NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
IM ON LEAVE!
Should you have any writeup that you want to post here, e-mail me at chelynxa@yahoo.com.
Nice reading!
This serves as the official hiding place of the author in the unknown dimension of the cyberspace.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:
IM ON LEAVE!
Should you have any writeup that you want to post here, e-mail me at chelynxa@yahoo.com.
Nice reading!
Bakit ganun ganyan (Part II)
Mas pakiramdam kong mag-tagalog ngayon. Sa mga taong ayaw mahawa sa komplikado kong pag-iisip ngayon, mas mainam pong wag niyo nalang pong basahin ito. =)
Sadyang may mga bagay na kay hirap intindihin o hindi ko lang talaga sya naintindihan o sadyang ayaw lang ipaintindi sa akin.
Dahil dito, bumalik sa aking ala-ala ang paalaalang sadyang sa buhay may mga bagay na dapat paniwalaan nalang, sundin kesa naman ma syak o mabagot ako sa kaka-antay ng sagot kung bakit ganito ganyan.
Sadyang may mga importanteng bagay pa akong dapat gawin ngayon, pero para paalalahan ang aking sarili kaya ko po pilit na tinitipa ang mga salitang ito, para naman mabawasan ang mga salitang gusto ko pong bigkasin pero wala akong makausap, computer lang. =)
Hay naku, sadyang ganun lang talaga. Balik trabaho na muna ako, para naman may magawa akong kapaki-pakinabang sa sambayanang Pilipino, mga mumunting bagay sa pagligtas sa bansang pilit na niyuyurakan ng mga taong walang magawa sa buhay.
Sa mga taong nagbabasa nito, pasensya sa abala.
When is committing a mistake on subject-verb agreement pardonable?
I am guilty to this. An adage says that doing the same mistake twice or more than that is foolishness and considered stupidity. Is committing a mistake with my grammar makes me fall both to the first and to the latter? Oh no…
I’ve been studying both the simplicity and complexity of grammar since my elementary years. Most of my instructors are quite good with grammar.
Because they’re good and I always found myself receiving papers with red corrections due to my spelling and grammar insufficiencies, chunks of thoughts linger into my mind that I can not write. Even in my lower years, I choose to love mathematics and science and technology where my instructors focus on the thoughts I have about the magical and complex yet so simple subjects (oh, yes). Like when you’re so excited about a subject matter, a magic happens because you tend to forget about the grammar and your words tend to fly one by one as fast as superman.
I find a friend in the subjects of math and science. These are the subjects when no one argues everything I know about Einstein, about manipulating an equation and about researching for possible solutions to our on-going subject problems (which I already forgot how).
Some say I am weird, but what a fool of them. This is a reminder for me that I AM INDEED NORMAL. So what??? That only proves true that individuals are favorable agents and accomplices of deception, the weapon of the adversary.
This blog helps me forget about the notion that “I CANNOT WRITE.” It started when I got traumatized during my high school years on how I got very low scores in every essay question. No matter how I study and no matter how I memorize my book plus my notebook back to back from leaf to leaf, I still flank because of my grammar and spelling. I mean my grammar is not that disappointing but because every single mistake is considered a minus point and competition during our high school days is so harsh that committing single mistake would mean a substantial thing. It can mean another point which will enlist or not enlist me to the higher honor students.
How INSTRUCTORS become so HARSH sometimes. I only pray that they will not serve as the blockade of our dreams the same way as how
How teachers become so influential in the life of the students.
I am praying that those teachers who are teaching because of money not because they have the passion for their profession. Please wake up. As I am asking for the big heart to teach these students in the near future that I may not act the same way as the “Teachers whom I hate before.”
When you’re trying to write for something but with another topic lurking in the middle of your brain cells, this is what will happen. –A twisted content not parallel to the topic. I’m thinking that it is an art and I am not planning to rewrite it. =)
I find this post very insufficient. I'll update you my dear blog on how i found out that my hands are not meant to stitch skin, hold blood and slice bodies (yung doctor) the concrete plan i have when i was a child.
