1st Anniversary Special Report

THE PANDEMIC has dramatically reshaped learning. The sudden shift to online classes highlighted the fragility of the education system. Nonetheless, teachers, students and parents had to find ways so that children can continue their education.

The traditional face-to-face classes had to stop to protect students and teachers from the rampaging virus.

Stories of heartbreak and victories abound, as well as stories that offer hope and inspiration amid the pandemic.

Lala

Even before the pandemic, the indigenous groups have felt the lack of educational services, particularly those in remote areas.

The students from Lumad communities in Mindanao faced many threats but this year proved to be more challenging because of the health crisis.

While schools adapted blended learning modality, Lumad schools were closed, teachers and volunteers were arrested and two Lumad children were killed.

In spite of their travails, Lumad students have time and again shown what “bakwit” is really all about. The struggle continues — for their right to life, ancestral lands and education.

“Andami po naming natutunan at naranasan sa loob ng limang taon. Maraming mga masasayang karanasan, maraming mga nakakalungkot, nakakagalit na pinagdaanan, mga pagkabagot, mga kontradiksyon,” Lala, one of several students who finished Grade 12 at the University of the Philippines Diliman Bakwit school on July 17, said.

“Pero ang madadala namin sa aming susunod na paglalakbay ay ang aming mga karanasan at mga natutunan dito sa Bakwit school. Lalo na sa mga panahon na kami ay nakikipamuhay sa iba’t ibang sector dito sa Maynila,” she added.

Lala admitted that most of them experienced anxiety and depression upon hearing of the documented attacks in schools in Mindanao.

“Natatakot nga kami dahil nakakatanggap po kami ng mensahe sa mga kasamahang mga bata doon na pinupuntahan sila ng mga militar at ini-interrogate. Ang iba ay pinapatawag daw ng mga militar sa kampo at hanggang ngayon hindi pa namin makontak. Ang mga magulang din namin ay pinipilit ng mga sundalo na kunin kami dito gaya ng ginawa nila sa Cebu,” she said.

In the face of threats and the Covid19 pandemic, Lala said she survived with the help of their elderly and volunteer teachers.

She shared that their volunteer teachers sacrificed so much just so they could continue with their schooling.

“Higit na mas mahirap ang karanasan namin sa panahon ng pandemya. Marami po sa amin ang nagkaroon ng depresyon, mga anxiety at pagpapanumbalik ng mga traumang naranasan sa komunidad ngunit dahil po sa aming mga guro na nagsilbi naming mga magulang nakaigpaw po kami ngayon,” she said.

Their journey continues as they march back to their militarized communities for the next school year.

“Papalubog na ang araw. Ito na po ang huling martsa ng Bakwit school. Uuwi na po kami sa Mindanao. Pero hindi kagaya ng ibang mga talumpati sa pagtatapos, hindi po ako magsasabi ng mga sipi gaya ng ‘ang mga bagong panimula ay nakakubli sa mga mapapait na pagtatapos’ o ‘di kaya mga sipi gaya ng ‘endings are beginnings, at iba pa’,” she said.

“Dahil ang totoo, walang kasiguraduhan ang aming pag-uwi. Hanggang ngayon, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang karahasan doon sa aming mga komunidad. Lumalala ang mga pag-atake,” she added.

Amid the uncertainties, Lala said graduating from the Bakwit School means another big responsibility that they owe to their communities in Mindanao.

“Matatapos man ang Bakwit school, hindi kami hihinto sa aming paglaban. Kaya ‘wag po tayong titigil sa pagkamit ng tunay na kalayaan laban sa gustong magnakaw ng ating mga teritoryo at likas na yaman,” she said.

“Uuwi tayo sa Mindanao dala-dala ang naipon nating karunungan, mga karanasan, tagumpay man o kabiguan, at lahat ng pakikiisa ng mga mamamayan sa buong mundo. Uuwi tayo sa Mindanao dala-dala ang nag-uumapaw na pag-asa para sa tribo, sa lupa, at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino,” she added.

Yasmien Faye Rigor

For 16-year-old Yasmien Faye Rigor, who graduated valedictorian in an elementary school in Tarlac this year, being poor is not an excuse not to achieve one’s dreams.

Rigor, the eldest of five siblings, received a full scholarship grant from the De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas to continue her studies in senior high school.

“Being an honor student coming from the poorest of the poor family is really a roller coaster journey. I got a lot of achievements and there’s a lot of people who are proud of me but no one knows what’s my life,” Rigor said.

She and her siblings had a hard time coping with online classes because they had to share a secondhand phone. She added that her parents lost their jobs after the months-long lockdown.

This led her to ask donations in order to buy a laptop and start tutoring services.

“There was very little financial resource to go around, so aside from stretching my daily allowance, I’m also having a commission for academic services like tutoring in Mathematics, Science, Filipino and English subjects and answering modules of some students who need help and find it hard to understand their lessons,” she said.

She shared that she wanted to be a doctor after one of her siblings passed away.

