8 - Groundbreaking

Saturday 13th September was the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new GK village in Handumanan. It is very exciting to see my first project taking shape right from ground zero. Butch and I were on site for the few days leading up to the weekend ensuring that the preparations were on track. We really didn’t have to do much as the Project Director for the site had things under control and the Alumni of St Johns who are funding the project are very well organised. They are calling it the 50 homes for 50 years project – 1 house for every year that has graduated from the school to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

The first priority was to install the first of 4 artesian wells with hand pumps to supply water for the site. The pumps had been donated by the local lions club. It took 2 men 3 days to bore the well manually.

The tropical afternoon storms hindered the progress of the grader which was forging out the road network, but thankfully, the weather stayed fine for the big day on Saturday. A tent and chairs were set up for the audience. A stage was erected. Signs were planted to indicate the locations of where the school, basketball court, Multi-purpose hall, office and wellness centre will eventually stand. The sound system was strung up. Holes were dug for the border trees. And meanwhile, a hoard of curious local children had discovered that the site made a great new playground – forget OH&S!

Just before 3 in the afternoon the guests started arriving. There were teachers, students, staff and alumni of the school, the GK team, the media and various dignitaries. They numbered around 200 in all. The ceremony began with the singing of the Philippines National Anthem. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri gave an address, and in the hype of the moment, quadrupled his commitment from P500,000 to P2 Million! With that we should be able to build not only the Multi-Purpose Hall but possibly the school as well. Still seeking donors for the basketball court, office and wellness centre.

The documents including the Site Development Plan and the Memorandum of Agreement were placed in a time capsule and ceremoniously lowered into the ground below where the entrance marker to the village will eventually be erected. It will be opened in 25 years time. So when I’m 53, I think I’ll have to make a trip back to this site for the occasion!

The priest blessed the site and after a few more speeches the ceremony concluded with the planting of trees along the site boundaries by the current students of St Johns. Then, of course, we all ate merienda!