Note: I don’t mean my school today. I have a very happy disposition as to where I am enrolled today. I am writing in general terms, I can see that you are reading my words in disbelief.
Back to work.
GOOD AFTERNOON
ON A ONE MOONY EVENING WHEN THE STARS ARE FULLY SHINING I COME UP TO A DECISION TO SEE OUR FUTURE THROUGH TIME TRAVELLING. AS I PRESS START ON MY DEVICE, I SAW A VERY BRIGHT CLOUD THAT BROUGHT ME IN THE YEAR 2O25.
THE VERY FIRST SCENE WAS BREATH-TAKING! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! IT WAS ACTUALLY I FIGHTING
WHAT A PICTURISQUE MOMENT. I SAW THE LANDING OF A JET LINER WHOSE PILOT WAS KRIS WILVIN CANAMA AND ON BOARD WERE ALBERT ALIA, JACKIE JAMES PACATANG, RAYMUNDO CAMASURA AND EDDIESON BARRICA. WITH THEM WERE LEAH FE ORDENIZA, MARILIE CINCO, AIZA FERNANDEZ AND MARIVEL TEVES AS THE STEWARDESSES. COMING OUT WERE SENATOR BERNIEL RUNDINA HOLDING HIS WIFE DEAL SANIPA, AN ECONOMIST AND AN EDUCATOR. THEY WERE MET BY THE GORGEOUS CONNIE TRONIADO, THE HEAD OF PHILIPPINE TOURISM. I HAVE SEEN GROUP OF SOLDIERS WHICH INCLUDE JOHNY CABANLIT, NOEL ANOTADO, JOSEFEL MEDALLE, MARCELLO MELLANAR ACE VERNIE MUNOS AND SOME OTHERS MARCHING TOWARDS THEM. THEY WERE HEADED BY GENERAL JYNEPHER ASOK, AND COLONEL ARSENIO SALVACION. THIS AWARDING CEREMONY WAS ALL ABOUT CLEO ESTUDILLO, A SCIENTIST WHO INVENTED A TREE THAT WILL BEAR MONEY!!! WOW! THAT WAS VERY FASCINATING
AS I TURNED AROUND THE OTHER SWITCH OF MY MACHINE, I WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARDEN FULL OF FLOWERS. IT WAS THE WEDDING CEREMONY OF THE MILLIONAIRE, PETER JUN BALATERO AND A HACIENDERA, CRISTINE RODRIGUEZ. THE CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED BY JEANILO ANTONIO. THE NUNS INCLUDING DEVIE ENGUITO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY ALSO. THE RECEPTION WAS HELD IN THE GLAMOROUS HOTEL OF MS. SHAUNA MILLONDAGA. AS I LOOKED STRAIGHT I SAW JERALDINE CANETE, RHM CABANDAY, ANALYN PARADERO AND JELLY ANN ACLAO, THE HOTEL MANAGERS. I SAW A HONDA CIVIC AND I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT THE GUY INSIDE. UNTIL I SAW THE VERY IMPRESSIVE MR DANIEL DUCAO, WEARING AN
I’M NOW IN THE NEW SCENARIO. I WAS IN A FIELD WATCHING THE 2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF SOFTBALL GIRLS. THE TEAM FROM THE
SUDDENLY THERE WAS A GREAT CHANGE. I FIND MYSELF IN
AS I GO ON OPERATING MY DEVICE, I WAS BROUGHT ABOUT TO A HOSPITAL. IT WAS SUPERVISED BY DOCTOR
I WAS ALSO BROUGHT INTO A MODELLING SHOW. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED WITH IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM BROADWAY CENTRUM. THE PERFORMERS WERE SHERWIN HONCULADA, NEPLEX ANOTADO, JULIUS NAVAREZ, JEFFREY TOLOPIA, CATHERINE BINAURO, JUVELYN ENDOCAL AND GRETCHEN YOSORES. I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED WHEN I SAW KENNETH ALISON, JEREME BANAWAN AND RJ REY PATULADA COMING OUT POSING AS ONE OF ITS FASHION MODELS. I FOUND MYSELF SCREAMING AGAIN WHEN I SAW BOYS WHO REALLY LOOK LIKE DAO MING ZI AND HUA XE LI. BUT THE MASTERS OF CEREMONY, JUVINEL GUANCIA AND AMY ROSE TOLOPIA ANNOUNCED THAT THESE HANDSOME GUYS WERE ACTUALLY NOLYJUN LUGAGAY, DARYL SECLOT AND ELVIN BENIDA. ON THE OTHER SIDE, I SAW A GROUP OF BUSINESSMEN FRESH FROM THEIR OFFICE. THEY WERE DANILO HUMIGOP, JADE MIRONTOS, JEMAR SAQUIN, ARSENIO SALVACION. JOINING WITH THEM WERE THE GOOD-LOOKING COUPLES, ENGINEER SHERNAN YBANEZ AND JELLY ANN ACLAO YBANEZ, GEODITIC EHNGINEER MARK LOUIS MARK LOUIS BONGANCISO AND MARY ANNE DIMPASO BONGANCISO. THE EXTRA-REMARKABLE SHOW WAS DIRECTED BY NHIZA BALAGOT AND PRODUCED BY THE ATTRACTIVE XYRILE VON SEBANDAL.
