Finding Hope In The Unfortunate (SOP Journal #3)

Finding hope in the unfortunate. Many people may find this paradoxical statement to be false, but last December 8, 2012, I found out otherwise.

As I awoke from my deep slumber, worn out from a night dedicated to school, thoughts of my assigned family’s future surfaced in my mind. I imagined how Joshua and Jonas would be like 10 years from now. Images of happy people and a simple, yet warm and fulfilling household started forming in my head. I was in this trance for about 5 minutes until I finally snapped out of it. I was honest with myself, and thought: how can poor and naive people like them honestly stand a chance in a world where opportunities and benefits favor only the rich? This thought continued to linger within me.

We arrived at Barangay Salapan at approximately 8:15 AM, and waited anxiously to meet our family. This time, however,  while we were walking towards the place they lived, three kids that were playing, ran to us excitedly and greeted us. It was Jonas, Joshua, and a familiar face. As usual, we were met with smiles stretching from ear to ear. Because Jonas and Joshua are part of my assigned family, they accompanied me to their house. When I went in their house, which was just actually one room the size of a bathroom, lots of other kids started calling each other, announcing my presence and arrival. When they all came in, I put out my plastic bag full of biscuits and snacks that were just laying in some corner in my house, and started handing it over to them. They were like 10, so my snacks were not really able to accomodate all of them. Because of this, I expected there to be some fights and arguments over who gets to keep the snacks, but there wasn’t. They distributed it to each other as if they were one big happy family. Those with 2 snacks, generously gave to those who had none, while those who had none, graciously and gratefully accepted. This was one of the most beautiful and enthralling moments I’ve experienced. I imagined what the world would be like if everyone was like this; the rich helping the poor, and the strong helping the weak. I was just about to sermon myself with the argument that such a paradise was mere fantasy, and would remain like that forever. However, it was at that moment that I remembered telling myself earlier in the morning that the poor don’t have the slightest chance at a happy and satisfying future. Different emotions and thoughts started to clash in my head. I was having great difficulty in understanding what I was thinking, and what was happening in front of me, then I realized, this was it. It is possible for the children to have a happy future, because it was happening right then and there; There was a simple, yet warm and fulfilling household. Happy kids, about the age of 8 on average, enjoying the things that I myself take for granted. The household does not make the occupants; the occupants make the household. In the same way, the future does not shape us; we shape our own future. These kids, although they might not be as rich as tycoon Henry Sy, or as classy as celebrity George Clooney, they will be happy their whole life, that even without the luxuries of having a Playstation 3, or having a house the size of a soccer field, they will always be satisfied with whatever they have. With this in mind, I spent the rest of the day relaxed, that no matter what, a bright future awaits these kids.

A Profound Discovery (SOP Journal #2)

Last December 1, 2012, I had yet another fun yet meaningful experience in Barangay Salapan for our second day of the Saturday Outreach Program (SOP).

On our arrival at Barangay Salapan, i arrived to see a multitude of new faces awaiting to greet us. Today’s SOP was the same as the one last week, except i learned a lot more about my assigned family. I learned that just the day before, their cockfighting chicken was stolen, and that there were also other times when people broke into their house to steal the little furniture they had. It’s really sad to think how the poor steal from the poor. It’s like people stricken with a contagious disease trying their best to infect other people. Only now have I understood why people say Crab Mentality is and has been part of the Filipino culture. Like crabs in a bucket, they their best to make ensure that if someone gets out of the bucket, it’s them. In the end, none of them are able to get out because whenever a crab tries to escape, other crabs drag it down and try to take its place.

Anyway, other than this, I was able to bond with my assigned family. Jonas, Joshua, Norhoney, Cedric, MJ, JR are the names of the kids who i was able to get closer with the most. Unlike me, they are very easy to please. We taught them how to play chopsticks, a simple game that only requires 2 hands, 10 fingers, and basic addition and subtraction skills. Ever since we taught them the game, they’ve been playing non-stop as if they were obliged to do so, and we spent most of the morning doing just that, and not for one second did the innocent smiles on their faces fade away. Aside from this, I was able to help Ate Rose hang the clothes. It was an extremely easy and hassle-free job, but it was exactly what she needed. Ate Rose is pregnant, almost in completion of one full term. She even told me that she might not be there anymore the next time I visited. Despite her pregnancy, however, she continued to work restlessly and just keep her head up. Such is life in Barangay Salapan. People continue working hard and just think positively even though they live in a very depressed area. Actually, depressed is not the correct word to describe where they live, because the people living in it are quite the opposite. 

