EVERY CHILD IN ALIMODIAN DESERVES A BREAK

MARJO (not his real name) is an ebullient eight-year-old who came to our attention through pictures taken during the Christmas package distribution last December. 

Here are some details that we’ve learned about him:  He is in Grade 1. He is an only child; however, his parents are not around to raise him.  He and his half-siblings live with their Lola. Their house in the river control area known as Sinikway was carried away in the flooding during a typhoon in June last year; nowadays, he sleeps most of the time on a papag in the market.

It seems that many Alimodiananons know Marjo, or know of him.  Someone describes the kid as “quite ‘famous’ among those who give assistance to the indigents: pirme gid nila gina lista nga beneficiary si Marjo.” An owner of a karinderia in the tienda offers him food regularly

In pictures Marjo appears like most children his age: impish.  A CARE volunteer tells us: “Marjo does not join the DEAR session but he wants to register in our Resource Center so he can borrow books.  He tends to be quite naughty when you see him around with other kids, but he also listens when he is being reprimanded.”

But for a wrong turn of the screw, Marjo might have been adopted by an Alimodiananon who could have provided him a caring home and a better than fighting chance in life.  We were told that, indeed, there was such an opportunity when he was an infant; unfortunately, it did not materialize.

The heartbreaking circumstance of his personal life is forcing Marjo to grow up faster than he normally would.  He is practically raising himself by his bootstraps.  Besides him, the grandmother is taking care of a number of other grandchildren on what one can only surmise are very limited resources.

It is probably an understatement to say that Marjo has a rough going this early in life.

Marjo is part of the increasing number of children in Alimodian who, because of poverty, are napapabayaan, and have taken to palaboy-laboy sa kalye.  Oftentimes these children gatecrash birthday parties, funerals, and other paskwahan  for free meals.

They are Alimodian’s street urchins.

As usually happens with children who grow up unsupervised by responsible adults, we fear it won’t be long before Marjo gets initiated into the ranks of older kids who are already smoking and drinking – and into petty theft around town.  An Alimodian social worker says that Marjo needs to be “detached from his present environment” for him to have a shot at turning out into a productive adult.

“Detached from his present environment” – or he will fall into the cracks.

One cannot begin to imagine what “detachment” means.

However, it begs the question: What is the LGU doing to help “abandoned” children like Marjo? 

Is it its responsibility to help raise them? 

Of course, it is.

It is all OUR responsibility.

Every child is born with God-given potential; among others, the potential to do good for himself, his family, and his fellow human beings.

It is our moral obligation as a community to help children fulfill their potential – some more than others.

Moreover, it is in our best interest as a community (in economic and social terms) to help raise a child into a productive citizen of Alimodian.

At the very least, we owe children like Marjo a childhood.

EVERY CHILD IN ALIMODIAN DESERVES A BREAK.

* * *

If you have specific and practical ideas on how to help Marjo and children like him, please let us know.

 Thank you.

Thanks to Michelle for the use of the photos.

Bringing  Hope to Malamhay
By Mariel Fleur Loredo

On April 19, 2008, Saturday morning, I woke up with excitement though a little bit tired from packing the books and preparing the things needed for the Malamhay trip the previous night. At last it was happening; after many postponements, we were finally launching CARE in Malamhay.

At around 7:30 a.m, we started loading two boxes of books into the jeepney we rented for the trip. One box was for Malamhay; we had already delivered one box prior to the launching.  The other box plus one set of encyclopedia were for Brgy. Abang-Abang. CARE volunteers CADOY QUIJANO, MAIMAI AMBUT, IRIS ANN ALONDAY, XIAXIA ALGER, GRACE ALITAO, JIMBOY SALAY, Tito FRANCIS ALMIRA, seven DEAR kids from the Poblacion --  ELLY ABIENDO, AIRA ALIPAT, JUNE PHILIP ALIPAT, JONA TERI LEGASPI, COLEEN MAE ANDOLOY, CHARISSE JADE ANDOLOY,  and ALYSSA MARIE MELICADO – MICHELLE, and I left at exactly 8:00 a.m.

