The revered Korean Dharma master and Buddhist activist Venerable Pomnyun Sunim accompanied a team of volunteers from the Buddhist humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) to the Philippines from 12–18 December to officially inaugurate new schools established by JTS over the past year on the country’s second-largest island, Mindanao.

JTS Philippines built a total of 10 new schools in 2024, although one school inauguration was conducted separately due to its remote location. Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS volunteers launched the remaining nine schools during last month’s visit. The visiting delegation accompanying Ven. Pomnyun Sunim included JTS Representative Gena Park, JTS Philippines Representative Roh Jae-guk, Jungto Society volunteers from the Philippines, and two media staff from the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation.

The first school inauguration ceremony was for Pangantucan Special Education (SPED) School, where the JTS delegation received a warm welcome from local officials, and teachers, parents, and special-needs students of the new school.

“The completion of this new school today is, first and foremost, thanks to the dedication of the Pangantucan mayor,” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim told the gathering after the formal immigration ceremony. “I also want to thank the SPED principal and teachers. We are grateful to the military engineering corps, who built this school. Thank you for building it so beautifully. I also want to express my gratitude to the Bukidnon Province Superintendent of Education, and to education officials for their interest in students with disabilities. We are thankful to Korean JTS donors, who provided financial support. Lastly, I want to thank the JTS Philippines representative and volunteers who took responsibility for this project and worked hard to make this construction possible. It was because of the combined efforts of many people and organizations that we were able to build this school.” (Jungto Society)

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim established the humanitarian relief organization Join Together Society (JTS) in 1993 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.*

“You just saw the children singing and dancing, didn’t you?” Ven. Pomnyun Sunim noted during the inauguration for Pangantucan Special Education (SPED) School. “Having a disability doesn’t mean being inferior; it just means life is a bit more inconvenient. 

“It’s inconvenient when you can’t see or hear well. Sometimes it’s inconvenient when you can’t use your hands or feet well. These are just inconveniences, not inferiorities or faults. With a bit more training, people with disabilities can live just like anyone else. That’s why they need slightly better facilities and educational environments that can accommodate fewer students per classroom than regular classrooms. 

“Of course, this might be more economically burdensome, however every child born into this world has the right to receive an education at the right time. That’s why we, various organizations, have gathered here to provide children with disabilities the same educational opportunities as other children.

“Building a classroom is just the beginning. We must continue to show interest in this endeavor. These students need more educational materials than regular students, and teachers need to pay more attention to them. Parents also need to show more attention to their children. Let’s work together to help these children grow well and become self-sufficient. JTS supports children’s education based on the belief that every child born into this world should receive timely education.”

The delegation continued onward over the course of the following days to visit the remaining eight schools, where they received similarly warm-hearted welcomes and expressions of gratitude: Kalilangan School for Children with Disabilities; two schools in the indigenous villages of Mabawag and Bungbung; schools for children with disabilities in the municipalities of Maramag, Quezon, and Damulog; and two schools in the remote villages of Mitapul and Gatungon.

While inaugurating the new SPED school in Maramag, Ven. Pomnyun Sunim observed: “In the past, there was discrimination between men and women. Educational opportunities were mainly given to men, while women were denied such opportunities. There was a class system where people of higher status received education, but those of lower status did not. Similarly, educational opportunities were given to people without disabilities, but children with disabilities were denied these opportunities.

“People who lacked educational opportunities were often viewed as inferior in social activities. However, in today’s democratic era, we have reached a time where all individuals are considered equal, regardless of gender differences, class distinctions, or the presence of disabilities. As women gained access to education, they demonstrated abilities comparable to men. Nevertheless, children with disabilities still lack sufficient opportunities for specialized education tailored to their needs. Visual or hearing impairments are not signs of inferiority but merely inconveniences in daily life. With appropriate special education, these individuals can lead lives just like anyone else. Through Braille education for the visually impaired and sign language instruction for the hearing impaired, they are increasingly able to live normal daily lives.

“Mindanao faces a shortage of educational funding, resulting in insufficient classrooms even for general students. Consequently, children with various disabilities have had to study together in a single classroom, making it challenging to provide specialized education suited to their individual needs. To offer tailored special education for each type of disability, multiple classrooms and specially trained teachers are necessary. JTS adheres to the principle that all children born into this world should receive timely education. Therefore, in collaboration with the local government, JTS has undertaken the construction of classrooms capable of providing specialized education appropriate for each child with disabilities.

“Today, the Philippine government is making significant efforts to provide educational opportunities even to minority groups. They are actively implementing policies to ensure that education is accessible to indigenous children in mountainous areas and children with disabilities. While it’s not possible to create special education classrooms in every school, at least the central elementary schools in each district should have teachers and facilities for special education. We request that the Department of Education produce more specialized teachers for various special needs. We also hope that parents will view their child’s disability not as an unfortunate event, but as a gift from God, and nurture their children to grow up without feeling inferior. If we care for and educate these children with love, they will grow and live just like other children.

“We understand that it’s very difficult and challenging for parents. However, if we approach this task not as a burden but with joy, you will receive ample joy in return. . . . Lastly, I deeply appreciate the hard work of the special education teachers. I hope that the completion of this school today marks the beginning of providing adequate education for children with disabilities.” (Jungto Society)

Ven. Pomnyun Sunim, the guiding Dharma teacher of Jungto Society, is a widely respected author and social activist. He has founded numerous organizations, initiatives, and projects across the world. In October 2020, The Niwano Peace Foundation in Japan presented the 37th Niwano Peace Prize to Ven. Pomnyun Sunim in recognition of the revered monk’s international humanitarian work, environmental and social activism, and his tireless efforts to build trust and goodwill between communities of different faiths and cultures, toward the goal of world peace.**

* Engaged Buddhism: Ven. Pomnyun Sunim and JTS Volunteers Bring Education to Underprivileged Communities in the Philippines (BDG) and Korean Buddhist Humanitarian Organization JTS Offers Relief for Typhoon Mangkhut Victims in the Philippines (BDG)

** Buddhist Monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim Awarded the 37th Niwano Peace Prize (BDG)

See more

Pomnyun
Jungto Society
JTS Korea
JTS America
Students, are you happy that a new school has been built for you? (Jungto Society)
“I’m truly delighted that all the villagers participated in building the school” (Jungto Society)
Equality is not simply about dividing things equally, but about being considerate according to the situation. (Jungto Society)
May Hope Sprout for Children Like a New School Built on Empty Land (Jungto Society)

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