Next week, when me and my mentoring group arrives once more at Barangay Salapan for the third day of our SOP, I’m sure that we will be greeted by the same happy faces that have welcomed us and bid us goodbye just a while ago. It’s a sight I probably will never forget, and one that I will continue to remember whenever I feel depressed or even just bored.

My First Taste Of Life In Another World (SOP Journal# 1)

Ever since civilization started, man has always been wondering what life away from the serenity and blue-green beauty of our home was like. However, just last saturday, November 24, 2012, I’ve had my own taste of life in another world.

The day started with the same routine as any normal school day; wake up at 5:30 am, wash my hair, eat breakfast, put on the right clothes, then leave for school. I woke up and spent my morning thinking that what lay ahead of me was nothing to feel special about, but I was later proved wrong by the things I was about to see.

When I arrived at Barangay Salapan with my mentoring group for our Saturday Outreach Program (SOP), several thoughts ran through my mind, most of which were thoughts of getting the SOP over with, and spending the rest of my day laid back comfortably on my bed while listening to my favorite music, coupled with my favorite snacks. After I was introduced to my family, I warmly shook their hands, and immediately put myself in their service. Despite of their situation, however, they did not really make me do any work. Instead, I spent most of the day playing with the children and getting to know them better. I am proud to announce that I was able to spend enough time with them to be able to know that they like Lemonsquare cheesecakes, chocolate filled muffins, playing chess, basketball, and playing with marbles. What shocked me the most in this short but meaningful experience, was how even though they are evidently in poverty, they never fail to show off a huge and heartwarming smile that stretched from ear to ear along their faces; how their happiness would constantly overshadow their sad situation in life, that they were one of the unfortunate ones who were born poor, into a world where many must suffer for a few to live extravagantly. That I, one of the lucky ones who was born and raised in a upper-middle-class family, would always rather choose to look at the bad side of life than the good things that are all around me. That for the times my maids would finish preparing lunch a 20 minutes late, make my bowl of hot chocolate too viscous, and forget to wake me up early in the morning, I would already get furious and would allow this anger to consume my being for the rest of the day. Today, after spending approximately 3 hours with a materially poor family, I have discovered that wealth lies not only in material goods. Rather, real wealth lies at how we view the life we live.

Whenever I make my way to school, I never fail to conjure up thoughts about fulfilling my dreams and ambitions of becoming rich when I grow older. Now, after my first SOP experience for the school year 2012-2013, I have found that as a youth with much opportunity and blessing, I need to learn how to care for the welfare and benefit of others as I gradually accomplish my dreams. After all, we, the Filipino people, are all in this together. It is with this mindset that I wish to spend the rest of our SOP’s.

The Behavior of Matter

Jarone Tung H3B-37 Brochure

The Behavior of Matter

Jarone Tung H3B-37

Kahalagahan ng Florante at Laura sa ating buhay

Huwag sumuko sa harap ng malaking problema. Sumunod ang mga utos ng iyong mga magulang. Ipaglaban ang iyong iniibig. Huwag maniwala agad sa naririnig sa tsismis. Gawin mo sa ibang tao kung ano ang gusto mong gawin nila sa iyo. Lahat ito, ay mga aral na aking natutunan sa aking pagbabasa at pagtatalakay ng Florante at Laura na naganap sa klase.

Ang Florante at Laura ay isang awit na napakayaman sa mga aral na maaari nating gamitin as ating buhay. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mahalaga ang Florante at Laura sa ating buhay, bilang isang tao, estudyante, mamayan, pinuno, ama, anak, at iba pa. Si Florante, kahit inakala niyang tinaksil siya ni Laura, ay hindi sinuko ang kanyang pagmamahal kay Laura. Sa huli, nalaman niyang hindi siya tinaksil ni Laura, at pareho ang kanilang mahal sa isa’t isa. Naging tapat sila hanggang sa huli. Sa ating buhay, maaari nating gamitin ang aral na ito. Kahit sa mga simpleng sitwasyon, pwede nating gamitin ang aral na ito sa ating buhay. Halimbawa, akala mo na iba ang minamahal ng kasintahan mo, dapat ang gawin mo ay maghintay at obserbahan ng mabuti ang iyong kasintahan, para malaman kung talagang siya ay nagtaksil. Lahat ng kabanata sa Florante ay may matutunan na aral. Ngunit sa huli, depende ito sa atin kung paano nating isasabuhay at gagamitin ang mga aral na ito. Kailangan nating matuto na tumingin sa ating pinagdaanan, at gamitin ang mga natutunan natin sa Florante at Laura.

