U.S., Philippines construct school facilities during Pacific Unity 2013-7

by Master Sgt. Ryan Kruse
Defense Media Activity, Hawaii

9/18/2013 - PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines -- Classes at the Virgilio R. Magbanua Memorial Elementary School, here, have been taught with an orchestra of pounding hammers, loud generators and buzzing circular saws in the background.

The symphony is courtesy of 28 Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Group from Kadena Air Base, Japan, with U.S. Navy and Philippine Air Force counterparts, who came out Aug. 12 through Sept. 12, to support Operation Pacific Unity 2013-7.

Pacific Unity is a bilateral Engineering Civic Action Program conducted in the Asia-Pacific region in collaboration with host nation civil authorities and military personnel.

Two permanent classrooms made out of concrete and steel were built to replace an old overhead plastic tent that teachers used to instruct up to 70 students at the small school.

"The goal of Pacific Unity is conducting joint force operations coupled with humanitarian relief and civil military operations," said 2nd Lt. Ethan Widrick, project officer in charge.

The long hours Widrick's team put in does not go unnoticed.

"We are very thankful for the U.S. Air Force," said Maria Bella Magbanua, 3rd grade teacher. "There are 306 students and currently we only have one bathroom."

The school now has five new restrooms inside the classrooms. One teacher joked that another benefit of having a bathroom inside the classroom is that some students don't return to class after using the outside restroom.

The airmen are also replacing a leaking roof and adding a concrete courtyard near the main entrance.

For one Airman, the job reminded him of his childhood.

Tech. Sgt. Donald Sicat, 18th CE structural craftsman, grew up near Clark Air Base, Philippines, when it was still an active base. He moved to the United States when he was 10 years old, but he vividly remembers the humanitarian missions that helped his community with medical and civic action programs.

"For me to be able to do the same thing they did for me is a humbling experience, said Sicat. These are my people and I know firsthand what they're going through. To be able to build them a school like this is a wonderful thing."

This year marks the fourth iteration of the operation which began in 2010.