Bacolod residents have been placing yellow flowers, ribbons, candles and balloons beneath a tarpaulin with the message “Salamat, PNoy!” in front of the University of St. La Salle gate in Bacolod City.
Bro. Kenneth Martinez, USLS president, said Friday, July 9, that they put the tarpaulin up to thank former president Benigno Aquino III, who passed away on June 24, for his presidency and his contribution to education, and residents spontaneously responded.
Martinez said the tarpaulin placed last week was the initiative of the university community and the De La Salle brothers, and neighbors asked if they could bring flowers and candles so tables were provided.
He said flowers, ribbons and candles started to appear and on Friday yellow and black balloons were added.
Martinez said they put up the tarpaulin because they also wanted to say: “Thank you President Nonoy, we will remember your battles against poverty, ignorance and in service of your boss, the Filipino people.”
“It is a grateful gesture to a president who had served his nation well,” Martinez said.
K to 12 was the signature contribution of Aquino to education, he said.
Aquino put the Philippines at par with the rest of the world that has a 12-year basic education framework, he said.
The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education – six years of primary education, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school.
“We, the De La Salle brothers who are into education, have a lot to be thankful for,” and that is the reason why there is a tarpaulin in front of the USLS, he said.
“We should have thanked him earlier and more often when he was alive,” Martinez said.
“We pray that there will be more leaders that would continue to carry the torch for education,” he said.*