The journey was long and winding, the road was rough, but we were filled with anticipation of what lay beyond; innocence and joy were written in the eyes of our young volunteers as this was their first travel to the mountainous side of Alimodian. Irish Ann exclaimed, “Indi ko guid dya pagpalampason agud lang makasaka sa Malamhay.” For her this was the farthest she’s been to in Alimodian. As for me, it was like traveling for the first time again and reliving the moment when I first saw the scenic mountains though they were dry and arid (http://alimodian.net/new_year_in_malamhay.htm). At one point we imagined it must have been like seeing for the first time the chocolate hills in Bohol or the Banaue rice terraces in the Cordilleras.

After 40 minutes of driving under the hot sun, our driver, Manong ERWIN, turned right into a narrow, rocky road, as if entering toward oblivion. Five minutes more and there was the civilization of Brgy. Malamhay, with a population estimated at 300 and headed by Brgy. Captain ARMEN AMOYOT.  The barrio thrives on farming rice, maize, peanut, and other root crops. It has a Day Care Center, a Barangay Hall that badly needs repair, and a basketball court.

The children at the Day Care Center looked surprised at seeing the jeepney, and the adult folks gawked at us. We dropped off the books at the Quia residence, the temporary site of the CARE learning resource center until the barangay hall is renovated. The Poblacion Dear kids practiced their production number while I inspected the bookshelf that I sponsored.  The bookshelf was a sight to behold. I was amazed at and in awe of the intricacy of the bamboo work. It was a product of true craftsmanship in every sense of the word.  I could just imagine the time spent and the skill rendered on that piece of craft over a bottle of rum, and am proud of my part in helping fashion it.

I went ahead to the Day Care Center and mingled with the kids who had gathered for the program. I joked that I was giving away candies to those who could sing some songs. Unexpectedly, a little girl volunteered to sing, followed by another, and still another until we had some kind of a singing contest going.

The presentation program started with a warm welcome from ANGIE QUIA, niece of CARE volunteer AMY QUIA, a Malamhaynon. The little girl spoke in halting but well-practiced English.  Angie followed up her remarks with a song for us. I thanked Angie and the folks of Malamhay for their greetings. I then introduced them to CARE, what it is all about, and underlined the organization’s goal of getting children to develop a lifelong habit of reading. As a sample, I read to them a book written by Ed Young entitled “The Seven Blind Mice.” The kids listened intently to the story. After the book reading, I asked the children some questions from the book, and for every correct answer I gave them candies. I was glad that they were listening to the story since most of them eagerly and correctly answered my on-the-spot quiz.

After the reading session, the volunteers and the DEAR kids from the Poblacion performed their dance number. The Malamhay children participated in the presentation as well. It was a kind of a comic relief as Maimai Ambut, their dance leader, interpreted the dance steps in their repertoire in a funny and relaxed fashion, with descriptions like “sampay, panglaba, sipa etc.” After their dance production, the Poblacion DEAR kids chose who among the Malamhay children exerted the best effort in following the dance steps. The winner was JOHN PAUL CAMAYRA, who got a special prize, the cutest alphabet matting you can “impossibly” sit on.

Another book reading followed; this time Angie Quia of the Malamhay participants volunteered to read. She chose the book “Arthur’s Promise.”  In some way Angie personified the promise of the CARE initiatives.  With a little more practice and books to read, I am sure she will do well in the English language in due time. Then some children volunteered to sing; we gave them the alphabet matting and some candies for sharing their talent.

At around 11:00 a.m., we served snacks to the children. They were treated to arrozcaldo, bread, orange juice, and, to our delight, “nilupak nga saging” and buko (butong) juice.

Before we wrapped up the activities, I reiterated to the children and the guardians who were present to take advantage of the opportunity in enhancing their minds, stimulating their imagination, and increasing their knowledge through reading. I stressed that the CARE books were free and there was no excuse for them not to use them. I told them jokingly that just as the carabao eat grass to live, the human brain needs to be fed with information so it doesn’t shrink. They can even read a book while they look after their carabao!

I called on Brgy. Captain Armen Amoyot, Amy Quia, HELEN ANICO (a teacher at the Day Care Center), and Michelle for the formal turnover of the books. The Kapitan thanked CARE and also reminded the children to read and avail of the books they now have. We also called on the high school students to help mentor the younger ones.

At exactly 11:30 in the morning, we bade our goodbyes and thanked once again the folks of Malamhay for welcoming CARE.  On the way back, we dropped off the books earmarked for Brgy. Abang- Abang at the house of the scholar of Tito GREG AMARRA.

