Coins and Kids

11.13.2013

Today, the school  administrators were to collect and deliver their donations for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. We had talked about this, they agreed that they will save a few pesos from their baon and buy it with  either a can of sardines which costs 17php or a pack of noodles which costs 9php. Applying multiplication lesson on this, we were able to integrate multiplication and money matters. However, only a few were able to bring goodies for donations.

Let me give you a little background about my kids. We are in a public school. One of the most populated public school in the country, third grade, with most kids are frustrated readers, a few are still non-readers. As to how they got promoted to grade three without the necessary skills, I used to ask myself but then I just stopped. Lingering on this won’t make them instant readers with comprehension.

Going back, I noticed that one of their classmates has been holding a bunch of 1-peso coins and a 20-peso paper bill. I asked what was that for, at first they were shy to tell about it. I asked about it one more time, what was it for. The girl handling the money then said, "Ibibigay po namin sa mga nasalanta," Then I asked, "Pano nyo ibibigay?" Silence. The girl with the long hair and ponytails shook her head. Obviously, they don't know what to do with it. "How much do you have now?"   "28php po." "Kanino galing yang mga yan? Taas ang kamay?" Three shy hands raised. Then I said, "Sige, kolektahin mo yan, tapos kung magkano man yang maipon nyo, dadagdagan ko na lang tapos itetext natin sa Red Cross para derechong makatulong dun sa mga nangangailangan.” Then, their other classmates who didn't care at first started gathering around her and giving their share, "Ako magbibigay ng lima" I heard one, "Ako din…." and so on and so forth.

Today, November 13, 2013, most of them probably sacrificed a portion of their meager baon to be given to the victims of Yolanda. Five pesos which was supposed to be for one cup of soup, for most of them, serves as their breakfast meal already. At the end of the day, we gathered Php109.00 in total. For some it may look small, but for this kids it had meant a day’s baon or meal or money they had been saving up for something.

I sat beside their Filipino teacher, teary-eyed and proud of these kids. I dont have a camera! "Cher, papicture naman sila, wala kong dalang kamera," I knew I had to keep a souvenir of this fleeting memory of love, sharing and compassion.

I had been working on their grades. The mastery level had been up but not so significantly. I should be sad, right? I mean, I should question my teaching capacity since the results of the tests given to them were very low. But no, I am proud of my kids. No numbers can ever tell what kind of persons they are going to be. As early as now, I know that they will grow as responsible citizens. More than being diligent, they had learned the art of being compassionate and generous. I am proud because they are my students. Every day, they teach me more than I teach them.

I had stopped battling with my excel files computing their grades and started documenting this story. This is something I dont want to forget. I want to keep on remembering. This is learning beyond the four walls of the classroom and I am not the teacher. The pupils are my teacher.

Everyday, we pray. We pray for ourselves. We pray for the victims of Yolanda and the volunteers. Today, we include that the amount we had gathered, we pray that it may go a long way.

Comments

  1. That was a heartwarming gesture from the kids. Daig pa nila ako, actually.

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    Replies
    1. daig pa nga nila minsan ang nakakatanda :( let them be our inspiration...

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  2. I heard your story about your students when we meet last time for the PBO bazaar, in spite of your story Its really good to know how they cared about the people who are in need.... I hope all of the students have concern like them... I proud of your babies...

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  3. nakaka-touch! damang-dama ko ito :)

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  4. bonggang-bongga diba :) kung alam mo lang kung gano ako ka-proud na guro nila :) :) this is a milestone on my first year of teaching.

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  5. I just also collected donations this morning mam yes nakakaproud kasi after they heard na sa typhoon victims pupunta ung pera nila they were enthusiast to give.

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    Replies
    1. nakakatuwa kapag bata ang nagbibigay. walang bahid ng kung anumang pulitika...hihihihi

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  6. Awww... very inspiring naman ang ginawa ng mga kids *teary eyed* sa panahon ngayon, walang malaki or maliit na tulong. Lahat yan mahalaga, pag pinagsama-sama makakalikom ng malaking mahalaga para sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta :)

    *hugs for the kids*

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    Replies
    1. truly inspiring ;D and im one proud teacher of these kiddielets bagets ;D

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  7. Good job kids! Nakakatuwang makabasa ng ganitong sitwasyon... at good job din sa yo ma'am kat!

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    Replies
    1. salamat super m! gusto ko tong ipasa sana sa isang paper, kaso sabi ko, wag na lang..dito na lang sa blog ko..wahahha

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  8. Nice to note that you were able to document a beaming expression of love and support. At their young age, it is admirable to witness the compassion in their hearts - that even for a small amount they are willing to shell out and extend their help to the victims of Yolanda. It's heartwarming.

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  9. ang babait na bata! nakaka touch naman ang post na to mam!
    ang nakatutuwa dito ee ung tulong nila ee purely na pagtulong
    walang halong pulitika walang halong pagpapasikat clap clap clap
    mag kiddos

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  10. Naiyak na naman ako. Nakita ko kasi yung ibang mga bata so I know how they sacrificed something for others. Mahirap ituro ang empathy. Maraming wala nito pero kahit na sa kahirapan ng mga bata, nagawa nilang magbigay ng tulong ultimo ikakain na nila. May naalala tuloy ako. A chld in my class gave me a can of pickles as Christmas present at sabi niya, wala kasing regalo ang mom ko sa iyo so kinuha ko ito sa kitchen cupboard namin to give you. Sweet!

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    1. more iyak pa cher jo! hay.... tears of joy... :D :D :D
      --ang sweet din ng pupil mo... Mas masarap kasama ang mga bata talga kesa sa mga matatanda... Napansin ko sa sarili ko, maiksi ang pasensya ko sa matatanda kesa sa mga bata..hahaha

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    2. Same here gaya kanina, gusto ko nang pigain yung nanay ng new student, ang kulit lang naman, nakakainit ng dugo. Racist po ang nanay!

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    3. tsk. bat ba may mga racist na mga tao?! :(

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  11. It's really more touching when the help comes from those who have just enough. Pag sa kids pa nang galing, feel mo talaga ang sincerity nila tumulong. Very touching! :)

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    Replies
    1. the perks of being with kids.... one gets surrounded with pure love and innocence...

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  12. kanina pa ko malungkot,,, at di ko namalayan. naiyak ako habang binabasa to. alam mo yun, may sarili akong problemang pilit kong kinakalimutan tas maaalala ko na lang bigla pero makikita kong mas madami pang ibang mas nahihirapan. basta, hindi ko pa maidentify ang rationale ng comment na to, basta masaya ko. ayusin ko na lang comment na to pag luminaw na pag-iisip ko.

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  13. oh, whats wrong? hope you perk up soon. hindi naman na kelangan bigyan ng rationale ang comment na ito :) thank you for your frequent visits here... Kahit piliting masaya, there will really be days that we will have problems, and I can only hope for the best for you..... Congrats sa benefit climb :D

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