Akyat Aral Scholar Special Day

The Gift of Hope

The gift giving endeavor is a yuletide tradition of Akyat Aral, where we are distributing Christmas gifts to indigenous and less privilege communities not just to help them but to let them feel the true meaning of Christmas.

The Dumagat communities of Sitio Bulak in Papaya, Nueva Ecija is one of our regular recipients of various projects and group events such as Project Class Room, Project Playground, Fun and Joy Tours, and other regular group events such as, Back to School Project, Gift a Give, Feeding Program and many others since our first visit in year 2012.

With the support of Akyat Aral, supporters, donors and volunteers, after four years of continuous visit  they now have a good school building, but sadly, this is not a formal learning center accredited by Department of Education (DEPED) instead this is only a DSWD day care center with an integrated learning system focusing the only basic skill of learning like reading and writing.

The three scholars with their teacher,(from left Maam Aileen, Mayit de Guzman, Sofia Bote and Teresa Ramos)

According to their volunteer teacher Mam Aileen Pajarillaga, there are some good students. Akyat Aral grievances is how the students improve if  Day Care Center program is focusing the basic learning skills repeated every year. Our group standpoint is continuous support  contributing a positive change to the Dumagat children as indigenous community and as individual. Part of our advocacy is to assist them and give measurable influence in handling the power of change as poor indigenous group. With our affirmation in extending helps with them, we created the project scholar for two children, then after a year another one added.

The two children shows their dedication in their studies and able to compete with other students from the lowland,  they received citations and honors. With their good school performance after a year we added another scholar. Our joy for their  good performance we give a Christmas gift as a reward, we bring them in Manila for a special day for them that is full of joy and filled adventure.

Rizal Park

After a quick breakfast, the first destination is Luneta. Rizal Park or Luneta  park, is a place of relaxation is  the one of the most significant landmark in our country that should not missed by every Filipino especially students. 

This is the place where the execution of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal fanned the flames of the 1896 Philippines revolution against the Spaniards. Luneta or Bagumbayan and Jose Rizal was an important place and person for them not as indigenous children but as a Filipino . Jose Rizal and Luneta are always a part of their studies they now see it for themselves 

Rizal Park also showcase the brave Filipinos in the galery of heroes, the martyrdom of Gumburza, the gigantic statue of Lapu Lapu, visualize the Philippine archipelago with  giant raised  relief map, stunning artwork from renowned Filipino artist  the National Museum and many others interesting places inside the park. . 

Nayong Pilipino

Second stop is Nayong Filipino

The Kids experience the hanging bridge, Kalesa carriages man made lagoon, golden tilapia and many more.

Manila Ocean Park

Third stop Manila Ocean Park. is the Philippines first world class marines theme  park that gives a premiere educational facility and amazing experience blended with entertainment.

Started from the tunnel of an unimaginable cubic meters of salt water surrounded by enormous different kinds of fishes seemingly like flying over their head, gives unusual experience for the three scholars.

While the trainers gives a  interesting facts about sea lions, the sea lions starts giving hilarious comedy presentation that gives a huge enjoyment with our scholars. The sea lions gives some acrobatics and athletics behavior like, Olympic style dive, powerful swimming, hurdle and high jumps, flippers walks, balancing acts, splashing and many others surprises. They saw that this kind of animal are adorable, cute and very intelligent. 

Jellies exhibit is a is a mesmerizing  experience for them. The dancing sea fairies is fascinating and magical, especially when the aquarium lights change colors. . 

There many attraction inside Manila Ocean park that really amazed the three scholars, like the Christmass Village, the trail sto Antarctica that they experience the Earth's frozen wilderness and see the Penguins live. They enter the Yexel's museum and be amazed to the numerous toys collections and amazing stories. The world of creepy crawlies The souvenirs shop, and many more., all  located inside the park. 

All of  the information they learn inside the park, the wondrous creatures, the awareness for the ocean and its inhabitants a very helpful for them as a student,  as individuals  as indigenous children that live far from 

metro-civilization, these educational facilities may increase their learning mentality and abilities for their challenging future. 

