It was drizzling I got up at 4:30 because I have to meet Sir Robert at the Mini Stop in Sta. Rita. This is about 30 minutes travel from our place. We are scheduled to have an ocular visit to Camias, Planas, Pampanga where our Aeta scholars reside. Despite the bad weather I have decided to dispatch myself and prayerfully go for a special mission that which is to visit the Aetas.
Robert and I rode a jeepney and as we travel I can’t help but get excited. I did not mind transferring from one jeepney to another. The last ride was on a tricycle where we have to pay 300 pesos. Hmmm...I was sort of surprised on this. The driver explained that it is far and that the road is muddy and slippery so they charge 300 for one way. What else can we do but to pay the said amount and be on board the tricycle just to reach our destination.
Waaaaaah true indeed it was far and the road is not cemented and Robert has to get out of the tricycle four times to help the driver push. I, on the other hand was just seated trying to refocus myself and enjoying the ride and the scenery of the mountain.
After almost two hours of travelling we were able to reach Camias. We headed to the house of the Barangay Chairman who happens to be the father of our two Aeta scholars. The parents of our scholars welcomed us enthusiastically and I was able to see in their faces expressions of happiness. I introduced myself and Sir Robert to them.
We had a short introduction of our names and our background, and after the "hi and hello" thing, I began asking questions. I came to know some realities in their lives, like sometimes they have to skip meals due to lack of food, that some of our students have to walk on hours just to be home and just to go back to the terminal where they have to take a ride. They also grow vegetables and fruit bearing plants that they can eat and sell. It pains me to hear about the scarcity of food, to see the children up in the mountain dirty, sickly and not being in school.
Yes, life for them is difficult, but despite their poverty they have hope and with their simple life I can see that they can laugh and have joy in their hearts. I saw them smile when I tried to wear the “bangkat”, a round shallow basket made of closely interwoven bamboo splits usually carried by women. When I tried to learn their dialect, they laughed because I mispronounce some of the words like; “manged” (beautiful), “marake” (many) etc. I have seen them get excited but shy as I took some pictures of them. They look and smile at me as I took some pictures of the food they served and the squash they gave us.
Then, we had a break because I have to help prepare our lunch. So I went to the kitchen and be with the women. I chopped the onions and opened the canned goods we are bringing with us. I helped in setting the table and we had our simple lunch with the chicken cooked with lemon grass and the canned goods.
After our lunch, we had our siesta. It rained heavily and it crossed my mind how will we go home if the rain will NOT stop. Hmmm...I tried to just calm myself and not worry...I was able to have a power nap, probably because I was tired and because I was not able to sleep the night before because of too much eagerness. I had a short nap though because I was not comfortable lying on the bench. So I got up and went to the nearby house and there I found a group of aetas watching a Filipino film on the old Television Set. I took some pictures of them and talked to some adults.
Then, I went back to the nipa hut and asked the Barangay Chairman to call on the parents so we can finish our dialogue of life. We gathered again inside the hall and as I listened to their dreams and aspirations, to their concerns, I can’t help but be sad and be down spirited. I made some proposals about growing some vegetables which could make them earn money. I also proposed raising goats and chicken. They sort of like the suggestion and told me that they are willing to do just anything for their children.
I was surprised of their willingness to learn through cooking lessons, to improve their lifestyle and to be partners with us in the education of their children. The determination they have in sending their children to school has made a huge impact in my heart. This has inspired me to help them more and to support them in their dream of making their children finish a degree.
I was moved by their words of gratitude for the effort and time we have given them. They were expressive of their gratefulness because despite the distance and the bad weather we visited them. They also expressed their appreciation for the scholarship given to their children. Everybody became silent when I started to talk about our institution. I explained to them our vision and mission, discussed our objectives and gave them the assurance that we will help them in the education of their children. I also made them realize that we are the only school which accepts their children. I have to end the meeting by thanking them.
As we walk down the place where we have to get a ride, I coundn’t help but think of the encounter I had with them which is worth the long travel, the time and the effort I have exerted. I know in my heart that I will have a great task ahead, that there is a demand in my life to do something good for them, and that I have to act intuitively. I accept that I have a work to be done and that there is a call that need to be answered, an urgent call...A CALL TO ACTION.
As I look back...in my heart is HOPE, hope that someday some of them through their children who are determined to finish their education will have a better life. I was sad though because I know that at the moment they can only wish for their dream to come true, but for as long as there are people who are willing to share their blessings, for as long as there are people who are moved to help and make a difference in their lives, this dream is not far-fetched. With the GRACE of God, NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE.
A Touching Encounter...
Tulong Mo,,,
TULONG MO...