“I’m dreaming of becoming an excellent doctor for my country. I’m aiming to study in one of these universities because I know that these universities will surely help me mold myself of becoming a magnificent doctor someday,” she said.

Rigor stressed that poverty should not be an obstacle in achieving one’s dream.

“I’m willing to do everything just to make ends meet because I believe that poverty should never be a hindrance in fulfilling one’s dreams and that no obstacle is too big to hurdle when you are with God,” she said.

“I owe my accomplished goals and achievements to my parents who exhausted all means for my studies. Despite everything, they remained hopeful and supported me in every way possible,” she added.

Angelo Proceso Zarate

A graduate of the Lyceum-Northwestern University, 23-year-old Angelo Proceso Zarate was caught off guard after learning that he got the highest score in this year’s Pharmacist Licensure Examination.

Zarate got a score of 90.70 percent.

Citing the difficulties he encountered amid the pandemic, Zarate said he did not expect to top the exam.

“I aimed high, as per the advice of all my instructors from school and from review because I knew if I did, I would surely pass it,” he said.

“But I did not expect to be at the top, neither did I expect to be a topnotcher at all. My biggest wish was that all of us would pass,” he added.

Frustrated at first by the postponement of the exams, Zarate used the time to prepare for the test.

“I used the time advantage of the pandemic and self reviewed all throughout quarantine until the exam pushed through,” he said.

Zarate said his family inspired him to aim higher, especially his mother who is a nurse at Dagupan City Health Office.

“My mother always showed me and taught me that you can do and be your best in any adversity as long as you have God by your side,” he shared.

He urged learners to pursue their dreams.

“Always believe in yourself. You got here and you got this. Whenever I felt overwhelmed with the amount of stuff I needed to review, I always reminded myself that I may not learn everything but I learn what I can. Do your best, and let God do the rest,” he said.

Chrisken Simuli

Distance learning caused a lot of stress among students, especially those who could not afford the tools needed for it.

One of them is 21-year-old Chrisken Simuli, a 2nd year BS Metallurgical Engineering student of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

In a now-viral Facebook post, Sumili was seen shedding tears of joy after receiving a laptop from her former junior high school teacher Melanie Figueroa.

According to Figueroa, she learned that Sumili uses his old phone to attend online classes.

Whenever there are assignments and exams, Sumili would go out of the house to borrow his classmate’s laptop or use their neighbor’s Wi-Fi.

Despite his hardships, Chrisken was consistently included in MSU-IIT chancellor’s list.

This prompted Figueroa to act. She was able to raise P40,000 to buy a laptop for Sumili.

“Ang kaibigan po ng kapatid niya actually ang nag-pm sa akin. Need nga daw ng tulong kasi nga natanggal sa trabaho ang parents niya. Nag-post po ako sa FB para po sa needs nila. Hanggang sa nagulat po siya ng meron na pong laptop,” Figueroa said.

Sumili expressed gratitude for helping him continue education amid the pandemic.

“No words can’t express how great and good our God is! Thank you so much for all those who extend their hands in helping other people. Thank you also kay ma’am Melanie Reyes Figueroa,” Sumili said.

“Ma’am, ‘di na po ako lalabas sa gabi para lang makigamit ng laptop. Marami pong salamat sa inyo at sa mga sponsors po,” he added.

Dondon Colcol

The pandemic caused a lot of stress and pain but some individuals turned the crisis into an opportunity.

One of them was Dondon Colcol, a grade 10 student, who proved that even youngsters can succeed.

Colcol, 15, now runs his mini business called “Dondon’s Goto, Ang Essential Na Goto” in Asingan, Pangasinan.

“Naisip ko pong mag-business kasi wala rin po akong ginagawa para meron naman po akong maitulong sa pamilya ko hindi lang po ako ‘yung humihingi ng pera,” Colcol said.

He opened his business last May. Since then, his customers have been buying the Lugaw Bone Marrow and Barbeque Mushroom for P60 to P80.

“Ako lang po talaga wala pong nagturo sa akin ang sabi po ni kuya kung gusto ko magbusiness magtayo ako ng lugawan/gotohan sabi niya. Gumawa raw po muna ako ng sarili ko na timpla, iluto ko at ipatikim ko sa kanya tapos pag pumasa sa kanila, saka po itatayo ang business ko,” he said.

The youngest of three siblings, Colcol said that he dreams of having a stable income.

“Gusto ko po kasi in the future meron po akong oras para sa family ko, may oras po ako sa mga gusto kong gawin kaya sina-sacrifice ko po yung oras ko ngayon para po sa future ko,” he added.

Currently, Colcol is studying at Panpacific University North Philippines. He dreams of becoming a basketball player someday, while expanding his business.

“Gusto ko pong mag-business talaga connect po sa sports ko basketball po, gusto ko pong mag-business ng sapatos, basketball accessories, pero sinabi po ng kuya ko kailangan kong magsimula muna sa maliit na business and kaya sinimulan ko po muna sa lugaw para malaman ko kung paano magpatakbo ng man power, stocks, para matutunan,” he said.