Filipina Achievers in Rural Education Award (FLORA)

Dr. Mary Hazel B. Ballena

Bucay, Abra

2nd FLORA Award Winners

Dr. Mary Hazel B. Ballena serves as Principal II for Pagala West Elementary, Pagala East Elementary, and Bangcagan Primary Schools in the Bucay District of the Schools Division of Abra. She is recognized for her community-focused educational approach that promotes inclusive and transformative learning.

Project INDAYON: Advancing Literacy, Empowering Communities

Through her initiative, Project SOBREH (Sending Our Best Regards, Embraces, and Heartfelt Connections), Dr. Ballena has encouraged teachers and students to write letters of hope to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in the Bucay District Jail. This effort has humanized rehabilitation, demonstrating the power of empathy and education to effect change.

The Acting District Jail Warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – CAR has praised Dr. Ballena’s compassion and leadership, noting their significant impact on learners and the community. Her commitment to inclusive education and social justice exemplifies servant leadership and positions her as an ideal leader for transformative projects such as INDAYON.

Project INDAYON is a literacy intervention aimed at closing the reading gap among early-grade learners at Bangcagan Primary School (BPS) in the Bucay District, Abra, during school years 2022–2024. It addresses the urgent need for accessible and developmentally appropriate literacy activities, particularly for students affected by limited resources, inadequate reading support, and a lack of proper
learning spaces.

According to Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (PHILIRI) and the Functional Literacy Assessment Tool (FLAT) data, 43% of BPS students read below grade level, impacting academic success and civic awareness.

Project Goals

  • Raise reading proficiency levels of early-grade learners.
  • Provide inclusive and engaging literacy activities.
  • Build a sustainable community network that supports learning.
  • Promote values of citizenship, empathy, and informed participation.

Project INDAYON enhances reading skills, fosters a love of learning, and builds community partnerships to promote Critical Citizenship—empowering learners to access information, engage with social issues, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.