pag-aaral, mahalaga pa ba?

Siguro mas mga magandang tagalog version ko gawin to…

Nung May pa pala nang huli akong sumulat ng blog, na umani ng mga comments. Salamat para don dahil nalaman ko na may nagbabasa pala ng sinusulat ko. Kailangan lang medyo may pagka kontrobersyal para may magrereact, hehe…

Tatlong buwan na rin ang nakakaraan mula nang kami ay grumadweyt sa kolehiyo… bagong buhay. Wala ng aral-aral… walang quiz, walang assignments at projects… walang pressure… nakakamiss talaga… nakakamiss ang buhay estudyante…

Kahapon… napadaan ako sa may city hall ng Maynila. Lugar na minsan din naming tinambayan, kahit na malayo ang university namin don… nakakainggit ang mga studyanteng nakatambay… tawanan, kulitan, yung iba nagaaral… ang saya nila tignan. Kahit alam kong may ilan sa kanila na kinaiinisan at kinatatamaran na ang pagpasok.

Sobrang nakakamiss talaga…

Kaya nga ilan lang masasabi ko sa mga kasalukuyang nag-aaral pa lang… bibihira ang pagkakataong mabigyan tayo ng tsansa na makapag-aral. May ilang bata na salat sa buhay na naghahangad nito pero hindi nila magawa dahil sa kakulangan sa pera. Pera na sapat lang para makatawid sa gutom.

Nakakalungkot isipin na kokonti lang ang nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral dahil sa hikahos na dinaranas ng bansa. Ang mga bata na syang inaasahang magtataguyod sa Pilipinas ay nawawalan na ng pag-asang makatungtong pa sa kolehiyo o kahit hayskul man lang…

May napanood nga akong isang documentary. Ang mga bata, sa murang edad pa lang ay nagtatrabaho na…nakakaawa sila. Sa halip na mag-aral, andun sila at nagtratrabaho na parang matanda.

Sinong magsasabing hindi na natin kailangan pang mag-aral dahil wala na din naming pag-asa? Sinong magsasabing diskarte at tyaga lang ang kailangan at hindi kailangang nakapagtapos ka ng isang kurso o dapat kang maging propesyunal para makahanap ng trabaho?

OO. siguro nga tama ka sipag, tyaga, diskarte. Pero kinakailangan mo din ng kaalaman. Mahalaga na marunong kang magsulat at magbasa. Mahalaga na marunong kang mag-isip.

Habang naghahanap ako ng trabaho at nag-eexam para matanggap, nalaman ko ang halaga na may alam ka. Pano kung hindi ako nag-aral? Masasagot ko kaya ang mga exam na yun? Maiintindihan ko kaya ang ingles na tanong ng nagiinterview? May laban ba ko sa ibang aplikante na literado?

Sobrang mahalaga na nag-aral ka. Na may alam ka. Kaya kung ikaw ang nabigyan ng ganitong oportunidad, hindi mo dapat ito sayangin o aksayahin. Tandaan mong marami ang naghahangad nito. Hindi lang isa o dalawa ang hindi pinalad na makapag-aral. Milyon sila. At hindi ko, o mo alam kung anong naghihintay sa kinabukasan nila…

Ito ang nakakalungkot na realidad.

sagip pilipinas...

Iniabot ko sa Manong drayber ang sampung piso kong barya. “Quiapo lang po.” At pagbalik ng sukli, dalawang piso na lamang. Hindi na ako nagtaka dahil sinabi na sa balita na magiging otso pesos na ang pamasahe.

Naalala ko nung unang taon ko pa lang sa kolehiyo. Limang piso lang ang bayad ng studyante. Pag dalawa kayo, kasya na ang sampung piso. Pero ngayon, para sa isang tao na lang ang halagang ito. Sakto namang kung kelan hindi na ako studyante saka tumaas ang pamasahe. Kahit singkwenta sentimos lang ito, may epekto na rin ito lalo na sa mga karaniwang tao lang.