All in all we thought it was a successful launching. The Poblacion kids enjoyed the trip and they were able to help out their young kasimanwas.  As for Brgy. Malamhay, we would like to think that we left something indelible, something intangible, and yet in many ways real – HOPE and the OPPORTUNITY to change lives for the better through books.

_____________________

CARE thanks the volunteers and the DEAR kids, and Alimodiananons who helped them make the trip, and Kapitan Armen Amoyot and the folks of  Malamhay for their warm welcome.

 More photos of the launching may be viewed at:
http://alimodian.net/photogallery/thumbnails.php?album=3 http://alimol.multiply.com/photos/album/21/CARE_at_malamhay_104_photos

In the Heart of a Child
By Mariel Fleur Loredo

 ''Sharing!" "Matulungin at matipid!" "Waay ko ka maan!" "Ma'am, ma'am, ako, ma'am!"

These were some of the shouts I heard from the enthusiastic children during our first reading session here at the Balabaw Internet Cafe yesterday, May 10, 2006.

 Twenty-three kids, ages 5 to 11, a few accompanied by their yayas and guardians, registered at 9’o’clock in the morning. They were handed out IDs and they all sat on the floor mat for the session.

I introduced myself, and gave a short speech regarding the D.E.A.R program and what we were going to do for the next two hours or so.

The first story we read was The Elves and the Shoemaker. Our reader was FELIPE "Cadoy" QUIJANO; he was assisted by MELIZA JUNE ALINGASA, who held the drawings for some visual effects. After the story was read, we (the volunteers) asked the children questions.  To encourage participation, we gave the child a lollipop even if his/her answer was wrong.

And we did not fail. I felt what a teacher must feel every time one sees hands up in the air and pupils are shouting, "Ma'am, ako, ma'am!”  I was proud to see in their little faces an eagerness to give an answer.

One kid who amused me a lot was Pope. He raised his hand excitedly, and when I called his name, he came forward and told me he did not know the answer: "Waay ko ka maan, ma'am." We just laughed and told the other kids to help out Pope, and they did. When I asked one kid who helped the shoemaker, he answered: "ang aswang." Still, I gave him a lollipop for his “courage” to answer since he was a bit shy.

We asked if they understood and liked the reading, and what the moral lesson of the story was. The kids were zestful in their participation.

After the first reading, we took a short breather by playing a game called the Boat Is Sinking. The game went this way: When we said “the boat is sinking,” the kids reached out to one another and grouped themselves into units of 5. Their groupings in the game were used for the next reading: Si Langgam at si Tipaklong.

VERLITO MEDINA was the second reader, with MELIZA still the “holder” of the drawings. After the reading of the story, again we asked the children questions; this time we handed out group rewards (candies). We asked each group a question, the children consulted with one another, and their “representative” gave the answer.

We hoped that we were not just encouraging kids to read and participate, but actually teaching them values like sharing and helping one another.

The kids then settled into snacks of spaghetti, sandwich, juice, and chocolate.

After the kids replenished their energy, they posed for pictures and we handed out D.E.A.R T-shirts donated by the Iloilo Supermart.

We also handed out special prizes of school supplies to the five most “participative” kids, namely, Geminea, Chatea, Pope, Gian Carlos, and Sheela.

Before the children left, we reminded them to read and participate, and told them they will receive invitation cards for the next reading session.

The following morning I received a phone call from Pope's mother asking us if we have a reading session today (May 11). I told her that the parents would be informed in two weeks about the next D.E.A.R schedule.

I have realized that one of the things money cannot buy is the simple joy of seeing a child who is so eager to learn. And the biggest reward they can give us, the readers, those who CARE, is seeing the appreciation and satisfaction from the most noble heart – that of a child.    

I Missed My Civic Duty
By Mariel Fleur Loredo

I had been absent from the past few DEAR sessions in as much as I had taken a job in the city and my days off did not fall on the weekends.

However, on September 2 I requested my supervisor to give me the Saturday off so I could conduct the reading session since Michelle had an exam and the other volunteers had commitments of their own.

It felt great reading to the kids again and to find them as enthusiastic as ever.  I really love and enjoy being with the children; there is simply a different kind of personal fulfillment I get from reading with them.

Truth be told, I missed my civic duty.

