get surprised because you never really know who you reach,” Esperida said. She didn’t think one boy’s accident would lead to helping his entire school. The scenario would have been different 10 years ago.

Today, social media holds the power to fast-track such processes. You can gather donations without leaving your seat and connect with people from various places in just a click. 

The Help BES project was a small-scale effort, but its resounding success is proof that even a small, picturesque town can hurdle problems step by step. – Rappler.com

If you wish to volunteer, help, and support Burugkos, email burugkosinc@gmail.com or contact  09178789837. Burugkos Inc is a non-profit organization focused on educational and environmental advocacy.