FINALLY, I MET THE GUY WHO WAS BEHIND MY TIME TRAVELLING. HE WAS MR. ALFONSO MORALES JR.
THE MACHINE WAS SO HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC THAT I COULD FORESEE ME AND MY CLASSMATES ON THE PEDESTAL ENJOYING LIFE IN 2025. WITH THESE PROPHECIES, I DO HOPE FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR DREAMS.
Bakit Ganun Ganyan?
Why is That?
I am bound to take an indefinite leave on blogging but I can’t stop myself posting all of the out bursting feelings I have inside.
Why do some people act unprofessionally though they are professional? Why do some people can’t respect and value my time? Why do some people tries to hide at the skirts of “memory gap” or “deafness” syndrome? Why do some people act as if nothing has happened? Why does environmental concern is not evident among the majority? Why do people keep on sinning? Why do people shield themselves as hurdles towards my dreams? Why do…??? Why do…??? Why do…??? Tsk…tsk..tsk… Why do I have so many questions?
But to you people who are trying to hold and prevent me from obeying the Father’s will.I have Mr. Mike Arroyo’s alleged trademark statement towards Mr. Joey de Venecia: BACK OFF!
In this post, I am very sleepy. I have been waiting for my instructor. I have been waiting for my exam. I have been waiting a reply from the dentist. But all to no avail, I have not finished anything up to this very hour. All has been postponed. Some circumstances crossed at my instructors’ schedule which are much important than my appointment to them.
Lessons learned:
I can’t afford to waste my time. I am asking my friends and to the people I am having a “simple business,” let us try to work harmoniously and let’s respect each others’ schedule. But of course, Flexibility is the key word. I should learn to adopt with changes. Life is not planned by the individual perfectly. Some things are just beyond our control. So, I leave that to you Father. As I take my sleep today, I lay my life in your comforting hands. Make it a memorable and comforting journey. Zzzzzz…
People’s Park,
A four-hectare urban buffer zone identified as the lung center at the heart of the metropolis is People’s Park: the newest landmark of
Twenty different components constitute the P 72-M People’s Park drawing in both local and foreign visits, a part of the move of the city to promote
Madrazo said that “People from all walks of life are coming here. We have a tally-counter of more than hundreds of people coming… There are some people who are coming here in the park, they’re telling me that some portions of the park seem like
Roughly, over a thousand species of trees and plants from different areas of the world such as those from
The park provides the students with the real sights of rare and even nearly extinct species of plants and trees and exhibits showcasing orchids, tropical flowers, and ornamentals.
