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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Going above and beyond the call of duty: A public school teacher's quiet advocacy for children with cancer

Going above and beyond the call of duty: A public school teacher's quiet advocacy for children with cancer

Published Jan 31, 2026 08:16 am
Inside hospital corridors where routines are shaped by treatments and long waiting hours, learning and play continue, through the steady efforts of a public school teacher who chose to extend her calling beyond the classroom.
Kristine Crisseda
Kristine Crisseda "KC" Mangareng (Photo courtesy of KC Mangareng)
Kristine Crisseda
Kristine Crisseda "KC" Mangareng together with volunteers of the Project Ulayaw: Above and Beyond (Photo courtesy of Project Ulayaw)
Kristine Crisseda “KC” Mangareng, a resident of Malabon City, is a public school teacher and the executive director of Project Ulayaw: Above and Beyond, a non-government organization that has been helping pediatric cancer patients at the National Children’s Hospital for the past seven years.
Project Ulayaw is a community-driven initiative dedicated to spreading hope and compassion.
Through collective effort and volunteer work, the organization provides support to cancer patients and extends assistance to families in need, empowering lives through kindness and shared responsibility.
Through the years, the group has conducted various activities, including bloodletting programs, gift-giving activities, donation drives, and fundraising events to help ease the burden of treatment payments on patients and their families.
Patients received gifts during the gift giving event (Photo courtesy of Project Ulayaw)
Patients received gifts during the gift giving event (Photo courtesy of Project Ulayaw)
In 2022, the organization launched HospiEscuela, an initiative that allows hospitalized children to continue their studies using Department of Education modules.
The program helps children stay connected to learning even if they are confined to the hospital for weeks or months for treatment.
Beyond education and medical support, patients also take part in activities such as storytelling sessions, parlor games, gift-giving, and small painting exhibits.
The exhibits feature artworks created by the children, which are sold to help support their medical expenses.
To sustain its programs, the organization accepts donations such as grocery packs, powdered milk, school supplies, and toys.
Cash donations through e-wallet platforms are also welcomed to support ongoing activities.
Through the Project Ulayaw, Mangareng continues to show how a public school teacher can also be an advocate, bringing learning, compassion, and hope to children battling cancer, one hospital visit at a time.
Volunteers and patients pose for photo op in gift giving event (Photo courtesy of Project Ulayaw Facebook Page)
Volunteers and patients pose for photo op in gift giving event (Photo courtesy of Project Ulayaw Facebook Page)

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