MANILA -- It is a dream come true for the students of the Pag-asa Integrated School in the municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan to finally have a complete set of teachers from kindergarten to junior high school.

As of this March, the school now has ten teachers, after initially only having two. The newly-hired teachers are from mainland Palawan.

They accepted their assignment to teach in Palawan to help the students and the community have access to quality education.

The school has 83 students enrolled from kindergarten to Grade 10 this year.

Among the newly-hired teachers is Eunice Grace Cabitac, who handles the first grade. In her two weeks on the island, she admits that she misses her family on the mainland. For her not to live alone, she transferred her son, who is in the fourth grade, to Pag-asa Integrated School.

"Malayo kami sa pamilya, pero masaya kami na nakikita namin ang mga estudyante na natututo sila habang nandito kaming mga guro. Hopefully magagamit kami sa kanilang pag-aaral na maiano namin ang aming kakayanan," she said.

[We are far from our families, but we are happy that our students are learning while we are here. Hopefully, we can be used as instruments and share our knowledge to them.]

The students are happy and thankful for the additional teachers. One of them, fifth-grader Andrea, says she dreams of becoming a teacher.

"Salamat po, kasi po kahit malayo 'yung Kalayaan, gusto pa rin nilang magpunta dito," she said.

[Thank you, because even though Kalayaan is far, they still came here.]

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-- LACK OF CLASSROOMS, BOOKS --

However, the school still has its challenges, including the lack of classrooms, books, and other school supplies. The school only has two classrooms, and students from kindergarten to Grade 6 share one room. Junior high school students share another room.

Teacher Diosco Comedia appeals for help not just for the students but for the teachers as well.

"Panawagan ko po sa ahensiya ng gobyerno at pribado [sektor], kung meron man kayong extra gaya ng laptop, of course printer na gamit ng mga guro, kailangan po namin ng aklat sa pagtuturo sa mga bata," she said. "Kasi po, medyo limited lang po."

"Ang meron lang po [ay] Grade 3, 4 and 5, 6. Sa mga mababa po, kulang po ang kanilang aklat. 'Pag meron po kayo, pwede niyong ibigay."

[I am appealing to government agencies and the private sector, if you have an extra laptop and printer that teachers can use. We also need books because we have limited books. The students with books are from Grades 3 to 6, but those in the lower levels do not have enough books. If you have extra books and supplies, you can give them to us.]

Another appeal of the newly-deployed teachers is for them to have separate houses on the island. As of now, the newly-hired teachers live together in a small bamboo house, where the female teachers share a small room separate from the male teachers.

Pag-asa Island is accessible via government airplane and government vessels. The newly hired teachers travel by sea for five days before reaching Pag-asa Integrated School.

Because of the issues in transportation, some teachers are planning to bring their families to the island.

PCG holds medical, dental mission for Pag-asa Island residents

Meanwhile, despite the distance, some residents have opted to stay on the island -- including Deborah Asiado, whose family has been on the island for more than two decades. She said the simple and peaceful life on the island made them choose to stay.

Some of their needs, such as rice, are provided by the government. They also have free access to the internet, and the village already has electricity. Construction of other infrastructure is on-going.

"Dito sa Pag-asa Island, dito kami nakakapamuhay ng maayos," said Asiado. "Dito kami nakakatipid. Hindi po kami masyado gumagastos, at saka mas maganda po dito. Mas masaya ang buhay namin dito, mas tahimik."

[We have a better life here in Pag-asa Island. We don't have to spend so much. Our life here is peaceful and quiet.]

Elmer Baña, meanwhile, has been on the island for 12 years since moving from Sorsogon. He is also satisfied with the developments on the island.

"Maayos na ang airport namin, may pier na po kami. Malapit na kami magkaroon ng regular na biyahe rito. Medyo maayos na po," he said.

[Our airport has improved, and we have a pier. We will soon have regular trips here.]

-- THREAT FROM CHINA -- 

Still, the residents are aware of the tension between the Philippine government and China, which claims territorial ownership of the island. Sightings of giant Chinese vessels are nothing new to them.

Chinese boats namataan malapit sa Pag-asa Island

Comelec unfazed by China challenge in Pag-asa

"Sabi ng kaanak ko, umuwi na raw kami. Magulo. Pero sabi ko, hindi magulo sa Kalayaan. Hindi magulo. 'Yung mga China naman, hindi nakakalapit 'yan, hindi nakakapunta sa isla," he said.

[Some of my relatives have told me to return to our province because of security issues in Kalayaan. But I told them that it is safe here. The Chinese vessels won't be able to go near the island.]

Some residents say they will spend the rest of their lives on the island, and are willing to fight for it as they believe that the Philippines has territorial rights.

With a population of 1,200, Pag-asa Island in the Municipality of Kalayaan  is considered the smallest town in the Philippines.

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