Laki sa Layaw Filipino

“Mga laki sa layaw karaniwa’y hubad sa bait at munit sa hatol ay salat. Masaklap na bunga ng maling paglingap habag ng magulang na irog ang anak.” Ang ibigsabihin nito, ay ang mga batang laki sa layaw, at masarap ang buhay, ay magdudusa at maghihirap sa kanyang pagtanda. Maiiugnay ko ito sa aking buhay, dahil isa rin akong laki sa layaw. Kadalasan kapag may gusto ako, binibigyan ito sa akin ng aking mga magulang. Ngayon na malaki ako, nararanasan ko na ang kahirapan ng mundo, dahil minsan kailangan kong maglakad pauwi kung mahuli ang drayber namin. Inaamin ko rin na nahihirapan ako mag desisyon, dahil kulang ako sa mga karanasan. Kahit na nahihirapan ako sa kasalukuyan, hindi ko parin sinisisi ang aking mga magulang, dahil naiitindi ko ang kanilang sitwasyon. Naghihirap silang buhayin ang aming pamilya, at minsan ay walang oras para bantayin ako. Sa lahat ng ito, masasabi ko na mahal na mahal ko pa rin ang aking mga magulang.

Ang Solusyon Sa Ating Mga Problema (Sanaysay na nangangatwiran)

Ang Florante at Laura ay isang awit na napakayaman sa mga aral na maaari nating magamit sa ating buhay. Isa rin ito sa mga awit na nilikha ng mga mahuhusay na Pilipinong manunulat noong panahon ng Kastila, at ipinapakita ang kahusgaan na nangyari noong panahon ng Kastila. Ang Florante at Laura ay nagsisimbolo rin ng kalakasan ng taong Pilipino, at ang ating determinasyon na lutasin ang ating mga problema. Ngunit, pinag-iisipan itong tanggalin sa kurikulum ng mga estudyante.

 

Kapag tinignan nating mabuti ang mga problema na naganap sa Florante at Laura, maiiugnay natin ito sa mga isyu na nangyayari at nakikita sa ating lipunan. Isa sa mga isyu na iyon, ay ang paghuhusga sa kapwa na nangyayari pa rin hanggang ngayon. Sa Florante at Laura, makikita natin na ang mga Moro at Kristyano ay magkalaban, tulad ni Aladin at Florante. Ngunit, kahit na magkaaway sila sa relihiyon, nagtulungan pa rin sila, at sa huli ay nalutas nila ang kanilang problema. Dito natutunan natin na ang lahat ng tao ay pareho lamang, kahit anumang relihiyon. Pareho ito sa problema sa Mindanao. Ang mga Kristyano at Muslim ay nag-aaway, at ang masamang epekto nito ay nararamdaman ng buong mundo, tulad ng mga rebeldeng pumapatay ng mga taong Kristyano. Pangalawa, ay ang pagkakurakot at ang mga abuso na ginagawa ng Gobyerno. Sa Florante at Laura, si Adolfo, ang masamang hari, ay nagpatay ng napakaraming tao. Pinapatay ng kanyang gobyerno ang mga mabubuting tao, habang ang mga masasamang tao ay pinapala at namumuno sa gobyerno. Kailangan nating buksan ang ating mata, dahil nangyayari din ito sa ating kapaligiran. Isang halimbawa ay ang gobyerno noong panahon ni Ferdinand Marcos. Ang kanyang gobyerno, tulad ng gobyerno ni Adolfo, ay mahilig sa puwersa, at ginagawa ang lahat para manatili sila sa kanilang posisyon. Isang halimbawa ng kanilang ginawa ay ang pagpapatay kay Ninoy Aquino. Ang mga bagay na ito, ay nangyayari talaga sa mundong ito, at mahirap talaga itong pigilan. Ngunit sa pagbabasa ng Florante at Laura, malalaman natin ang mga solusyon sa mga problemang hinaharap natin. Malalaman natin na ang totoong solusyon sa lahat ng mga problema, ay ang pagmamahal sa kapwa tao. Iniisip ng mga tao na masyadong mababa na sabihin ang pagmamahal ay ang solusyon sa ating mga problema, pero totoo na nagdudulot ito ng pagbabago. Tulad sa Florante at Laura, nalutas nila ang kanilang mga problema sa pamamagitan ng pagmamahal sa isa’t isa. Kung hindi tinulungan ni Aladin si Florante, at si Flerida kay Laura, hindi nila makuha ang kanilang mga gusto. Sa pagbabasa ng Florante at Laura, ay matututo din natin ang iba’t ibang aral na maaari nating gamitin sa totoong buhay. Malalaman ng mga estudyanteng magbabasa ng Florante at Laura kung paano magmahal sa kapwa tao. Mahalaga talaga ito, dahil ito ang kulang sa ating bansa. Kadalasan ay hindi natin tinutulungan ang mga taong mahihirap na nakikita natin sa kalye, kaya tuloy hindi umaahon ang mga mahihirap sa ating bansa.

