The Project Tikang team conducted joint initiatives at Balatogan Elementary School, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on May 4, 2025, organized by the Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI), 94th Infantry Battalion (94 IB), and Office of the Vice Mayor (OVM) of Himamaylan City in partnership with the 99.7 Brigada Kabankalan, CPSU Education Society (CPSU EdSoc), JICA Alumni Association of the Philippines (JAAP), Pambansang Samahan ng mga Kabataang Inhenyero Mekanikal (PSKIM), and Technological University of the Philippines Visayas – University Student Government (TUPV-USG).

The joint initiatives include the Masaya ang Magbasa campaign, free circumcision, and free haircuts to the community. Eighty (80) children received school supplies from HBONI and its partners, thirty-two (32) male kids were circumcised by the 94th IB and the OVM, and more than 10 individuals got their haircut from the military.

Kathleen Optana, the HBONI Youth Executive Directress, shared her experience during the Balatogan journey.

“As a Hope Builder, it is an opportunity to get there. Ang pagkadtu, mabudlay. Ang paglakat lima ka-oras, tabok sa suba na baskog ang current nga taga hawak, talkad sa bukid, and dulhog—lakat sa super stiff na bukid is truly a challenge! But, it didn’t mend us, kay we wanted to make people happy, and also share hopes, and give blessings.”

Kathleen has been active in delivering services to the far-flung area just to make children happy in a simple way she can give.

“Reflecting on those experiences, we should unite together para makabulig sa isa kag isa, especially sa mga marginalized communities. Also, kita nga mga youths, we should be grateful enough for what we have here and should have the initiative to help others in need and be with those who help the community,” she added.

The Balatogan community, through the School PTA President of Balatogan ES, also expressed gratitude to the team for bringing the services to their community despite its distance.

The journey of Hope Builders together with its partners in reaching far-flung areas of Negros Occidental provides a feeling of pride and satisfaction. Kenneth Bacala, the HBONI founder & chief executive officer, is grateful to have young people who are undoubtedly giving their time to volunteer and to help the community of Balatogan.

“This Masaya ang Magbasa we made is a campaign that promotes the love for reading. When we conducted the reading activity, we also engaged the parents and guardians of the children, reminding them of the shared responsibility in the learning development of their kids,” Kenneth said.

“We observed during our storytelling activity that some children in Balatogan can actually read. However, because of the absence of electricity and lack of facilities in the community, they fail to access other opportunities to learn various ways of learning. The reason that HBONI brought 136 books that would help them with their reading activities in school,” he added.

The first visit of the HBONI creates an opportunity to further determine the needs of the community. Hence, the team aims to install pocket libraries or HBONI libraries in the community through the collective efforts of its stakeholders, including the giving of teaching materials that would supplement the Balatogan Elementary School’s teachers.