GINHAWA’T PAG-ASA KO...
Sa Aming Mga Kaibigan:
Sa ating kasalukuyang mapaghamong panahon, batid natin ang kahirapang dinaranas ng iba nating mga kapatid na kapus-palad, mga kapatid na may karamdaman at kapansanan sa ating lipunan.
Sa kanilang katayuan sa buhay, minsan sila ay halos mawalan na ng pag-asa. Kung hindi lamang sa kanilang malalim na pananampalataya, marahil sila ay matagal ng sumuko sa mga hamon sa buhay.
Ang pagbabahagi ng ating mga biyaya, ang pagtugon sa iba nilang pangangailangan, pagbigay ng mga donasyong bagay at serbisyong galing sa ating puso, ay nagsisilbing taga pag-alab ng pag-asang kanilang kailangan upang sila’y makabangon at harapin ang buhay na may ngiti sa kanilang mga labi at may pag- asa sa kanilang mga puso.
Tayo ay may malalim na pananagutan sa ating kapwa, sa ating bayan at higit sa lahat sa ating Maykapal.
Kaakibat ng aming pasasalamat at isang panalangin na sana kayo ay patuloy na pagpalain sa dakila ninyong gawain. Hangad namin ang marami pang biyaya sa inyong buhay dahil... “tulong ninyo ay ginhawa at pag-asa ko!”
Isang taos pusong pasasalamat po sa inyong lahat.
Umbrella Escorts for MQC...
Rainy season is here again...for the past week we have experienced showers and rains because of the typhoon Basyang. I was a witness of a number of students who gather themselves at the facade of MQC waiting for the rain to stop. Why? Many students do not have their umbrellas and so they were stranded.
Hmmmm...it is now a high time for everyone to bring an umbrella...but who would like to bring an umbrella? Most of us hate to bring umbrellas because it is a hassle for us...and so, when a blazing rain comes, in the least of our expectations, we really do not know how we can go home.
Well, for MQC students, the Community Outreach will be escorting you now if in case you do not have an umbrella. Our scholars will serve as escorts and will help you cross the street and accompany you to your ride for you to go home... so that your parents will not worry about you.
With the umbrella escorts, you will find shelter under their umbrellas...you will find yourself sharing an umbrella with them... an expression of love and care and a community life we have at MQC.
To all the different classes of the different Departments who will be donating umbrellas and who are one with us in this expression of sharing and caring, thank you so much. Let us embrace together the stormy weather as a family and as a community.
IFG's Sabbath ...
Sabbath? Hmmm...Really? Where?
Yes, finally, after having talked about it in our monthly meetings, the IFG family had its two-day Sabbath in Olongapo. The group, headed by no other than our President, Sir Mike Lapid, together with the IFG family left for Olongapo last Sunday morning at 6:30 AM.
Hmmmm...it was a great journey and an opportunity for us to commune with nature as well as with each other. What a privilege for all of us to stop, to back off and retreat from our everyday concerns; our responsibilities, our functions, our families, just to be with each other to share our reflections, pray, eat, swim, and have fun.
I was delighted and overwhelmed with the place, the accommodation, the food, and the moments I had with the group. It was a chance for me to deepen my relationship with them in a personal level. I love the free expression of who I am and what I am in a different way, where there are no hang ups,and no inhibitions...the feeling of just being myself at the very moment, so free, so true to what I want to do and just to be ME.
I will never forget the Sabbath we had because of the fun I had with my colleagues. I have really enjoyed their company. The bonding moments I had with them will forever be treasured. These memories I had with them are placed in a jar which I call... "A Jar of Moments"
It was indeed a great day for the IFG family!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!
NOT BY THEIR PLACE OF BIRTH,
NOT BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN,
BUT BY THE SIZE OF THEIR HOPE....
-JOHN JOHNSON-
Outreach Holds On The Spot Poster Making Contest...
The Community Outreach sponsored an On the Spot Poster Making Contest yesterday, Agust 17, 2009 in celebration for the Queenship of Mary. The said contest was participated by all the Departments namely, Education, Information System, Accountancy, Business Aministration and Hotel and Restaurant Management. The theme is about the Vision of the College which is Academic Excellence and Integral Formation. The said event started at 1:00PM at the HRM function hall and ended at almost 5:00PM. The panel of judges were Mrs. Dolore T. Quiambao, Dean of College, Mrs. Elizabeth V. Pusung, Head of Integral Formation, Mr. Richard N. Briones of the Office of Student Affairs and Mr. Erwin Arnedo. The Chairman of the Board was no other than Mr. Michael B. Lapid, President of MQC.
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