 

Bilang isang estudyanteng nagbasa ng Florante at Laura, alam ko na mayroon itong maraming aral na maari nating gamitin sa ating pang araw-araw na pamumuhay. Ang Florante at Laura ay dapat manatili sa kurikulum ng mga estudyante, dahil nilalabas nito ang kabutihan sa bawat taong nagbasa ng awit na ito. Naniniwala ako na ang mga bida sa Florante at Laura tulad ni Aladin at Florante, ay maaaring maging mabuting halimbawa sa mga mambabasang estudyante. Sa lahat ng ito, naniniwala ako na uunlad muli ang bayang Pilipinas. Dahil ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng kinabukasan, kailangan nilang mag-aral ng mabuti, para malaman kung paano nilang lutasan ang mga problemang haharapin ng ating bansa. Ang pagtatanggal ng Florante at Laura ay hindi makakabuti sa ating bansa, at dapat ito manatili sa kurikulum ng mga estudyante sa buong Pilipinas.

Saturday Outreach Program Journal Entry #4 (Final)

For the past 3 weeks, my whole class and I have been going to Boystown every saturday to have our SOP. Each time we arrived, from the first day to the last, we were all greeted with smiles stretching from ear to ear. Even as we prepared to leave, their comforting smiles did not leave their faces. These kids were always cheerful, loving, and positive, despite their difficult situation. This is what you call being strong- The ability to move forward even when faced with difficult challenges.

The first time I arrived in Boystown, I felt deep pity in my heart for these kids who were abandoned by their parents. Some were found in the streets, and some were found in trash bins. Now that I was able to get to know these kids well, the pity that I had felt for them initially was slowly turning to admiration. This is because that through their actions, I was able to see their vigilance. Whenever they wanted something, they strive to get it, and this is what I believe, most of us lack. We often just stay put and use our prayers as an excuse for our laziness, but this is wrong. These kids, have showed me what it means to be strong, and for this I admire them.

I will truly never forget this experience, and I will cherish it my entire life. I will use this experience as a newfound inspiration to follow my dreams and never give up. Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone who made all of these things possible, for it has brought about a new chapter in my life. Like these kids, I will strive to be someone useful to society, in any way I can; whether through charity, creating a company, designing houses, cooking food, and painting a masterpiece.

Hindi Ako Sang Ayon Sa K-12!

Ang kahirapan ay ang pinakahalatang problema ng bansang Pilipinas. Ang kahirapan na ito, ay dulot ng mga batang hindi nag aaral, at nahihirapan maghanap ng trabaho paglaki nila. Ngunit may isang programang sinasabi ng Dep-ed, na makakatulong sa problemang kahirapan, at ito ay ang K-12 systema ng edukasyon.

Ang K-12 systema ng edukasyon, ay isang systemang kung saan kailangan ng estudyanteng mag-aral ng labindalawang taon. Sinasabi nila na dahil sa pinahabang oras ng pag-aaral ng mga estudyante, makakadali ito sa kanilang paghahanap ng trabaho pagkatapos nila mag-aral. Ngunit, base sa mga aral na ginawa ng mga experto, bali wala ang K-12 sa Pilipinas, dahil hindi kaya ng mga mahihirap na gumastos para sa mga bagay edukasyon, tulad ng mga gamit sa klase, at mga gamit para sa mga proyekto. Kaya bali wala rin ang K-12, dahil malaki ang posibilidad na hindi nila matatapos ang kanilang pag-aaral.

 

Ang mga taong Pilipino ay tuluyang naghahanap ng mga solusyon para sa kanilang mga problema. Tama ito, ngunit kailangan din natin maalala, na ang totoong solusyon sa kahirapan natin, ay nasa puso ng bawat Pilipino, at ito ang pagmamahal. Hindi natin kailangan ng K-12 systema ng edukasyon, kailangan lang nating magpakita ng malasakit sa kapwa nating Pilipino upang umunlad ang ating bansa.