Given this atmosphere, the park has become a sanctuary for group learning and discussions. Groups of students from far places visit the park for the Lakbay-Aral program of Department of Education.
“We also consider this area as a learning center. In this generation, maybe only few know the different kinds of trees” Madrazo said.
I-blog mo
Sadyang natural na sa tao ang pagsusulat. Pero kung ikaw ang isa sa mga nabibigo ng magsulat sa mga napupunit, naluluma at maaring mawalang mga papel, mas mainam kung i-blog mo nalang.
Ang patuloy na pag-usbong ng teknolohiya ng Pilipinas ang nagbigay daan sa tinuturing isa sa pinakabagong pamamaraan ng komunikasyon sa pamamagitan ng internet, ang pagba-blogging.
Ang blog ay maituturing ding isang diary na naglalaman ng mga saloobin, pananaw at opinyun na kadalasang tumutukoy sa mga pampersonal na isyu. Maari rin itong maging isang album na naglalaman ng mga kalipunan ng mga larawan.
Ang blog ang sinasabing pinakabukas at libreng paraan, na nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa isang ordinaryong mamamayan na ipahayag at isalarawan ang isang pangyayari diretso mula sa paningin ng saksi.
Maari ring ang isang blog ay naglalaman ng mga kalipunan ng mga sanaysay,
“It (blogging) helps me to reach people beyond my verbal reach,” ani Badrud Doza, isang political blogger mula
Nagiging interactive ang komunikasyon at nagkakaroon ng diskusyon sa pamamagitan ng pagdagdag ng mga mensahe at puna galing sa mga mambabasa.
Ang iba naman ay ginagawang pagkakitaan ang pagba-blog. Isang bagay na maaring gumana at maari ring hindi sa isang blogger.
Maaring malaman ng blogger ang pinagmulan at tagal ng pagbabasa ng kanyang mga mambabasa sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang statistics program. Kung gaano ka detalye ang program ay depende na sa program na ginamit.
Iilan lamang ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit marami ang mga nalolokong mag blog.
Ang blogging ay hindi lamang para sa mga baguhan. Pati mga prominenteng tao ay nahuhumaling dito. Maging si Bill Clinton man ay may sariling blog.
Hindi din hadlang ang edad. Bata man o matanda ay maaring magkaron ng blog basta’t may kapasidad itong maipahayag ang sarili at may sapat na kaalaman pagdating sa computer.
Nasa blogger ang desisyon kung nanaisin niyang gawin ang kanyang blog sa isang journal o pahayagan na format at pampubliko o pribadong account. Maliban sa pagsusulat, na-ipapakita din ng may-akda ang kanyang gawaing sining sa pamamagitan ng kabuuang tema at ayos ng blog.
Kung gusto mong mag-umpisa ng blog, maari kang mag-register sa mga libreng blog networks
Sa pamagitan ng isang blog, malayang makapagpahayag ng saloobin ang isang blogger. Pero kakabit ng kalayaang ito, ang responsibilidad ng pagiging tapat sa sarili sa kung anu ang katotohanan at tama dahil sa pamamagitan ng internet, abot ng blog mo ang mundo.
'Discrimination still among us'
By Chelyn Torejas of Jose Maria College
DILI ko maulaw manglimos pero maulaw ko moadto og skwelahan (I am not ashamed to beg but I am ashamed to go to school," teenage Lino, a Badjao, said.
"Okay lang man ang teacher pero usahay ang classmate ang mo-kantyaw. Ingnon man silag, 'Badjao, Badjao'. Usahay pod dagko na sila, maong maolaw (The problem is not with the teachers but with the classmates. The children are being teased, branded as Badjaos. Others are ashamed because they are older than their classmates)," said Lolita Adjari, the leader in one of two Badjao communities in Matina Aplaya.