Apektado ako, oo. Dahil sa ngayon ay wala pa akong nahahanap na trabaho. At kasalukuyang humihingi ng pang gastos sa aking magulang, na sa totoo lang ay nakakahiya na din naman.

Sa ngayon, isa ako sa libu-libong mga Pilipino na walang trabaho. Hindi pa man ako naghahanap, pero ganon ang aking pakiramdam. Ilang libo kaming mga studyante na nagtapos ngayong taon? Saan kami sisiksik? At kung magkatrabaho man kami, maaaring ang kikitain namin ay hindi sapat para tustusan ang lahat ng pangangailangan, lalo na ngayong ang bansa natin, sa kabila na paglakas ng piso laban sa dolyar, ay patuloy na naghihikahos dahil sa pagtaas ng mga bilihin, produktong petrolyo, kuryente at maging ng pamasahe. Ano ang naghihintay sa amin at sa mga pamilyang umaasa sa amin?

Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit karamihan sa mga studyante ngayon ay kumukuha ng nursing, o iba pang kurso na in demand sa ibang bansa. Pinaka madaling solusyon na inaakala ng marami para maiahon sila sa kahirapan. Ngunit bago ka pa man grumadweyt, ay daang libo ang kailangan mong gastusin. Tiis-tiis kumbaga. At pagkagradweyt mo naman ay hindi ka naman kaagad makakaalis. Magrereview, at kukuha ka pa ng board exam bago ang lahat. Pag minalas ka pa na hindi makapasa, hindi ka kagad makakapagtrabaho. Mapapabilang ka pa din sa tinatawag na “unemployed.”

Ang peryodismo, “Journalism” sa ingles, at hindi nursing ang kursong napili ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong sumagi sa isipan ko kung bakit naisip kong kunin ito. Walang katiyakan sa trabaho, sabi nga ng ilan. Tanong pa ng iba, maging ng mga magulang ko, “Anong magiging trabaho mo? Pati ang nanay ko na mismong nagrekomendang kunin ko ito ay nagtatanong din. Hindi na lang ako sumasagot.

Pinili ko ang kursong ito hindi dahil gusto ko lang ito, o dahil mahilig lang akong magsulat. Oo nung una, alinlangan ako, pero sa loob ng apat na taon ay napagtanto ko na sa kursong pinili ko ay maaari kong matulungan ang naghihikahos nating bansa. Makapangyarihan ang pagsulat. Tama! Kaya nitong ibulgar ang ano mang baho ng isang nagpapagwapong politiko at kaya nitong magpatalsik sino man ang makapangyarihang taong nakaupo sa pwesto. Makapangyarihan nga ang pagsulat ngunit dapat itong gamitin sa tamang paraan.

Kakatapos ko pa lang sa kolehiyo. At sa ngayon ay napakalabo pa ng daan ko. Magiging peryodista (journalist) ba ako, o hindi? Magsusulat ba ako para sa ibang tao at para sa ating bansa?

o gagamitin ko na lang ang natutunan ko para sa sarili ko lang? O ikukulong ko na lang ba ang aking napag-aralan sa apat na sulok ng “call-center,” at magpabulag sa malaking perang isasampal sayo tuwing swelduhan.

Sana hindi. Sana hindi ko gawin ito. Sana, kahit sobrang mahirap humanap ng trabaho ngayon ay hindi ako sumama sa nakararami na tinitiis ang matagalang pag-upo at pagkausap sa taong hindi nila kilala at pipiliting bumili o tangkilikin ang kanilang produkto, o kaya nama’y magbigay kasagutan sa tanong ng mga ito.

Sana magamit ko ang pinag-aralan ko para tumulong. Kung hindi man ako kaagad maging peryodista, sana sa darating na panahon. Sa ngayon, hahanapin ko muna ang tamang landas na makakapagpatibay sa loob ko.

Kaya hindi ko pinili ang pagiging nars ay dahil ayaw ko namang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Oo makakatulong ka sa ibang tao doon. At malaki ang kikitain mo na kung dito sa Pilipinas ay isang taon mong pagtatrabahuhan ang isang buwan lang doon. Sabihin ng kailangan ko at ng pamilya ko ng pera, pero ang bansa natin ay nangangailangan din ng tulong. Higit pa sa pera.