The varieties of shows, encountered and exhibit maybe tiring for their feet, their Ocean Park visit ended with the Aquatica Fish Spa to pumper them and be relax with doctors fishes nibbled dead skin cells from their tired feet and be ready to the next adventure for the day...

Lunch Time

After a quick breakfast, a feast for their lunch, courtesy of Sir James Jinsiang in Korean restaurant. They need to eat well because there still a lot more places to visit.

Manila Zoo 

The Manila Zoo is a must in the itinerary of the three scholars because of its exiting educational benefits and academic knowledge.  They will learn and understand the importance of taking care of the environment as it has significant impact on the lives and welfare of the animals. Being an indigenous as part of their living is hunting, they need to learn the importance of conservation and animal care. 

They encountered different kinds of animals and its classification and species.  like Elephants, pythons, turtles, crocodiles, deer, zebra, monkeys, rabbits, ostrich, colorful birds, hippopotamus and many others.

The funny part of their Manila Zoo adventure is their being first time to see many of this animals alive, and even inhabitant animals in our country they only saw it in a books.

Almost evening in Mall of Asia, the activity is not yet finished,  the volunteers decide to walk separately to finish everything according to plan. The men buy provisions for the Notche Buena of the family of the three scholars, while women buy clothes and other necessity of the three girls.

The activity ended witnessing fireworks display while eating their dinner in sea side. This kind of   striking display of lights and  loud noise is also a first time in their life, where they experience both, the Christmas  and New Year celebration with us... 

The group  "Mission of Hope for the Children" is not just providing materials things and personal needs of the children/students, but to contribute a positive change to their standpoint as individual, communities and as indigenous groups. The group advocacy is to assist them and give them measurable influence in handling back the power of change and above all to inspire and motivate young mind the importance of education for their bright future.

Akyat Aral is more than a charity.

Akyat Aral is a powerful force for a change....

Special Thank You:

 *.To Sir Paul and Rose Hans, for being with the three kids early in the morning till night, for the car and for the overnight stay of the three scholars in their house, thank you for being always with us. .
*. To Teacher Ailein  for being supportive to all your students, especially to pur scholars.
*.To Sir Albert Yoo, many have been happy, many received helped, many dreams fulfilled because of your generosity, you are always our last bullet,  thank you very much...
*. To all who believes and give support to our scholars, thank you.

In Kind and Cash Donation Accepted

For cash donation, you may deposit your donation to our official bank account. 

For other form of donations you may visit our official Facebook account and send us a message 

Akyat Aral 

Its a Mission of hope for the Children 

Photo credit:

Akyat Aral Volunteers

Give Colors to the Life of Mangyan Children

Bigyan Kulay ang Buhay ng mga Batang Mangyan

Each year Akyat Aral continues its mission of helping the Mangyan Children in Sitio Latag with different themes such as "Back to School Project", "Give a Gift"  "Project Solar Panel" and many others.

Each project includes medical assistance with our volunteer doctors and nurses. We conduct feeding programs. We give clothing, school supplies, , basic essential for their livings and many others because we know that they cannot afford the basic requirements of living.

Unlike other children in various mountains we visited, most of the children are genuinely shy at first but gradually they become comfortable with us.  The Mangyan children are typical shy by their nature maybe because of being so far, they barely meet other people except us that we are trying not to miss them at least once a year. 

The "Bigyan Kulay ang Buhay ng mga Batang Mangya" (Give color to the life of Mangyan Children)  project is not just giving them a colorful life, the project  is empowering program to give some experiences  that may gives difference in their outlook in lives.

In continuous support with the Mangyan tribe, we are wondering how we can bring something to enhance their intelligence and not remained left behind  in the experience of other children in the city or under foot of the mountains where this knowledge is also their right to experience too. We have project playground in other communities  we visited,  but bringing playground in this mountain of Sitio Latag maybe hard for us. 

In order to improve their skills, Akyat Aral created  Sport Fest, all the sport equipment will be leave for them and we add additional in our next visit. 