Leah Genson of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Pag-ugmad sa Kabataan, which is operating a pre-school inside Adjari's community, and is also maintaining elementary scholars in nearby Matina Aplaya Elementary School, admits that discrimination is one of the issues being faced by their students.
But, they are trying to address this by sending their social workers to schools where the children experience such.
"Pinapaintindi sa mga estudyante ano ang mga Badjao," she said.
Discrimination persists, and the target of these, are not just the Badjaos, but Mindanao's other indigenous peoples as well.
"Daghang mga kasinatian anang discrimination. Akong magulang wala nakahuman og skwela kay magsige raman kakita og sumbagay (We have experienced discrimination. My brother even had to stop going to school because he would always find trouble from the constant teasing he got from his classmates)," Lucy Rico, a lumad and the Scholarship In-charge of Minadanawon Initiatives for Agricultural Dialogue said.
The teacher Rico added has the key role that can minimize if not totally stop discrimination as experienced by indigenous children at school.
Matina Aplaya Elementary School guidance counselor agrees. Equality, she said, should be fiercely taught in school.
Making sure that the marginalized get proper education, however, can help bring up not just their people's self-esteem but also their role in their communities, consequently bringing them the opportunity to lead and be heard which a meek, uneducated community may not readily take up.
"Mao gyud nay pinakagwapo kung mahuman gyud na sila. Gwapo mana paghuman nimog skwela syempre naa man gyud na mo-hire sa imoha (It is best if they, the Badjaos, will finish their studies. Simply because, if you have acquired education, you will have a greater chance of being employed)," Jonathan Irales, 26, said. Irales, son of a former leader of the other Badjao community in Matina Aplaya, is the only one in their community who has graduated in high school.
His case, however, should not be exceptional saying there are well-educated Badjaos in Sulu, Zamboanga and Tawi-Tawi who have college degrees. He proudly calls them as "professionals".
"Abi sa akong papa Tagalog, pero Badjao diay. Sila lay nagsupporta, gikan sa ilang katigulangan gipa eskwela gyud silag maayu (My father thought they were Tagalogs and did not recognize them as fellow Badjaos. Their parents and relatives are the ones who have been supporting their studies)," Irales said.
There are already existing programs in some cities in the country that address the education needs of Badjaos.
If Macau has a floating casino and fairy tales have floating castles, early this year, a floating school in Zamboanga City was established to suit the mobile lifestyle of Badjao children. This has been established to bring the school closer to the Badjao community instead of forcing Badjaos to go to school, taking into consideration their dependence on the seashore, boat-dwelling lifestyle and their language.
In Sulu, Marines have been instigating "Learn to Read and Write" program directly aimed for the Badjao community.
"Poverty is not a reason of not earning education. I have been in a poor family. I go to school with nothing. Poverty is not a hindrance towards education," said Bengaura, who was in the community paying a visit to the family of her Badjao student.
It is in recognition of the more difficult climb a child from an indigenous peoples' tribe has to go through to achieve basic education that programs designed especially for the IPs have been developed.
For one, the Department of Education established an Institute for Indigenous Peoples Education (IIPE) in 2004. Part of the program is an Alternative Learning System (ALS) intended for out-of-school children/ youth and adult population teaching basic literacy skills. It promotes its advocacy that learning can take place anytime and any place suitable for the convenience of the learners.
ALS is an alternative learning solution if one does not have an easy access with formal schooling due to its modular and flexible programs.
There is also the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, established in 2001, and is giving comprehensive college scholarship program among different indigenous people from different tribes who can pass the screening exam. The program which is actively supporting IIPE, Rico said, is currently supporting 14 scholars.
"Bisan dili namo kultura mo-eskwela daghan ang naningkamot tungod sa kausaban sa panahon tungod sa kalisod (Though studying is not in our culture, a lot strive to acquire it because of poverty and the changes brought by time)," Rico said.
