Our collection of stories of life on Boracay Island.
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1 Paradise English www.paradiseenglish.com [email protected](+63362884544) Boracay Island MAY/JUNE 2014 We’re Doing Great And Getting Better! Independence Day (Filipino: Araw ng Kasa- rinlan; also Araw ng Kalayaan, lit. "Day of Freedom") is an annual national holiday in the Philippines ob- served on June 12, commemorating the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It is the country's National Day. The Philippine Revolution began in August 1896. In December 1897 the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, an agreement between the Spanish colonial government and the revolutionaries, created a truce between the parties. Under terms of this agreement, Emilio Agui- naldo and other revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong Kong. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong Kong to Manila Bay leading the Asiatic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. On May 1, 1898, Dewey defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay. Later that month, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to the Philippines. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo led the declaration of Philippine Independence from Spanish colonial rule. This event took place in the Aguinaldo house, hence the shrine. In honour of that day a Filipino Cultural Night hosted by Liezl Mancawan was held at our school the evening of June 12 th . To the delight of all present we were treated to song and dance of Filipino heritage performed by our Filipino teachers and staff. In addition, a repast of Filipino cuisine was enjoyed and devoured in short order. As fate would have it, the night at the school was cut short when a power blackout occurred. This of course did not hold back the celebrations as every- one reconvened at Bom Bom Bar. The rest is a mystery. Honeymoon Just for laughs and Brain Teaser PE as a jumping off point to the many tourist attractions in Philippines Finishing Touches Fun for a Cause Page 2 Page 4 Page 3 What’s inside: Aguinaldo Shrine where the country's independence from Spain was declared. Philippine Independence Day
Eight months and one typhoon later finishing touches continue to be made to the renovations at PE. In addition to our logo and new smoking hut, murals are underway on some of the walls around
the school, more pics later.
Finishing Touches
PE as a Jumping Off Point to the Many Tourist
Attractions in Philippines While students come to PE to study English they
are introduced to the wonders of the greater Philippines. Although there is much to do on Boracay many students
find that a get away to another island to see so much more of the natural beauty of the islands is time well
spent. Students who are here just a short while may take off for a long weekend while those here for a much longer stay find a one to two week adventure fits the bill.
Come to PE, learn the language, and put it to good use as you travel.
Bontoc Burial Caves and Hanging Coffins
Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers of Bohol Banaue Rice Terraces
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Saturday, May 24th, 2014 was a good day
for a good cause. Vicente (Tito) and I joined the Paradise English team and some friends in
D’Mall. We got in a van with all the materials we needed like brushes, rollers, some lumber, paint,
scaffolding and most important of all, our enthusiasm and hope and headed to the north end of Boracay.
The project was so nice because it aimed to improve the elementary school’s condition in
order to create a better learning environment for the Filipino children. It’s a pity to say that the
school buildings as well as the classroom materials are old and deteriorated. We painted the inner and outer walls and ceilings of four
classrooms. Including some policemen, there were around 30 volunteers who helped make the
event successful and I am proud to have been one of them.
This was Tito’s first time volunteering in a
humanitarian way and the experience could not have been better. I found it funny that he told me
“If I had painted my own house, I would have been cursing all day... a very tiring and boring
task!” He also said he was motivated (as we all were) by the fact that we were helping people and
students who are in need, and the laughter and fun of working together will definitely be missed. We spent almost six hours doing the painting. It
was an easy and fun job. In addition to this project, a Paradise
English affiliate, Boracay Fund, has a target to build two classrooms at the school to implement
a reading program given the fact that 30% of the children age 12 are unable to read. We are grateful to everybody who shared
their time to help and to Aria restaurant for donating such delectable pizza for lunch.
I do agree with what Vicente said,
“...with great satisfaction I will never forget
that day.”
MAY / JUNE 2014 PARADISE ENGLISH
Fun for a Cause
Our Spanish students, Edu Corrales Nogales and Vicente Bel share their experience from a
Painting Party at Yapak Elementary School, Boracay Island.
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Just for Laughs Brain Teaser
Boracay is a favoured destination for newly-
weds to spend their honeymoon. It is an ideal place to lay back, take in the sand and sun and get their
new life off to a great start. Occasionally newlyweds find life is not just about holding hands and gazing
into one another’s eyes, but rather learning some-thing new and facing challenges together. Recently one such couple, Lily and Vic,
came to Boracay and PE to fulfill their dream. In Lily’s words from her graduation
