The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim accompanied a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) to the Philippines from 12–18 December to officially inaugurate new schools established by JTS over the past year on the country’s second-largest island, Mindanao.
JTS Philippines built a total of 10 new schools in 2024, although one school inauguration was conducted separately due to its remote location. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS volunteers launched the remaining nine schools during last month’s visit. The visiting delegation accompanying Ven. Pomnyun Sunim included JTS Representative Gena Park, JTS Philippines Representative Roh Jae-guk, Jungto Society volunteers from the Philippines, and two media staff from the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.
The first school inauguration ceremony was for Pangantucan Special Education (SPED) School, where the JTS delegation received a warm welcome from local officials, and teachers, parents, and special-needs students of the new school.
“The completion of this new school today is, first and foremost, thanks to the dedication of the Pangantucan mayor,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the gathering after the formal immigration ceremony. “I also want to thank the SPED principal and teachers. We are grateful to the military engineering corps, who built this school. Thank you for building it so beautifully. I also want to express my gratitude to the Bukidnon Province Superintendent of Education, and to education officials for their interest in students with disabilities. We are thankful to Korean JTS donors, who provided financial support. Lastly, I want to thank the JTS Philippines representative and volunteers who took responsibility for this project and worked hard to make this construction possible. It was because of the combined efforts of many people and organizations that we were able to build this school.” (Jungto Society)
▶️ Published by BDG on January 3, 2025
▶️ Read more: https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/ven-pomnyun-sunim-inaugurates-new-schools-for-vulnerable-communities-in-the-philippines/
