BEGINNING June 16, 2025, students returned to Angilan National High School in the upland barangay of Aloguinsan, Cebu, to more than just a new academic year. They came back to clean water, safe restrooms, and a renewed sense of dignity.
For 30 years, these students walked long, steep paths before sunrise, some wearing worn-out slippers, others barefoot, all driven by a quiet determination to learn.
Yet upon arriving at school, many hesitated at the threshold of broken, unsanitary toilets. Restrooms lacked running water. For girls, especially during their monthly period, attending school often meant enduring shame or staying home altogether.
Having clean restrooms and a sustainable water system transformed the school environment. With running water, sealed cubicles, and the smell of disinfectant replacing mildew, students are met with an unmistakable message: they are welcome, they are safe, and they matter.
This is the 18th public school to benefit from the Rotary Club of Cebu’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (Wash) Program. Launched in 2018, the initiative aims to provide sustainable WASH facilities in underserved schools across Cebu.
The completion of the facilities at Angilan NHS was made possible through the partnership of the Topline Foundation and the Municipality of Aloguinsan, led by Mayor Christian Moreno and the Sangguniang Bayan.
Although the mayor was unable to attend the handover ceremony, his office’s support was instrumental to the project’s success.
Topline Foundation, through its President Erik Lim, played a key role in bringing the project to life. The foundation’s support reflects its continuing commitment to uplifting communities and addressing essential needs, especially in remote and often overlooked areas.
“We’re not just paving the way for a sustainable water supply,” said Principal Arno Montemayor.
“We’re restoring confidence. We’re preventing disease. We’re keeping children, especially girls, in school,” he added.
The program’s beginnings trace back to a global grant project in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Pohang in South Korea, which completed WASH facilities in ten public schools.
A second global grant, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kasugai in Japan, served another six schools. In 2024, the 17th school was completed through a partnership with Springdale. To date, the program has impacted more than 10,000 students across Cebu province.
Rotary Club of Cebu President Shige Onda emphasized the deeper meaning of these efforts.
“This is not merely about infrastructure. This is about health, safety, and equal opportunity. It is about letting children in far-flung communities know that they have not been forgotten,” said Onda.
Lack of clean restrooms and water sources leads to widespread absenteeism, particularly among adolescent girls. It also increases the risk of disease, discourages hygiene habits, and affects learning conditions.
“We know there are still children who go to school each day without clean water or a decent restroom,” said Rotary Club of Cebu Director DJ Moises.
“That is why we continue,” he added.
The Rotary Club of Cebu, together with its partners, remains committed to reaching more schools, more communities, and more children one washbasin, one toilet, and one restored sense of dignity at a time.
For those who wish to support or learn more about the Rotary Club of Cebu’s WASH initiatives, visit www.rotarycebu.org or contact any Rotarian in your area. (PR)