Rico however admitted that the organization has not yet reached the Badjaos. "Sa pagkakaron daghan mang mga NGOs, sa government nga ginatotoakan sila (Badjaos). Ang among ginatabangan kato gyung layu katong walay naghatag og panahon (NGO have been giving an eye on Badjaos. Our organization is presently helping those tribes from far-flung areas that are not yet receiving help from any organizations," Rico added.
The embassy of Japan, in its official web portal, further affirmed its main support with the "Community Education Center" directed towards children and adult Badjaos in Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C, Davao City.
Wary of strangers
The Badjao group, however, believes they have been made use of and are thus wary of organizations extending help to them but have other agenda in mind. "Mao nay pinaka-number one namo nga kasuko kanang motabang pero wala (We are angry at those people who only makes good-for-nothing promises)," Adjari said.
Irales recalls how a group of people gathered them for a picture taking who explained that it would generate donations. Until today, the Badjaos from Matina have not received any donations from the group.
"Nakita na lang namo sa picture, gigamit rami (Until we saw our pictures. They only used us)," Irales said.
Education at the bottom-line
Lurking amid all these woes is still one basic right, the right to education that seemed to have been kept away from the Badjao children by their elders and by the society.
"Education is a societal concern and responsibility," Department oe Education Sectretary Jesli Lapus said in the "Give Us This Day" program of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired between 8-12 p.m. last November 19.
"Ang edukasyon makapa-usab gyud sa kinabuhi sa tawo depende sa imong pagdala kung naa gyud sa maayu nga dalan... Wala naman gani bugas mopa-eskwela pa kaha wala naman gani ikapalit og panihapon palit pa bag lapis. Kung naa man gani chance nga makaeskwela paningkamotan nga mapahimoslan ang tabang (Education can change one's life depending on how you used it. If there are chances, strive to benefit from those help)," Rico said.
"Education is one of the ways of life in this world. But the very essence is that in this world we need education because education gives a life to a person... there you will learn what is right, what is wrong and what is best how to do the work," Bengaura said.
"
Bengaura, however, said that while teachers can encourage children to study hard, the ultimate encouragement should come from the children's homes. The responsibility to motivate children to go to school lies with the parents, she said.
Unemployment breeds unemployment. In a competitive world, inefficiency due to lack of formal schooling and basic literacy skills is one reason that triggers it. In this community, the cycle continues.
When a need for education clashes with a way of living, the education programs can suffer an uphill climb. Though the Philippine constitution upholds the right of every Filipino for free basic education, complete cooperation and literal presence of the supposed-to-be-students are needed before it can address the learning needs of the marginalized just like with this community.
The streets, their school
By Chelyn Torejas of
BADJAO children are on the streets, tapping rhythms on their drums made of tin cans and PVC pipes way before the Christmas break; tapping on car window shields, asking for "pamasko." In response, the motorist taps back while staring straight ahead, not looking; it's the signal for "go away."
Some mumble, some don't even take notice, others smirk in disdain, others look the other way, some ask: If they are on the street, when do they go to school?
They don't.
While the education sector is talking about cyber education utilizing the education advantage of computers, Lino (not his real name) has not even touched a keyboard, much less hold a ballpen. At his adolescent age, he does not know how to write and read.
The lad while clutching a modified drum, admitted that he has only reached Grade 1. He doesn't mind though except that there are those who take advantage of his lack of education and shortchange him when he sells shells, trinkets and pearls.
Samuel who does not know his age said, "Mamana nalang ko og isda kaysa moadtog skwelahan parehas raman makat-on ko (I prefer to hunt for fishes instead of going to school, anyway, I still learn from fishing)."
Lino and Samuel are just two boys in two Badjao communities in Matina Aplaya who have been deprived of formal schooling.
In a city where literacy rates are high, the Badjaos are brushed to the sidelines. Their numbers diminutive but not insignificant.
The leader of one of the two groups of Badjao, Lolita Adjari, said that only five percent out of the assessed 150 children and youngsters goes to school. Basic literacy is also absent.
