Deep in the hills of Barangay Camansi in Kabankalan City, young learners took a bold step toward believing in a brighter future as Mountain Dreamers Philippines (MDP) rolled out its flagship Building Dreams Campaign at Matama Elementary School on Tuesday, July 8.
The campaign aims to break the cycle of doubt and discouragement often faced by children in isolated communities by helping them not just dream, but believe those dreams are within reach.
“The goal of the project is simple: to help pupils dream and believe in the power of those dreams. While children in mountainous areas do have aspirations, many of them struggle to believe that their dreams can truly come to life,” said Mark John Fabale, founder of Mountain Dreamers Philippines (MDP).
The day-long launch immersed pupils in a series of transformative activities. In the Inspiring Dreams segment, professionals—many of whom came from humble beginnings—shared how they overcame adversity to become educators, health workers, engineers, and community leaders.
In Sharing Dreams phase, pupils opened up about the challenges they face at home. Through quiet conversations and artwork, they expressed their dreams—some to become teachers or doctors, others to simply finish school—finding strength in shared experiences.
Later, pupils took the stage in Declaring Dreams, boldly speaking their ambitions in front of peers and guests. MDP believes this public declaration marks a turning point, turning hope into determined pursuit.
The event culminated in the unveiling of the Dream Wall, a display of children portraits and handwritten dreams. Each child signed beside their photo, a symbolic pledge to never give up. Mounted in the school for all to see, the wall now stands as a daily reminder that their dreams matter.
Dreams matter
Matama Elementary School principal Raul Mambalos praised the initiative, calling it “one of the most powerful tools in shaping children’s perception amid the hardship they face before they even step into the school.”
He said the campaign helped shift mindsets, offering pupils not just inspiration but direction.
Ferdinand S. Sy, schools division superintendent of Kabankalan, also addressed the children, urging them to believe that determination can turn the impossible into reality.
Sy recalled his own journey—attending school in shorts because he couldn’t afford a uniform, and being sent home because of it. Rather than giving up, he used those moments as fuel to push harder.
With the campaign’s successful kickoff in Barangay Camansi, MDP plans to bring the program to more upland communities across Negros Occidental.
The group believes that in the face of hardship, the ability to dream—and believe in that dream—is the first step toward transformation.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.