Twenty-four kids attended the September 2 reading session.  I was happy to note that more than three months after we started DEAR, there are still children who are interested in joining the program (we had 5 new participants).

I read “Philbert Frog Loses His Memory” by Vincent James.  The kids found the book delightful. We all laughed and giggled to the story of a frog who cannot remember.  The kids had fun imagining the bewilderment of the frog as he tries to imitate the movements and sounds of other animals he met in his confusion about who/what he really is.

Naka nga-nga gid ang ila baba sa kalantaw sa pictures while listening to the story.

Although I did not have prizes to give away, the kids answered with gusto my questions about the details in the story. 

After reading to them, I let the kids color the book pages that have the characters from the Philbert Frog story.  Maybe we can show the color drawings to their parents when we get a chance to have a tipon-tipon, perhaps at year’s end; if not, they will be kept as treasured mementos of one our reading sessions.

After partaking of their snacks, the kids rehearsed the “Three Little Pigs” presentation that they hope to showcase at the launching of the Binalud Book-Lending Center. I had a blast “directing” them as they acted their roles in the story. 

Feeling director gid ko sang pelikula.

With my suddenly busy work life, it was refreshing to be doing something that matters to my heart.

And it became clearer that I should be able to pay the price of doing volunteer work because the reward is priceless.

* * *

Special thanks to CARE volunteers NIKNIK QUIA, AMY QUIA, and JOY ALGABRE.

Photos of the previous DEAR session (August 19, 2006) may be viewed here.

Alimodian: Embracing Mother Nature
By Wein P. Gadian

Sprawling in the verdant hills of Southwest Central Iloilo is the town of Alimodian, a 4 th class municipality that prides on its natural resources and productive lands. This 25 kilometers town away from the city of Iloilo is surrounded by towns; Maasin and Cabatuan on its East, San Miguel on its South and Leon on its West and the Province of Antique on its North. It is traversed by the rippling Aganan River with a land area of 14,482 hectares and composed of 51 barangays.

The town has different soil types which are the clay loam, Luciana loam, Alimodian loam and Umingan fine sandy. Other than these it has various lands classified as vegetative, agricultural, residential, commercial, institutional and agro-industrial lands, with a river, roads, open grassland and open space. All of which has helped in the progress of the town especially in its economy. With its stable climate, the town produces one of the best vegetables like cabbages and broccolis. Farming as a main source of livelihood, the town grows rice, corn, root crops, mango, banana, bamboo, legumes and industrial crops like tobacco, cotton, abaca and others.

Alimodian's uniqueness can also be traced in its belief in the importance of education. Every household sends the children to school to learn so in return they can serve their community more with their capabilities.

This “Excellence in Education” is provided in the various schools of the town. It has forty-one Day Care Centers (including five ECD Pilot Center), three preparatory schools and Kinder Schools, eight Primary Public Schools, twenty-two Elementary Public Schools and three Secondary Public High Schools. One of its schools, the Alimodian National Comprehansive High School serves a tertiary education offering two basic courses on applied electricity. Its belief in education has brought progress to the town with its successful Alimodiananons. With their education, they have built concrete houses for their families, help in renovating the old church, the town plaza, built roads, bridges among others.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

The town's rich natural resources made it a tourist destination. The Aganan River that brings livelihood to the people, the mountains of Taruc and Balogo, with its forests brought more serenity and security. It also has unexplored natural beauty located on the upland clustered barangays of the town called “Seven Cities”. It has various spots like the Agua Colognia, Tinagong Dagat, Bubon ni Ibo, Taruc Hill, Umingan Plateau, Rice Terraces, Manipuron Creek, Baraiton Skyline, Terated Cave, Bato Batiya, Bato Duko, Mount Colomo, waterfalls among others. All of which is a perfect venue for hiking, bird watching, photography, nature tripping, mountain biking, climbing and rainforest trekking. Another is the Agony Hill which emerged from a combo of human appreciation of nature's beauty and the amazing landscape designed by the hills slope and topography. It also shows the Alimodiananons strong Christian spirit, that they build the fourteen Stations of the Cross that end upon the three crosses emulating Christ's way to Calvary. The place is frequented by Christians especially during the Holy Week Celebration.

If you want to experience warmth and kindness from the Alimodiananons, find time to visit their town. They celebrate their feast every September 22 in honor of St. Thomas Villanova.