Bridging Islands, Building Futures

Converged by the sea, a meaningful milestone was celebrated an hour’s boat ride from the mainland of Siargao in the remote island clusters of Anajawan, Mam-on, and Suyangan in General Luna.

Calls Over Ridges Philippines (CORPh), in partnership with Sports City International, Project Juan, Kids for Kids Philippines, and One Million Lights Philippines, officially turned over community-based education projects to local leaders for management on June 28th, 2025.

Held in Sitio Mam-on and Barangay Anajawan, the event marked the official release of a school boat, a Creative Library Space, and culturally grounded materials like a cookbook and workbook – designed to meet the unique needs of island youth.

The Community’s Warmth

The celebration on Anajawan Island began with a spirited performance from the Paglajag Kids, who welcomed Sports City International (SCI) with a traditional island dance. The energy flowed into a vibrant showcase of Filipino folk dances, honoring the rich cultural roots of the fisherfolk community.

A lively pukpok palayok ceremony marked the symbolic turnover of the new library. “Pukpok palayok” loosely translates to “breaking of the clay pot”, an act akin to that of ribbon cutting ceremonies. With a burst of coins, candies, and confetti, the ceremony symbolized good fortune, abundance, and a community spirit of joy.

Inside, the doors opened with a storytelling session rendered by Wyn, Program Coordinator and our resident storyteller. Children received The Sailing Stories of Dandoy, a workbook designed by Calls Over Ridges Philippines to ignite imagination and learning.

The morning activities in Anajawan ended in words of gratitude coming from Larry, an ISIP Scholar from the community: “As part of Paglajag, we, the youth of Anajawan, are very thankful and excited for the creative library space. Finally, we now have a fun space for learning ,” Larry expresses.

The afternoon’s festivities began with Mam-on’s welcome dance presentation of their folk dance by their youth, with a few inspiring words from Sasaya Chen, representing SCI. The symbolic turnover of the boat paddle shortly commenced thereafter.

“The school boat is more than a means of transportation, it is a bridge to connect students to the knowledge and future that they deserve,” Sasaya shared.

In Sitio Mam-on, the afternoon unfolded with a vibrant welcome dance by the youth, proudly showcasing their cultural roots. Following island tradition, the boat was honored with a palutaw, a floating ceremony that celebrates its first sail and blesses it for safe passage. The event culminated in a festive boodle fight, where the community gathered to share a meal — food spread on banana leaves, eaten side by side, the way islanders celebrate togetherness.

Collaborative Action, Lasting Impact

This initiative is the result of meaningful collaboration rooted in Calls Over Ridges Philippines’ (CORPh) community-first approach – grounded in local consultation, participatory planning, and shared values. From site mapping to content development, CORPh worked alongside barangay councils, teachers, and parents to ensure the solutions were relevant and lasting.

At the heart of it all was Sports City International (SCI), whose generous funding made the project possible – providing books, laptops, a projector, and Wi-Fi connectivity to make the Creative Library Space both functional and future-ready.

The transformation began with Project Juan, who supported the initial refurbishment of the space. Kids for Kids followed, reimagining the library’s layout with a design inspired by island culture – creating a space that’s both beautiful and rooted in the community’s identity.

Stories of Hope and Resilience

Behind every project, there are stories: of students who cross the sea daily for a chance to learn; of teachers who serve multiple islets with limited materials, of parents who dream of better futures for their children. The turnover event was filled with these voices: laughter from children exploring their new library space, tears of joy from parents witnessing their children ride a safe school boat for the first time, and gratitude from barangay leaders who now hold the keys to community-built solutions.

While the turnover in General Luna is a celebration in itself, it is also a symbol of something bigger. It marks CORPh’s expanding footprint across Siargao’s Tri-Island area, where similar needs and challenges persist in other barangays and islets. As the organization scales its work, these completed projects serve as tested, replicable models that can inspire similar initiatives in neighboring communities.

These stories embody the resilience and hope that define the spirit of Siargao’s island communities. They also remind us that progress is possible, especially when it is driven by the people it seeks to serve.