The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim (법륜스님) accompanied a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization JTS Korea to the Philippines from 15–19 December to officially open new schools established by JTS over the past year in Mindanao, and to bring much-need school supplies to children there.

Joined by local activists, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and the JTS volunteers, led by JTS Korea secretary-general Park Young Sook and the representative of JTS Korea, Park Ji-na, attended formal completion and opening ceremonies for four new schools in the presence of local officials from Mindanao, the second-largest island in the Philippines.

The first completion ceremony of the visit—for San Miguel National High School in the village of Talagak—marked a new chapter in JTS’s remarkable ongoing work in Mindanao:

“For the past 20 years, JTS has been building elementary schools in Mindanao to eradicate illiteracy and provide basic education in underprivileged areas,” JTS Philippines chief executive Lee Won Joo explained at the opening ceremony. “However, this project is a special case as it is a high school. There are many children who have been unable to continue their education because they lacked access to a high school. There was also the problem of young girls becoming pregnant at a young age as a result of the lack of education opportunities, and marrying early. As such, JTS decided to build a high school. Thanks to our cooperative relationship with the county office and the Philippine Army Corps of Engineers, JTS provided construction materials, the Army Corps of Engineers took responsibility for the actual construction, and the county office supported basic expenses, including food. After 20 years of humanitarian work, this is the 60th school built by JTS in Mindanao, Philippines.”

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) as an expression of the compassion of engaged Buddhism, and based on the principle that helping others is the best way to enrich one’s own life. Charged with bringing hope, empowerment, and self-reliance to underprivileged communities in developing countries, JTS is run and manned by unpaid volunteers, who ensure that all donations benefit marginalized communities. JTS carries out relief work in countries suffering from humanitarian disasters, and has engaged in humanitarian projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The relief organization has also earned Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

JTS Philippines, established in 2002, operates 51 project areas in 19 cities and municipalities in six provinces. It is engaged in a variety of humanitarian initiatives, including building schools, providing school supplies for disadvantaged students (such as uniforms, stationery, bags, and umbrellas), teacher-training programs, and community leadership training.

“I sincerely congratulate you on the completion ceremony of San Miguel National High School today,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim observed during the ceremony. “. . . This school was built not by the efforts of one or two people or one or two groups, but by the efforts of many people, that is, when we join together. We would like to once again give our thanks and applause to all the people and organizations who participated in this endeavor.

“However, education does not mean that there are only classrooms in schools. For education to take place, students must be present, teachers must be present, and parents must support the students. So first, the students should come to school and study hard. Do you want to study that way?”

“YES!” the children responded loudly.

“Parents should send their children to school every day instead of pushing them to stay at home to do farm work. And we must provide continuous support so that our students can study. Do you promise?”

“YES!” the parents returned.

“The most important thing in education is teachers. The education office should send good teachers and teachers should teach children well. Will the office send good teachers?”

“YES!”

“The school was built safely, we have good teachers, there are children to attend the school, and parents are prepared to support the students. All the conditions for a good education are in place. If you students do well in your studies, JTS will continue to support you in the future.”

The villagers cheered loudly.