Dumagat

Okay, this is already my 3rd false start in writing this article and whatever comes to mind will be typed, so bear with me please.

Learning Lion Publishing House, thru the initiative of Ma'am Tisha Cruz and Sir Ricky Gonzales conducted or more likely sponsored a Learning Lion Workshop on 10 Basic Points of Learning Reading (or something like that, it's in my computer somewhere) to a group of daycare workers working with the Dumagat people from San Ysiro, Antipolo City.

Here are some of the footprints we've made. I invited myself to be the spoof during the 2-day workshop last 23-24 May held at Porta Coeli Convent in Quezon City.

Marilym, Elvie, Flor, Ma'am Tisha, Lino, Jamie, Flor, Rowena and myself posing for a class picture and showing off the materials.

What really imprinted on my mind after knowing more of them is the fact that they all started out as volunteer workers.  Some of them are receiving a Php 3000 stipend from an NGO while some are receiving a meager Php 1000 a month!  Yes, that is right, a month!. On top of that they have to dish out cost of materials like paper and pencils from their own pockets.

Ma'am Tisha showing her powerpoint presentation with the laptop and projector generously provided by Sir Ricky

I thought I heard it all after learning of their financial difficulties but the what really tugged at my heartstrings and brought a well of tears to Ma'am Tisha's eyes was learning that some of these kids go to "school" or the semblance of it with empty stomachs.  So the teachers have to request some parents to prepare lugaw (rice porridge) to fill the tiny empty stomachs.  For however are you going to absorb all that vowels and consonants on an empty stomach?

Explaining how to make Job Chart

Busy making weather sketches

The pretty and amazing Jamie

Listening to the presentation in all seriousness

So where is San Ysiro?  They told me that from Antipolo proper, one has to take a 2-hour jeepney ride going up the mountain then hike some more.  Some places are so remote that there is no road but a dirt footpath on the village.  Cellphone signal doesn't reach them and absence of electricity puts them a hundred years back.  Truth be told, I was amazed to learn that in this day and age, there are still places just two hours away living in darkness.

Proudly showing off Learning Lion materials that they will bring back home.

 Teacher Weena

  

Miss Rowena Navaira, fondly called Teacher Weena started volunteering 5 years ago.  She has encountered almost all teacher sob story in the book.  She distinctly remembers one child who came to her class beaten black and blue by an abusive stepfather.  Faced with no other option but to go to the barangay office they were able locate and return the poor kid to mother who abandoned it begin with.

In between chokes and muffled sobs she related that years ago her dream was to send her own children to a daycare to give them a little head start in school.  Alas! There is no daycare, no trained preschool professional to go to.  So she claimed her destiny and trained herself to teach her kids ABC.  Since then she never stopped caring.  Now she is teaching your Dumagat katutubo (natives).  Her trials, travails and triumphs are awe-inspiring.  

She is truly grateful for all the materials that she can use now...and she is proud to tell everybody so.

Capturing memories on a 4" x 6"

Receiving a Certificate from
Sister Matet, one of the sisters
who look after the Dumagat

Ka Erning, the village Chieftain who has a vision for his people

A Participative Liturgical Mass was celebrated to cap off the event with Fr. Efren as celebrant.  Father Efren expressed his dream of preserving the katutubo (indigenous) culture and tradition as a corner stone in building our identity as a nation.  Their indefatigable efforts together with Sister Matet and her co-workers in Porta Coeli with the support of visionaries with a big heart like Sir Ricky and Ma'am Tisha will make that happen. 

Fr. Efren sending
off the materials

with a blessing

A treasure trove of instruction materials for the awe-inspiring Dumagat children.  

Thank you for sparing your time and thought for the Dumagat.  Though they live in a far off village high up in the boondocks with just the flicker of the distant star at night, please think ... are we not all wishing on the same big bright star?