"Naa lay mga upat katao ang makabalo musulat og mobasa. Dili gyud ingon mobasa gyud (There are just around four persons in the community who know how to write and read)," Adjari said.
The lenient attitude of Badjao parents towards education translates into a lenient attitude of Badjao children in going to school.
"In and out, sulud pod usahay dili, og ganahan lang (The children goes to school irregularly. It depends if they feel like going)," Adjari said when asked about the school performance of their children.
A child development center is being operated for free by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Pagugmad sa Kabataan right within Adjari's community. Still, attendance is erratic.
Children were attracted to the center because of the television. But when power supply was cut off from their community when they failed to pay their bills, students lost their interest to go to school as well.
The
"They don't give a value when it comes to education," Bengaura said.
While those who may be interested to enroll are faced with yet another problem: birth certificates, or the lack of it.
Of the present crop of children in Adjari's community, only 15 have birth certificates, which they got when the city government, through the instigation of City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III, held a mass registration some four years ago. Those children registered at that time are now in their teens, more have sprouted, and several more have settled in.
"Mao lagi gikaproblemahan. Kay kung moadto na sa elementary kinahanglan gyud og birth certificate (That's the problem because these children can not be admitted in school without birth certificates)," Adjari said.
Councilor
During the interview, residents pointed out lack of income as the main cause for quitting school. In a family who depends on fishing, selling pearls, rendering songs and selling ukay-ukay as a living, parents according to Adjari cannot afford to fully sustain the children's allowance and school supplies.
Kalingalan Kasayon, one of the elders, was quick to say that sending a garnchild to school is expensive.
While Jonathan Irales, 26, son of a former leader in the other community, who is hailed as the only community member who finished high school said it was easier during his time because school things were not as expensive as they are now.
Both Irales and Adjari affirmed that not one of the 68 families living in the area has graduated from college.
"Grade 5, Grade 6 diha lang gyud na siya taman (It is only up to Grade 5 to Grade 6)," Irales added.
"Minyo lang wala nag-eskwela (They're all married but have not gone to school)," Kasayon said when asked about the educational level of his children.
The UCCP Pag-ugmad, however, is not giving up on them, although Pag-ugmad's Leah Genson admits it is one continuing struggle against generations of neglect -- both from the community and the government.
"Meron na tayong 20 scholars, elementary yan sila. Sa pre-school, 15," she said.
Also, she said, they have mobilized an organization of Badjao youths both in
They also have social workers clsoely monitoring their students, she said. "Basta kami ngayon, every week pumupunta ang social worker, two days sa Matina Aplaya and two days sa Sta. Cruz," Genson said.
There's a lot of counseling needed, she said, to stimulate the children's interest in education. What they are trying to do is make it easier by providing for the financial needs of the student and providing pep talks as well.
"Isa sa mga advocacies namin talaga is no to early marriages. Dapat kasi ang malaking mindshift pa," she said.
Irales said that once a Badjao reaches 13 years of age, he or she can already get married. This was echoed by Adjari.
Thus, even before finishing elementary grades, the newly-weds would stop their schooling and earn a living to support their forthcoming family.
"Pati na rin yung pangangailangang kumita. Kaya yung mga batang lalaki, once adolescent na sinasama na ng mga papa nila mangisda sa laot," Genson said.
Genson is optimistic they can make a difference, although it might take some time. She tacks hope on Irales whom they are pushing to take up a college course and one other student who already graduated in elementary to push through with his secondary education.
In the meantime, Genson takes courage from the fact that the number of teenage marriages among Badjaos in the communities they serve are dwindling.
"Kumokonti na talaga ang nag-aasawa ng maaga," she said.
This may be a small step, but it means a lot in finally bringing the Badjaos into the mainstream where they will no longer be conveniently forgotten in the fringes of the coastal communities that have long been their home. The next step: bring them all to school so they can enjoy their right to education. But before that, give them a name and a nationality through birth registration.
Basic rights of a child, these are called. But to a Badjao child, he may not even be aware he has been deprived of such.