Antipolo City volunteer group aids Mangyan youth in Mindoro
By Nel Andrade
Despite the distance and the hassles of traveling to the remote area of Sta. Cruz in Occidental Mindoro, a group of youth volunteers from Antipolo City in Rizal were able to pitch in their resources to help a church-based group in reaching out to the Mangyan kids.
The Give Love Give Back (GLGV) group, a volunteer group based in Barangay San Roque in Antipolo City, led by Amando Magpusao, Jr. or Mhandee among his group members, trooped to Sitio Kanruan, Pinagturilan in Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro earlier this month to witness the progress of education of the Mangyan kids whom they have been regularly helping as part of their regular outreach programs.
During their surprise visit to the Mangyan community, the Antipolo volunteers met the Grade 1 to 3 pupils at the Kanruan Minority School (KMS) and joined the donors spearheaded by the Adventist group in a recognition ceremony mimicking a graduation event.
It was learned that the Adventist group members and its missionaries first initiated a fund-raising drive to assist the KMS kids in their school needs. With the additional assistance from the GLGV group, the school kids attended their very first so-called graduation event.
The church-based donors and the volunteers gifted the students their graduation photos and water bottles.

A Mangyan kid and his mother are flanked by the representatives of the donors from the private sector (photo from Malno Creatives' Facebook page)
Prior to the recognition event, the donors gave the kids a pair of rubber footwear. Food and drinks were also served to the Mindoro natives.
The Antipolo-based volunteers and their friends coming from other parts of the country, composed of young entrepreneurs and employees, said they vow to continue helping the Mangyans finish their schooling.

The kids from Kanruan Minority School during the so-called graduation ceremony in Sitio Kanruan in Occidental Mindoro (photo from Mhandee Magpusao of Give Love Give Back )