A return to our roots, a gesture for the future
In the home village of Diana, on the island of Biliran, there is a simple, lively school: Talahid Elementary School.
That is where she learned to read and write. It is also where Hillary, our daughter, went to school before we came to France.
Today, we want to return to this school with an equally simple gesture: giving notebooks, pencils and books, and giving back to the children of Talahid what life has given us here: the chance to learn.
The story behind the project
“My name is Diane Jabuen Guerrier, and I come from the village of Talahid, on the island of Biliran, in the Philippines.
It was at this school that I learned to read and write.
Today, I live in France with my husband Charles-Eric and our daughter Hillary, and together we founded Chez Mamang, a project that introduces Filipino culture through immersive, community-minded stays.”
In February 2026, on our next trip to Biliran, we will go back to Talahid Elementary School to hand over the supplies in person.
The supplies will be bought directly from the small shops of Naval, in order to support the local economy.
Direct help, with no intermediary
Every euro given to the “Notebooks for Talahid” GoFundMe fundraiser will go entirely towards buying school supplies: notebooks, pencils, books, rulers, bags and essential small items.
No intermediaries, no administration: the help goes straight from donors to the children.
We will then post photos and videos of the handover on the website and social media of Chez Mamang, so that everyone can see the concrete impact of their gift.
Why this initiative?
Because here, a notebook is no trivial object: it is a promise for the future.
Because a simple pencil can spark curiosity, a desire to learn, self-confidence.
This initiative is not a humanitarian campaign.
It is a personal story : that of a child from Talahid, now grown up, who has come back to pass something on in turn.
It is also a way of linking travel and solidarity, in keeping with what we stand for through Chez Mamang : human, local, sincere tourism.
How to take part?
It is very simple: a few clicks are all it takes to make a donation.
👉 Contribute to the “Notebooks for Talahid” fundraiser on GoFundMe
Even a small amount makes a big difference.
A few euros can buy notebooks, fill school bags and give back a sense of pride to children who learn with a smile.
A living link between France and Biliran
Chez Mamang was born of a dream: to build bridges between those who travel and those who welcome them.
This project extends that idea.
By supporting the school in Talahid, you are part of a lasting gesture, rooted in the reality of a village and in the lives of children we know personally.
Thank you to everyone who takes part in, shares and spreads the word about this initiative.
Thanks to you, the children of Talahid are writing their future, page by page.
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