schooling

French priest helps Iloilo kids finish school

While there are many youngsters who drop out of school, thousands of kids in Iloilo are still fortunate to finish school with the help of a private foundation managed by a priest.
This after the Educational Research and Development Assistance Inc. (ERDA) founded by Fr. Pierre T. Tritz, SJ in the Philippines in 1974 has since then established more tie-up agencies in Iloilo than in any other parts of the country.
These organizations, mostly from academes, non-government organizations as well as local government units (LGUs) have partnered with ERDA to attend to the educational needs of children-beneficiaries.
ERDA has been providing the kids with school uniforms, school supplies, miscellaneous fees and graduation assistance.
Fr. Tritz organized ERDA “because of his noble dream to help and send less fortunate Filipino children to school with the end in view of making them mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually healthy.”
The foundation has been serving the city for more than 20 years through its “Educational Assistance Program and Expanding Children’s Participation in Social Reform.”
In Iloilo City alone, more than 2,000 kids who were mostly streetchildren have been made to go to school as they became beneficiaries of the ERDA program.
Meanwhile, the city government in recognizing such noble endeavor had “adopted” Fr. Tritz as a son of Iloilo City during a tribute program last February 14, 2006.
Mayor Jerry Trenas through an executive order issued last February 10, 2006 declared the adoption of Fr. Tritz “in full recognition and appreciation of the valuable contribution to the underprivileged children in the city.”
Fr. Tritz, 91, noted he first came to Iloilo to accompany his sister Teresa to join the first Carmel of the Philippines here.
He said he set foot to the country in 1950 after a telegram inviting him from the Manila Administrator of Chaban Hall. He was then assigned for teaching stint at Araneta University-Ateneo in 1952 and Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of the East (EU) in 1969.
Fr. Tritz was a missionary in China in 1936-1948 and his native land France in 1948-1950 before he visited the Philippines.
But knowing in 1974 that he could not possibly return back to China with eleven Jesuites, he decided to stay in the country.
“I became a Filipino citizen. I renounced absolutely and forever to any other sovereignty particularly the government of France my citizenship with no mental reservation,” Fr. Tritz recalled.
“I discovered that many poor children dropped out of school due to extreme poverty of their parents,” Fr. Tritz stressed this reality has since motivate him to travel the globe while asking donations from benevolent donors.
ERDA-assisted child John Paul Claudio who was appointed First Child Commissioner by former president Joseph Estrada, said “I am the living proof that ERDA is not only providing financial assistance but is founding great personalities and building future leaders.”
He had also attended many international gatherings to speak on issues and advocacies regarding children’s rights.
Claudio who is a graduate of mechanical engineering at Central Philippine University (CPU) noted that “entering college was a great obstacle both financially and emotionally but I was able to make it through the support of ERDA.”
“Fr. Tritz has the passion to help us kids. Don’t waste that opportunity,” Claudio told schoolchildren who are currently benefited by the ERDA project.