Ralph teaches Filipino, English, and Science at a remote school in North Cotobato. He is also a GBF scholar, pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Chemistry at the University of the Immaculate Conception. Apart from doing these two tasks full time, he also prepares meals for hungry students in their school.
Ralph was inspired to help these students because they walk long distances just to get to school. "Some of them walk kilometers from their homes to school and back. By the time they get here, they’re already hungry and don’t have the energy to focus on classes” he sadly shared.
“By God’s grace, I was chosen as a GBF scholar. I’ve been given this opportunity. The scholarship—the money I receive—is exactly what I prayed for. I told God that if he blesses me with this, I promise to share it with my students."
This is how the idea of CALDUnungan started.
CALDUnungan, a feeding project, is a play of words on arroz caldo and Karunungan, to connote giving knowledge through feeding. When he was awarded the GBF TEACHSTEM scholarship for his Master’s degree, he decided to spend a portion of his grant on the feeding project. He would cook arroz caldo and biningit in school together with co-teachers and serve it to the hungry students. This became a Tuesday habit, but to continue this, he needed more help so they posted about it as well to get more support.
“As a GBF scholar, i feel a responsibility to give back—to help the community, be a part of it, and serve it,” Ralph concluded.
GBF’s TeachSTEM Master’s Scholarship Program aims to support more public school teachers like Sir Ralph, who pursue their master’s degree while teaching. By supporting teachers like him, the Foundation not only touches the lives of its scholars but also the students they teach and inspire.
