U.S., Filipino service members complete school building during PACANGEL

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. J.C. Woodring
  • Operation Pacific Angel-Philippines Public Affairs
PAMPLONA, Philippines --  U.S. and Filipino service members officially presented a completed elementary school workshop building to the school's principal March 9, here.

Operation Pacific Angel-Philippines engineers started the building's renovations March 3.

"When they came over, (the building) really needed repair," said Marina Guevarra, Pamplona Elementary School principal. "Now, it looks like a newly constructed building. We are so grateful."

The team rewired the building, added electrical outlets, and installed lights and fans on the ceiling. They also installed drywall, built a storage area to lock up tools, replaced the windows, and painted the entire building - inside and out. They even installed a chalk board.

"It's been great seeing all the kids watching us work on the site and knowing that they will have a chance to do some of the same work when we are done," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Carlton Hill, a civil engineer from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

The teachers and students grew attached to their new military friends and sang them a thank-you song as they were getting ready to leave the site for the last time. By the end of the song, most of the students and maybe even some of the teachers were weeping.

"The children will miss them very much; we are so grateful for this project," Guevarra said. "We hope you can come back and see us again."