ABRA DE ILOG, Occidental Mindoro — A new five-classroom University of Perpetual Help Mindoro Mission School in Sitio Lawaan, Barangay Lumangbayan was formally blessed and opened for the indigenous Mangyan students on Oct. 18, 2024 during the birthday celebration of Dalta Group of Companies Chairman and CEO Brig. Gen. Antonio Tamayo.

Started in a makeshift kubo for eight Mangyan pupils in 2012, it now has 124 pupils enrolled for School Year 2024-2025.

According the School Director Joven Sepino, PhD, in an interview, it was the dream of the owner of the institution to put up a mission school inside the property for the kids of our local Mangyan employees children, especially those residing in the mountain part of the estate.

In 2013, it transfered to a nipa hut style classroom and same year, the said mission school got Alternative Learning System or ALS program from DepEd Occidental Mindoro.

In 2016, Perpetual Mission School got permit from DepEd for regular school for Kinder to Grade 6 which mustered 114 pupils.

In 2021, DepEd Occidental Mindoro awarded a recognition to this mission school.

During the pandemic, the school was able to survive with the cooperation of teachers and volunteers to bring each other's modules to the students' homes.

The said school has more than 70 graduates since it started in 2012.

Sepino added that the mission school is subsidized by the University of Perpetual Help in Las Piñas, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite and Calamba with free tuition, school uniforms and supplies,

"Every December, the three campuses provide school supplies, clothes, uniforms and food packs as Christmas gift. That's how much the Perpetual fommunity and the Tamayo Family love the mission school," Sepino added.