02/06/2026
EDITORIAL | Dust, Paint, and Sunshine: Brigada Eskwela
As the long break comes to an end, there's a five-day event that everyone knows whenever the school year is about to startโBrigada Eskwela. Some loathe it, some just participate because they are told to, and some attend voluntarily because of pure willingness and their sense of duty.
Who would even want to tire themselves out when others could do it? Well, Brigada Eskwela isn't just a word or a term. It is an event that symbolizes bayanihan, teamwork, and collaboration.
Besides, we are the ones who will benefit from it in the first place because it is the time where everyone prepares for the upcoming school year. Which means, it is the time where everyone works together to fix and turn a messy classroom into a room for learning.
But is it required for students to attend it? According to the DepEd Memorandum No. 27 s. 2026, parents, learners, community members, and external stakeholders may also be part of the task force provided that the nature of the involvement is voluntary. In simpler words, it is optional and is not a requirement.
Yes, it can be tiring and would make people stay at home rather than participate in it, it's not the tiredness or the heavy lifting that's special. It's about the people who we are doing it with โ the same classmates who made last year bearable, and brighter.
The feeling of joy and sunshine when we accomplish something, especially with the people we most care about, is what makes these 5 days special.
Editorial | Asher Santiago
Art | Neil Alzate
