Facts about NSTP

The Republic Act 9163 known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001 was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on January 23, 2002.

NSTP refers to the program aimed at enhancing civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three program components, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Literacy Training Service and Civic Welfare Training Service.

Literacy Training Service is the National Service Training Program that we have chosen. It’s just not about teaching our pupils about Science, Math, English and History. It is also about us, ‘teachers’ learning about the lives of our pupils. Learning, in the sense that we have experienced interacting with our pupils and have known what it is like to be a kid again and go all out in our activities expecting nothing in return. I saw in these children what limitless means. It means being able to do what you are tasked to do even though you have less. Limitless also means having an unsatiating thirst for a better and more meaningful life.

Literacy Training Service (LTS) is designed to train the students to teach literacy and numeracy skills to children, out-of-school youth and other segments of society in need of their services.

It orients and trains students in programs or activities contributory to the general welfare and the betterment of life for the members of the community or the enhancement of its facilities, especially those devoted to improving health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and moral of the citizenry (RA No. 9163, Section 3,d).

It gives the students an overview of their role in nation building. It also promotes civic consciousness among the students, develops their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being needed to be able to render fruitful and meaningful service to their community.

(source: http://bsc.edu.ph/vle/course/info.php?id=30)

In our NSTP experience, we’ve been to two elementary schools found in Samal, Bataan. Our first fieldwork as a group was on February 8, 2013 at Adamson Elemetary School while our 2nd fieldwork was on February 22,2013 at Palili Elemetary School.

Facts about Samal:

Samal is located at the eastern side of Bataan, It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Orani, the south by Abucay, on the west by Mt. Natib and Manila Bay on the east. It is 114 kilometers away from Manila.

Samal was the second town founded by the Dominican friars in Bataan compose of 4 barrios namely: Calaguiman, Santa Lucia, Poblacion and Lalawigan in the earliest times (now totaling 14 barangays).

Saint Catherine of Sienna became the patron of Samal which was founded as a municipality on April 20, 1941.

Samal has been originated from "samel" (a covering that attached to a banca to protect the passengers from the sun and rain, made of nipa leaves and woven together).

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samal,_Bataan)

Legend

A group of Spaniards were on their way to this town by boat when their attention was attracted by something floating on the water. With unusual curiosity, they looked at the floating object. Each one of the Spaniards asked the natives who were with them what the name of the floating object was. The native answered "samel", which meant that it was a covering that is attached to the banca to protect the passengers from the hot sun or from rain. This covering was made of nipa leaves and woven together. The Spaniards repeated, "samel, samel" after the natives. Ever since that time, the town has always been called Samal.

(Source:http://www.bataan.gov.ph/index.php/municipality-of-samal.html)

Samal abounds with agricultural produce such as palay, corn, vegetable, fruits rootcrops, coffee and cutflowers. Livestock, poultry and aquatic resources such as shellfish, crabs, prawns, shrimps and different species of fish are also available in the area..

The town has pioneered in different kinds of businesses. The first ice plant was constructed in this town under the management of Joaquin Ma. Joson, a prominent businessman in Bataan. Wooden shoe ("bakya") making in this province was first started in Samal. Industrialization came with the establishment of the first pulp mills in the country - the Bataan Pulp and Paper Mills, Inc. situated in the scenic slope of Mt. Natib.

Paper manufacturing hoisted by the Bataan Pulp and Paper Mills is a dominant business activity in Samal. Garments manufacturing is also a growing industry in Samal with five (5) firms already engaged in exports

Samal is the only town in Bataan which has manufactured arrow root flour through native processes. This flour is made into biscuits/cookies called "araro" which are native delicacies perfect to "pasalubong"