Where roads end, their lessons begin: A story of three teachers in Agusan Sur
By NiΓ±a Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — In a remote village of Barangay San Vicente, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, where the trail from the barangay proper is a rugged eight-hour journey on foot through mountains, rivers, and silence, three young volunteer public school teachers chose not just to walk—but to bring education where it was needed most.
Crystal S. Aparece, teacher III of San Vicente Elementary School, together with Cherish Jacinth B. Parcon (22), and Liza B. Buscada (25), barely out of university, answered the call to teach in Sitio Kamalangan—the farthest and most isolated village in the province.
There was no internet. No electricity. Not even a proper school building. But they found something else waiting: children eager to learn and a community ready to support.
The classroom that unity built
In the center of Sitio Kamalangan, a makeshift classroom stood—a fragile structure built with planks of wood, a nipa roof overhead, and hope stitched between each corner.
Parents pitched in—fixing the roof, carving benches from tree trunks, and preparing meals when they could. The villagers saw the classroom not just as a place for teaching, but also as a sanctuary: where laughter echoes, where dreams begin, and where community rises.
“Akong pangandoy na maka-eskwela ang mga bata namo diri. Para dili sila mapareha namo nga tigulang na pero wa gayud maka-eskwela (It is my hope that our children here in our village would be able to go to school. So that they would not end up like us who, at our ripe age, were not able to get our education),” said Mangkondisyon Linduna, one of the parents in Sitio Kamalangan.
Inside, the reality was raw: one room for students from kindergarten to grade 6. No divisions. No signs. Each child guessed their grade level based on age or the last storybook they remembered.
Crystal, CJ, and Liza adapted. They mapped out schedules, grouped students by learning abilities, and began crafting individual lesson plans—all while managing the challenge of multi-grade teaching in a single open space.
Liza recalled, “It may be chaotic at times, simultaneously conducting different activities by grade level all in one roof. But we have to make use of what we have for the children.”
According to Aparece, the first ever teacher of Sitio Kamalangan, her journey as a teacher in one of the last-mile schools in the country is rewarding, but at the same time challenging, especially with the current state of their classroom.
“Besides having only one classroom for the children in all grade levels, we also face challenges most especially during rainy seasons wherein students get wet due to the unstable structure of our classroom,” said Aparece.
“Despite this, it inspires me even more to see how they are still eager to go to school regardless of the situation. This, in turn, motivates us to never give up on them,” she added.
The passion behind the profession
Asked why they accepted the assignment, CJ simply said, “The children need to know that there are people who believe in them, that they too could be professionals someday,” It wasn’t about salary. It wasn’t about recognition. It was about making sure children in Sitio Kamalangan knew they weren’t forgotten.
For Liza, as a member of the Higaonon tribe herself, the journey toward becoming a teacher is not just an occupation, but a passion she had to pursue for her tribe’s sake. “I always wanted to be a teacher because I have a deep passion for guiding and inspiring young minds, especially my fellow Higaonon. Seeing students learn, grow, and believe in themselves gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment like no other,” she proudly shared.
“Being the first licensed teacher in Barangay San Vicente has given pride to our tribe. And I hope I could be a model to our tribe’s children that nothing is too difficult if they would just keep their eye on the goal,” she added.
For Aparece, the decision to become a teacher also came from her elementary teachers during her years as a student. She rekindled the memories she had with her educators: “I was inspired by my elementary teachers. Their dedication, patience, and the way they made learning meaningful left a lasting impact on me. I wanted to be just like them, someone who could shape young minds, uplift others, and make a difference in a child’s life the way they did in mine.”
Lessons Beyond the Curriculum
More than reading and math, the children are learning what it means to value education, even amid scarcity. And the teachers? They’re learning endurance, compassion, and the power of showing up.
CJ said it best, “Education is a powerful tool in changing the lives of the children and opening up more opportunities for a better future for them. It has always been my belief that education is not only for privileged children, but a right that must be accorded to each and every child no matter how far they came from.” (NJGD/PIA Caraga with a report from PPIO-Agusan del Sur)
