Education Knows No Distance: Taking Knowledge Channel to Babuyan Islands

“I found out that the island is seldom reached by social services, what with the infamously rough and dangerous waters of the Babuyan Channel making access to it nearly impossible…”

Located 522 kilometers north of Manila, the Babuyan Islands is considered as one of the most pristine yet remote areas in the Philippines. It is also home to some of the poorest barangays in the country. Last April 10-14, 2017, Doris Nuval, School and Community Engagement Head of Knowledge Channel Foundation, braved the unpredictable Babuyan Channel to deliver a Knowledge Channel Portable Media Library to the elementary schools of the Calayan East District in Camiguin Norte, Babuyan Islands.

“I went to the Babuyan Islands as part of a group called Bless Camiguin Norte Island Project (BCNIP) which conducted a one week medical/dental mission, vacation bible study for children and a nature farming workshop seminar for farmers,” Nuval narrated. “The BCNIP is an outreach program of Harry Balais, a young man who has been doing such outreach projects since 2009 and I thought of taking the Knowledge Channel there because after doing a little research, I found out that the island is seldom reached by social services, what with the infamously rough and dangerous waters of the Babuyan Channel making access to it nearly impossible.”

LOOK: Photos from Doris’ journey to the islands beyond Luzon. (Photos and captions by Doris Nuval.)

A change of tee turned me from doctor to teacher, according to my friends.

The stage was literally set for a KCh show.

The kuliglig - the only mode of motorized transporation within the island.

Teachers enthralled by video on how to teach better with TV.

Newly appointed Knowledge Channel school coordinators getting briefed on responsibilities.

A view of the island from our residence.

Nuval also had the opportunity to train around 40 teachers from the district’s schools namely: Camiguin Elementary School, Babuyan Claro Elementary School, Cadadalman Elementary School and Minabel Elementary School. “The reception was astoundingly warm as the teachers have never received such electronic learning materials,” said Nuval. “Most unfortunately do not have access to internet because there are no service providers on the island, which has power only from 2:30-11:00PM.  Fortunately, the schools have generators.”

Mr. Moises Castillejos, acting principal of all four elementary schools received the Portable Media Library on behalf of all the schools and appointed Ms. Cielito Mayor as Knowledge Channel coordinator.

“Honestly, I have never seen such genuine appreciation from teachers in all of my more than a decade of service to Knowledge Channel’s constituency,” Nuval concluded.