A brand-new, P10-million elementary school now stands in Tulunan, North Cotabato, symbolizing resilience and international friendship, six years after powerful earthquakes reduced the previous campus to rubble.
From Trauma to Triumph: A New Beginning
On December 19, 2025, the Magbok Fil-Chinese Friendship Elementary School was formally turned over to the community. The joyous ceremony saw kindergarten to Grade 6 pupils waving small Philippine and Chinese flags, a stark contrast to the terror they experienced in October 2019. Back then, a series of strong quakes caused their old school to collapse before their eyes.
For 10-year-old Norhana G. Alpha, now in Grade 5, the event brought back vivid memories. "My mother almost got hit," Norhana recalled, describing how her mother was at the school during the quake and was nearly struck by falling concrete. Her fear, however, has been replaced by excitement for the new facility. "I like our new school because it’s close to our home, so we no longer need to ride a motorcycle. The school is spacious and open. It’s comfortable for all students," she said with a bright smile.
Her classmate, Cyvermea U. Palma Gil, shyly agreed, noting the new school is "nice and big."
A Symbol of Friendship and Swift Reconstruction
The eight-classroom school was donated by the Association of Davao Fil-Chinese Communities, with the support of the Chinese Consul General in Davao, Zhao Xiuzhen. Constructed in just five months, the school complex sits on a 7,700-square-meter lot within a nearly one-hectare relocation site in Barangay Magbok. It features:
- A covered multipurpose court for sports and activities.
- A stage.
- Separate comfort rooms for boys and girls.
- Spacious, well-ventilated classrooms.
The area also includes over 100 housing units built for families displaced after their original communities were declared no-build zones following the 2019 quakes.
School head Marychan Orbita expressed profound gratitude, stating that after the disaster, classes were held in temporary learning spaces (TLS) until they could move into the new building in February 2024. "We are very thankful... Because of them, the children were given proper and beautiful classrooms," Orbita said.
Leaders Highlight Education and Enduring Bonds
In her inspirational message, Consul General Zhao Xiuzhen emphasized that the school marks the restoration of hope. Quoting a Chinese saying, she stated, "No matter how poor, never neglect education; no matter how hard, never let children suffer." She urged students to cherish the opportunity, strive for excellence, and become pillars of the nation, calling them "the future of the Philippines and the inheritors of Sino-Philippine friendship."
Wilson Tan, secretary general of the donating association, explained the project was born from a collective desire to help after witnessing the destruction. "Today, that promise becomes a reality," Tan said, highlighting that the school is a symbol of enduring friendship between the Filipino and Chinese peoples. He encouraged students to study hard, respect teachers, and dream big.
Local officials echoed the sentiment. Tulunan Mayor Lee Roy Villasor called the project a strong symbol of friendship, cooperation, and shared commitment to education. Barangay Captain Edgar Sumacbay of Magbok, one of the hardest-hit and most remote areas, thanked the donors for fulfilling a long-held dream for parents and children.
The ceremony concluded with students receiving snack and gift bags, their faces beaming with hope—a clear sign that from the ruins of disaster, classrooms, dreams, and a brighter future can indeed be rebuilt.
