Jam on Xplore: Learning Visit

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March 24,2012- Learning Visit: SRP

MARCH 24- The delegates were off to Asturias to volunteer in a RAFI Project: School Rehabilitation Project or SRP. (for more info, click here)

The delegates, together with the adult leaders and other volunteers were divided into four groups to volunteer in the restoration of four schools in Asturias. As for me, I was assigned in Tubigang Manok Elem. School. Our tasks was to fill soil into plastic pots for cultivation of seedlings.

Filling soil into the black plastic pots

I was tasked to receive the seedling pots and arranged them.

From the trip, I discovered the huge disparity between the private and public high schools. In some private schools, rooms are air-conditioned; most rooms are equipped with computers and LCD projectors; books are even barely read. In the public schools, especially those located far from the city, rooms are dilapidated, chairs, books, chalks are insufficient. The environment is not conducive for learning at all nor is it conducive for teaching.

As I’ve learned from before, the definition of poverty is the unequal distribution of wealth. There is a great disproportion of wealth, of faculty competence, of books and other facilities. Most developments are centered on the city, without taking into consideration the other thousands of public schools in the province and in more remote areas.

I remembered on the Dutch culture orientation held weeks ago that the Dutch pay very high taxes. But the taxes they paid are justified by the efficiency of their public services like their public education. In the Philippines, we pay taxes also, but we never realize the fruits of the taxes. I wonder where the people’s money goes. To the pockets of our public servants? Maybe. The rich are becoming richer while the poor are deprived of what they should have.

I think the role of the YMX delegates is to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich. We may not be able to directly solve the problem of our educational system. But we can do something to alleviate the conditions of our less privileged brothers and sisters. We cannot instantly turn upside down the pyramid that is society, but we can at least do something

Me and Some of the Delegates and Ms. Reeve (Rightmost in green), the head of the volunteer committee.

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March 10, 2012- Learning Visit: Bajau Community

8:15 PM | Labels: Learning Visit

The Bajau Community

Our visit to the Bajau community allowed me to witness a society of people who despite their poverty have maintained their very rich culture. I was impressed by how much the community has improved from their earliest settlement. My prejudice and first impression was immediately rectified by my interactions with the leaders, by their friendly gestures and by that evident effort on the part of the Bajaus whose aspiration is for their lives to become better. When the leaders presented their trademark dance, I was captivated by how graceful and sincere they were in dancing. I gladly joined them with the rest of the group. The steppings looked simple, but when I tried to execute them, I couldn’t do them as gracefully as did the Bajaus.

Hearing about the housing project of the Bajaus, I could see a lot of promise in it. I was glad to hear that the design of the project was done by my fellow Architecture schoolmates from the University of San Carlos. Maybe, soon, I can help, too.

One of the Bajau leaders presenting their growing vegetables.

I was very much fascinated by the culture of the Bajaus and how it differs so much from our culture. That despite the rapid modernization of the world outside their circle, they remain steadfastly immersed in their culture. It is interesting that the average age of marriage is at age 15 or 16 and how the boy has to prove his love by giving dowry to the girl’s family.

The one thing I learned from the Bajaus if that if there’s a will, there’s always a way. I can see in the eyes of the women leaders that determination to live a better life.

In my own way, I hope I’ll find my niche on how I can be of help to them.