Every day, when the sun reaches the middle of its passage across the high mountain country, the people of Gubang could hear the wind whispering to their ears that this ancestral land is a land of choice. For as long as they could remember, their ancestors who came from the east seeking for the promise land had found 'Nirvana' here. They knew that this is a sacred land, that provided them sustenance; wild life in the mountains, abundant fish in the rivers, and a fertile land to cultivate.

They knew, too, that if they take care of the land, the land will take care of them. This is the spirit of their ancestors. For as long as they carry with them this spirit, the sunlight streaming through this canyon would find its way into their eyes. Then, they would be able to see the beauty of the land, the sparkling water of the rivers and streams, the towering trees, beautiful birds and animals. They knew
that when they stop caring for the land, the sun would not shine, and darkness would return to their eyes, like night descending on the mountain, and they would see no more.

That happened not a long time ago, when strangers appeared
with machines that could cut down trees in just minutes. Suddenly, the wind stop whispering to their ears, the rivers and streams overflowed, the birds stop chirping and the animals were dying. The trees and canopies on top of their mountains were gone. When they look up, their eyes are met with denuded mountain tops.

Today, a reforestation has taken root with eucalyptus trees. But, it is different. Although it towers about 60 feet, it does not produce nor create a tropical canopy, where a lot of animals and birds needed to survive. It is a beginning to reclaim the land, but it will never be the same. So are the natives of Gubang.

The early inhabitants felt drawn to the Gubang canyon area by the river and streams, which offered irrigable land for their crops and pasturage for their flocks; by a centuries-old river trail, which provided a convenient passageway for carabao-drawn wooden wagons; and by the mountain ranges which offered protection and sanctuary against outside incursions or attacks.

They established Gubang, only about one third of a kilometer in length, from the most humble of beginnings-a prehistoric path of dirt and tiny houses of native bamboos; but they imbued it with an enduring quality of style, character and charm along the west bank of the Gubang River. They still speak a version of Isneg, lisping their "I's" and "S's". They prayed to the spirits of the winds, mountains and rivers. They gathered firewood under the tropical canopies and hauled
it down the canyon road. They talked about their crops of rice, corn and fruits, about the catch of the day, about their animals and bad dogs.

Today, Gubang has joined the 21st century. Electricity has reached this tiny remote Shangrila, and don't be surprised if you'll find a loud obnoxius boom box called "karaoke". The houses now are walled with hollow blocks and covered with galvanized roofs. There's even a baskeball court right smack on the middle of the neighborhood. Although they still retain their native traditions, it is rapidly going the way of the modern  world. "Education too has come a long way since the early 50's. Two buildings stand within the school lot, a two-room FVR-type building which houses the classrooms of Grades I-III, and Grades IV-VI; and the second one is the old building which serves as the Library and at the same time teachers  quarters. From a primary school, it became Gubang Elementary School,  which has now two teachers each handling multi - grade classes. Since its establishment, the school has played a great role in effecting changes on the lives of the people." (see: education/gradeschool/gubang).

Although the school district has made strides toward improving its public education system, lack of educational resources greatly limits the ability of teachers to teach and children to gain hands-on experience. There are only a handful of books in its library,and other educational materials such as science kits, pre-school learning games and computers are non-existent. In many cases, an entire class shares a single outdated, worn and tattered book. For many children, books are hard to come by. Modern books with color illustrations, charts and photos are rare.

The lack of basic education for a significant proportion of the population prevents Vintar from  addressing its problems with strength and purpose. The pace of damage and destruction of the tropical forest not only around Gubang, but through out the Surong Valley is staggering and Vintar faces a narrow window of opportunity within which to reverse the rapid decline of its diverse ecosystems. Because so much is at stake, we at Vintar.Com  believe it is imperative to educate the school kids of Gubang and all of Vintar's school district on how to reverse the trend of environmental damage.

To that extent, we are asking you to donate school materials; books, notepads, teachers aid, pencils, pens, writing pads, magazines, computers, calculators, etc., that will instill values for more environment-friendly lifestyles and more ecologically passionate individuals.

If you share these sentiments, please join Project Gubang and forward your concern  to one of Gubang's devouted elementary teacher; Clarifel Gapuzan, #1 San Roque, Vintar, Ilocos Norte, 2915 Philippines (Gubang Elementary School).

You can also send an e-mail to:
       Edna C. Nagtalon at ednacnagtalon@yahoo.com.   
       Webmaster at vintar@vintar.com

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