In one of the hilltops of Barangay Cayus, Quirino in the mountainous part of llocus Sur Province in the Philippines lies a small high school Tirad View Academy. It is named after Mt.Tirad whose summit hovers over it.
The academy is close to the renowned site of the Battle of Tirad Pass, the last stand of the Filipino forces led by General Gregorio del Pilar against the pursuing American soldiers who were about to capture the Philippine leader of Philippine American War General Emilio Aguinaldo.
The battle was described by several journalists covering the war as "the battle above the clouds': Tirad View Academy, a secondary school with almost 250 students and 10 dedicated faculty and staff, is literally in the clouds.
One visitor commented appropriately, "This school is so isolated, so remote, so distant, and so high up in the mountains probably near heaven that even Satan would not dare visiting:'
The students were probably undisturbed by the influence of evil but they got distracted by the effects of nature.
In 2003, ADRA Philippines donated funds for the construction of one classroom. To make the most of the grant, the school board stretched the budget to make it a two-classroom structure instead. It ended up deficit for the installation of partition and ceiling.
For years, the students tried to learn under difficult circumstances the wisdom and knowledge the school has to offer rain or shine. During sunny days,the students and teachers had to endure the heat of the smothering sun due to lack of insulation. During rainy seasons, they had to bear the splattering noise from the GI sheet roofing.
"We cannot control the sun and the rain but we can at least minimize their negative impact to the learning environment," Mr. James Zarate, the school principal, stated in his request for assistance.
ASM, which believes that Christian education could be the last stand against worldly influences, provided funds for the installation of ceiling and partition. The school board together with the home and school association,provided the free labor. In June 2008, in time for the opening of classes, the building opened its doors with an aura of better and favorable learning atmosphere to the excited students.
"Students are happier now in the classrooms rain or shine:' the principal reported.
The students were happier indeed as they yielded better grades compared to their peers in the lowlands based on the achievement and aptitude tests conducted by the government and church entities.