“Magtatrabaho ako sa ibang bansa para kumita ng malaki,” “wala ka namang mapapala sa bansang ito kaya dun na lang tayo sa abroad …” Kung ganito ang magiging pananaw ng maraming Pilipino, sino na lang ang matitira sa bansang Pilipinas? Sobrang daming magagaling at matatalino nating kababayan ang piniling umalis para magkaron ng mas malaking kita. Maging ang mga guro, iniinda kahit katulong sila doon. At kahit iyong iba na nagtapos na apat na taong kurso ay tinitiis kahit maglinis ng inidoro o maghugas ng pwet ng matatanda. Sayang. Dahil mas pinipili nilang maglingkod sa bansang hindi naman sila ganon ka-pamilyar, at maging malayo sa mga kamag-anak, kapalit ng pera.

Siguro nga sa oras na ito ay nasasabi ko pa ang mga ito dahil hindi pa ganoon kalaki ang hamon sa akin. Hindi pa ganon kalaki ang aking responsibilidad sa pamilya. Oo. Pero bilang isang Pilipino at dating studyante na pinag-aral ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas, nais kong dito magsilbi sa bayan natin. Sa tuwing may nagtatanong sa akin kung gusto kong mangibang-bansa, umiiling na lang ako, senyales ng di pagsang-ayon. Nais kong gamitin ang natutunan ko para tulungan kahit papaano, kahit sa napaka simpleng paraan, ang bansang kinalakihan ko. Kahit sa simpleng pagsulat lang.

Naiiintindihan ko ang mga taong walang humpay sa pagsigaw sa kalye sa kabila nang paghampas nang batuta at malakas na buga ng tubig. Marami akong nakakausap sa kanila buhat sa paaralang aking pinanggalingan, pero hindi sumagi sa isip ko ang makilahok sa kanila. Bakit? Dahil alam kong mayroon akong sariling paraan na maaaring hindi ko idaan sa pagsigaw-sigaw. Siguro nga, iyon ay ang pagsigaw sapamamagitan ng papel at panulat.

Ikaw? May naiisip ka bang paraan? Hahayaan mo bang ganito na lang ang bansa natin na kung ang pamasahe ngayon ay otso pesos na ay di maglaong maging singwenta na? Papayag ka bang patuloy na masadlak sa kahirapan ang mga kababayan nating naghihikahos na? Hahayaan mo bang maubos ang mga gurong dapat sana’y tinuturuan ang mga batang walang muwang at nais matuto? Hahayaan mo bang maubos ang mga manggagamot sa bansang ito? Matitiis mo kaya na umaani ka man ng libu-libong pera pero makikuita mo ang ibang kababayan mo na tinitiis ang hirap? O iiling ka na lang at kukutyain ang kabulukan ng gobyerno natin? Pupunain mo pero alam mo naman sa saili mo na wala ka naming nagawa?...

still a student

i was at the mall with my friends one afternoon. we were strolling and then i saw the manequins diplayed in the department store, dressed in school uniforms. i told them to look at it, then they sighed "aaahhh..." then we realized, it's back to school again.
then i realized... i would not be going to school again (that is, if i will not pursue a 2nd degree). i would not be buying school supplies and i would not be seeing my classmates and college friends as well.
these thought iv'e often ponder... it was almost a week after we graduated. yes! we're already professionals although i can't feel it at the moment because my heart stiil is a student. it somehow makes me feel sad everytime the thought of leaving school and not seeing my classmates often, hit me. other than that are the so many things we did in the past that might not be repeated again and would just be banked in the so-called "memory..."
our class-the most outstanding graduating class of our college; my classmates; college friends, tribu; orgmates; our newspaper-The Journ Post, and all staff, press work, articles; PAo people, and of course our loving professors... i will so miss them...
these days, mothers are busy buying school supplies for their kids. children on the other hand are excited to go to school. that was my feeling before during same days, though in the middle of the school year i was visited with laziness because of the same routine everyday" you wake up, then go to school, listen to teacher, then exams, recitations, assignments, blah-blah... or if you are into orgs, you'll have practice during weekends..
....elementary and high school days....
although 60 percent of the scenario is the same, still, there's the 30% difference among the people, the teachers and most especially, the environment we cope with. but, at the end of the day, you'll realize that everything, despite the differences, is an experience, and an experience to learn...
... i'm a graduate now.. and will be entering a new world... i know that what i've learned in the past 15 years may not be enough to face the challenges of life. still, i have to learn... just like a student...

