Equipped with their haircutting tools, this team of Ilokano salon professionals is helping students one haircut at a time.
With a passion for community service, Noel Guillermo, a salon owner from the town of Sarrat in Ilocos Norte, is sustaining his “Libreng Gupit sa Eskwela” project to bring free haircutting services to elementary pupils in the province.
His program, which he started six years ago, has reached more than 50 elementary schools around the province.
They are now planning to expand the program to include high schools.
With a team of 12 haircutters, the “Libreng Gupit sa Eskwela” program has reached the admiration of private citizens who offer to be their donors and sponsors so they can reach more schools and help more students in the province.
Through the financial help of the sponsors, Noel’s team is also able to provide a feeding program for the students along with a free haircut service.
His team is also no stranger to joining the efforts of the government to bring services closer to the people.
They are frequently tapped by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO) for their services.
Just last week, during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, Noel and his team provided free haircut services for two days for the beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, his team also joins in the INPPO’s Kasimbayanan Program, an outreach program that aims to visit schools in the province to conduct training and seminars on anti-bullying, patriotism, and other topics for the development of children.
His team provides free haircut services whenever the INPPO conducts its Kasimbayanan outreach program.
“Lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga tumutulong sa amin – sa sponsors at sa aming mga ka-partner na government agencies na willing na willing na tumulong sa amin para maipagpatuloy ang aming proyektong ito. Hangad namin na magtuloy-tuloy pa kami para mas marami pa kaming matulungan na estudyante para hindi na sila gumastos pa sa pagpapagupit ng buhok,” he shared.
Noel and his team hope to reach more schools in the province in the future to help as many students as they can by providing free haircut services. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)