ASIPULO, Ifugao – In an effort to help poor school children in depressed areas in the province, students of the St. Mary’s University (SMU) and the Ifugao Youth Confederation (IYCON) brought goodies and services to pupils of the Polpog Primary School last month in Barangay Pula here.

Manuel Malingan III, the president of BIBAK association of SMU, said that about 15 sacks of assorted goods, clothing, and school supplies were distributed to pupils. About 50 members hiked to the school to deliver the items bought with the help of the organization’s savings.

Dubbed as “Homok assistance program,” the participants conducted creative activities for the kids after distributing the items and had a dialogue with the parents and barangay officials. “We learned from them that the kids need raincoats and boots for them to use during rainy season,” Malingan said. Homok is an Ifugao term which means compassion.

This program of the organization which is done every semestral break will be implemented in identified poor barangays in any part of the Cordilleras,” Malingan said. “This will enable students to see the real situation in depressed areas and identify their needs so we will be able to do something to alleviate their economic condition.”

This is also in line with the associations’ thrust of making the needy imi, meaning smile, and pamhod di aamod, which means love your elders.

The program is under the supervision of the Provincial Sustainable Development Division of the province and involves Ifugao migrant students who are now residing at Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela and some students who are studying at SMU who are willing to join the activity of the organization.