children are the future: let's help them...

“Wala na tayong magagawa… ganto na ang kapalaran ko. Kesa mangarap tayo ng mangarap, kung wala naman tayong hinahawakan…”-victor

How will a child still dream if at his young age, he had lost hope already? And although he keeps on holding on to that dream, his belief that it would happen someday fades, then disappear, and don’t hope anymore?

Late night, that was two days after New Year, I watched the pathetic and very touching story of Victor in PROBE.

Victor was first interviewed in the show in 1988. He was just a child then, maybe 10 years old. He was a funny and naughty little boy. He always smiles. Whenever Che-che Lazaro asks him questions, he always responds with a smile. What a child.

Victor lives with his own and simple life. “Kalabit-penge,” a term coined for those children begging money on the streets. That was his work.

He was alone. He left his mother and step father that’s why he was living for himself. He left them for his step father batters him while his mother can’t give him a life a child of his age must experience. His mother was a hostess. Victor calls her “puta.” A brawny term that the child used to describe his mother. “Puta.”

After that interview, two decades have passed and PROBE Team searched Victor again. Twenty years. Where is he now?

Che-che, with the help of Victor’s former live-in partner and sister found him at Binan Laguna. He was a grown-up man already, with his beard and sudden wrinkles on his forehead. He makes hollow blocks. That was his only source of living. He has this kind of work, but is still not enough to build his family. With 100 pesos a day, he could not support his wife and four children. That’s why he still lives with his own until now and his siblings are in his partner’s mother.

This was his dream: to own a simple sari-sari store where he could get a little income and then start building his family. He indeed wants to be with his family, but he keeps on thinking how he would support them. With his unstable job and very low income, how is he going to do it?

Fortunately, kindhearted people lend help and gave him money to start. He now has his sari-sari store.

That was Victor’s story…

1988-2008. Two decades has passed. Slow improvement or perhaps, no improvement at all. For the not-so-fortunate people like Victor, progress in life is hard to achieve. He did not reach high school, how is he going to look for a stable job? Will companies or offices hire him? Will they give him work?
Let’s say we need to strive. Yes. Strive hard. Work harder. But even if you pay so much effort, and work so hard, it would just be useless. For a country whose focus are for acquiring more investors, and for more development of bridges and roads who are given a wide percentage of the country’s budget but are just being laid to the hands of corrupt officials, poor people will stay poor even though they work as hard as they can. That is why; more and more of our countrymen are loosing hope that their status in life will become better someday.

Poverty has been one of the great problems of this country. There maybe implemented rules and policies to resolve such issue, however, there are lots of apathetic who are sleeping in their golden beds, counting their money on their hands while poor people don’t know what to do to fill their empty stomach.

Victor is just one of the many who needs help. The government must make a way in giving chances to people like him.

To children, they must have a better solution to lessen or more importantly, to avoid the growing number of mendicants and street children. They need a home. They must be laid in a safer and comfortable place where they can start their lives and begin to dream. If the government can spend P15 million for electronic voting machines that were not used anyway, why not spend a little to the young ones. Why not make them feel there is still hope in this country and make them believe that if they do better and strive they will have a brighter future.

proud to be....