The Sports Equipment

The Trophy

The Sport Fest

Basket Ball Games

Playing basket ball is not new in Sitio Latag,  even it says a mountain style, they have the fundamental knowledge of this games. 

Akyat Aral want to emphasize for this game is to encourage them as a players a positive social skills and help them to recognize the importance of working as a team, respect others and what it means to be competitive. This time they have a referee who watch and arbitrate on matters arising the games, and to let them know that there are rules to adhere like foul, travelling and many others violations.

Bicycle Race

 At first the volunteers ride the bicycle  they showed the fun of riding, and  let the kids to get interested. From  there, they select interested children to ride but first they taught, the proper pedaling and balancing. 

Akyat Aral objective for bicycle races is to develop children competitiveness while teaching them,  both to win and lose at the same time enjoying the activity.

We care about their safety hard hat or the helmet is our priority for their safety but their still injury. Our medics is ready to attend for this circumstances.

Badminton Games

Like bicycle, badminton is new games in their eyes, getting started is not easy but the volunteers patiently teach them to learn the proper stroke and hit the ball on the opponent.

There is also a volleyball game, unfortunately due to heavy rain it discontinue.

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Due to  deficiency especially for the basic needs of students including the shortage of nutritious food to eat, lack of school supplies and other needs, this kind of fun games are neglected or did not place as one of the basic needs of the students or as a children.

Outdoor or fun games is very important, it build their gross motor skills, this hand on activities that incorporate physical movement can make all the difference in helping children learn key skills and master fundamental concept. 

Games increased self confidence, enhanced muscles and bones development, improvement of balance and hand-eye- coordination, awareness of postures, and many other benefits,..........

......... unfortunately they are less privilege children, and all this never come into their minds because of difficulties in life. Akyat Aral believe that no children should be denied playing sports because of the cost. 

Awarding Ceremony

At first the kids hesitant  to receive the trophy because they never know what is this for. They never know that this is evidence of victory that serve as their recognition. 

Akyat Aral Tradition

Any month of the year for straight five years, the noble tradition of reaching out less fortunate children in the far mountainous are in the country continue by taking part of changing the lives of our less privileges communities, by giving an act of kindness. 

Feeding program is always a part of the activities.

Class lessons maybe wearisome to other students, story telling is one important procedure to have a powerful interaction with the children, With the ability of our volunteer teachers it encourage children to explore with their unique expressiveness and can heighten a student's ability to communicate thoughts and feelings in a clear manner.

A  rain or shine activity, as  long we never violate government warning, the activity will continue. 

Distribution of the basic needs of the community.

From Manila to Batangas pier to Abra de Ilog pier (Mindoro)  to Sitio Udalo then trek up for 4-6 hours to Sitio Latag.  Our sincere thanks to our volunteers. for helping us to give a positive meaningful impact in every community we visited. 

Our group Akyat Aral is managed solely by volunteers who give time, energy and money to use for their transportation  and the foods they eat.

Our volunteers challenge their self physically and mentally without the comfort of their home just to help  communities in great needs.

Every event is a great and memorable for our volunteers. They are always eager to give colors to the lives of every children they meet.

The physical challenge that always there in every events never hamper their passion serving people of less wants. 

Walking so long, trekking, river crossing, carrying heavy load, under the heavy rain or under the heat of the sun, inadequate slip, skipping meals, tiredness and many physical challenges in nothing because they know that all of this is for the benefits of our beneficiary communities. 

Giving some of  e precious time to others is almost a great time for themselves.

As long that there are in needs, Akyat Aral will continue to do so with its continuous program and events. 

Our group os volunteer based and believe donations should be used wisely and effectively.

To our donors and supporters, thank you very much for all the support.

Its a Mission of Hope for the Children

In kind and cash donation accepted

For cash donation you may deposit your cash donation to our official bank account

For other form of donation, you may visit our official face book account and message us.

Akyat Aral

Photo credit:

Akyat Aral Volunteers