A Visit to David-Peczon Library in Mexico, Philippines Feb. 10, 2025

In 2024, the patriarch of our family, Dr. Jose Peczon, informed us that the computers in the David-Peczon Library located at the Mexico Elementary School in Mexico, Pampanga, were stolen. Our son, Allan, offered to donate 20 desktop computers. Excitedly, his sons, Kai, George, Simon and Delfin packed the computers in 4 balikbayan boxes which we freight forwarded to the Philippines. Our cousin, Ben Peczon, received them. With the help of a technical person and donations for the keyboards and monitors, the library and the elementary school have working computers for the students to use.

I arranged a visit with the school's principal, Teresa Gutierrez, for Feb. 10, 2025. Early in the morning, Allan's Philippine-based staff drove several hours from Bicol and Batangas to meet me at Microtel Hotel in San Fernando, Pampanga. Lileth "Let" Gonzales and Clarisse de las Alas, together with Let's husband agreed to give me a ride to Mexico. My brother, Rico and sister-in-law, Peppy, arrived at the hotel too, to join our visit. We were received warmly by Teresa and her staff who eagerly walked us around the school and the library. We watched how the teacher used the computers as a tool to educate and give hands-on experience with elementary-aged students. Let and Clarisse had suggestions on how to connect the computers to increase efficiency.

We were also introduced to the addition of a medical clinic to test vision and provide first aid treatments to the students and the public. It is understandable that Dr. Peczon was instrumental in opening a vision testing service since he is a retired ophthalmologist. Peppy and Koya pointed out the alarming spread of termites in the building. The concern was communicated to Dr. Peczon and he acted immediately to address the problem. As of this writing, the termite problem has been solved.

While touring the school grounds, one of the teachers, wearing a Filipino attire, zeroed in on my brother, Rico. She hounded him with a list of things her class needs, perchance to get a commitment of a donation. She had great marketing skills, not too subtle, but outright and direct. I am not certain how successful she was but it certainly amused my brother.

An interesting incident happened during the tour of the school. Several years ago, Dr. Peczon sought donations from the family to improve the classrooms. Rico and Peppy contributed and their names were proudly displayed over the door of the classroom they funded. Peppy was excited to take a picture of the school including the classroom acknowledging their names as donors to incentivize their children to be donors, as well. Unfortunately, the principal and her staff could not find the tablets they were printed on. They were taken off, presumably, during further renovations and were nowhere to be found. During the tour, Let pointed out a "Jocson" name on the fence. Lo and behold, my name CDJocson was on the wall, which I was not aware of. I vaguely recalled that another cousin, Dan Bonus, had asked for a donation to build a concrete fence around the school.

Teresa introduced two Parent volunteers who brought some okoy and bibingkang malagkit for our merienda. What a wonderful visit it turned out to be. I am hoping to entice our children, especially, Allan, to visit the library and the school, possibly extend the help that they can offer.