This wasn't just an ordinary university for ordinary people... this is a university where, students could build their dreams despite poverty or lack of money... this is a university which shapes the minds of every individual to become aware of the present status of the society and let them see the truth. this is a university that enhances the potentials of every students... this is a university where i came from..

early this morning, i went to school to get my evaluation form for graduation... as i walked, i looked intently to the students passing by and to the main building, seeing it differently. for the four years of my stay here, i can say that i have appreciated somehow my school. Although, more often, it makes me feel awkward when somebody asks me where am i studying especially if he is from a prestigious or known school... oftentimes, i am thinking what if i studied in UP or Ateneo? there'll be more opportunities.. and many will say "ahhh..." whenever i would tell them my school...

but then, i just realized that, maybe school would help especially when looking for jobs, but it is still up to a student how he will make his way to succeed...

though we may not have so much facilities and complete equipment, though we may not have Harvard graduate professors, though we may not have a big parking lot , though we don't have big and air conditioned classrooms, though we may not have experienced what other students from private schools experience, though most of us lack in money, i am still proud that i belong to this university...

this is perhaps "an ordinary university" to some... seat of activists, or a university for the poor... yes these are all true. but proudly i would say that my university is the hope especially of the unfortunate people who still wants to continue studying despite financial problems.. this university made me a better person and encouraged me to persevere in life. it may not have provided me all my needs as a student but that made me more persistent in seeking for other ways where i would also learn.. i'm thankful because our university's weaknesses teach every student to innovate and gain knowledge at the same time.

however, the big chance that our university gives to the less-fortunate is slowly turning down because of the budget cut for education annually. this year, 40.2 million.. and how will a state university like us survive if the 52 million budget given by the government every year would be lessened? what will happen to the school? more dilapidated facilities? no more additional equipment? no more books to be used? no more comfortable classrooms? but what is so saddening about this is the thought that students are the first ones to suffer.

why do they need to cut the budget for education after putting it as the first priority in the budget share? why do they alot big money for some unimportant stuffs? why waste money for people who are not doing their job well? why, instead of helping out of school youths, the government is giving away money to the officials who are just seating on their couches doing nothing, waiting for the next election and then make their way again to fame? but the bottom line is still: why do they deprive the poor their right to study?

this is very true of our country. and this is the reason why we are not attaining progress despite the many resources available but are not used wisely.. if only all youths would be given the chance to go to school, maybe the country could produce more brilliant graduates... or perhaps, we could have better politicians.. well, i am not saying that our government officials are not good.. of course they won't be elected if they are not, unless they paid for it.. they are really smart people i believe. because they know how to get money then use it without the people knowing it. i am just wondering why they don't get embarrassed with what they are doing.. they get money without even working hard for it???

this country is so pathetic because of some people, mostly are intellectuals but just use their brains to fool their countrymen.. but despite all these, i still love this country and wants to contribute for change... this is just one of things i realized when i entered my school.. and i am grateful truly that my eyes where opened when i entered this university.

nice experience!!

well... being in the outside world is really a nice exerience... maybe tough at times but if you'll just realize and know, what we are doing every day of the week is a lesson we could cherish and keep for future use...

i have spent months in my on the job training and i think i'm learning well... yeah! this is really different when you are just inside the classroom, listening to the teacher and unfortunately they are sometimes absent and don't attend the class...

i am applying the little things that i learned during the past years and still continue to study what i need to learn... the years of studying may not be enough for you to become an "all around" person, who knows everything. and still, it is very true that experience is the best teacher...

i have only few days left here in SUMMIT Media.. and i'm proud to say that for that 100 hours of my stay here, i've learned a lot... even to my first OJT at Manila Standard Today where i spent the other 100hrs....

maybe some of my classmates were complaning of their work and their bosses... but then i realized that if you really love your work, or even just try to love it, nothing is harder... all work will be finished easily with a smile of course on your face. =)

i hope that when i already graduated, i could look for a better job... but i'm still planning to take masteral either in UP or Ateneo if fate would grant me... but if not, better luck next time...if it's God's will, why not??!! but as of now, i'm still waiting for the result of our evaluation... i won't graduate if they found any defficiency in my grades.. duh!!! and we're still working on our thesis... waahh.. that's hard!!!! and we're still in the process of data gathering... goodluck to us!! =)