Aetas in Naga to get "Ople shoes"

CEBU, Philippines - An Aeta community in Naga was chosen by a non-government organization named after the late Senator Blas Ople as the first recipient in Cebu of its Christmas gifts.

Susan Ople, youngest daughter of the late senator, said she was inspired by the desire of the Aeta children to study and learn even if they were just using a makeshift school manned by volunteer teachers in barangay South Poblacion, Naga.

Susan, who heads the Blas Ople Policy Center - an NGO she founded to continue the legacy of her father, said she will bring school shoes, books and notebooks to the Aeta children to make their Christmas merrier.

“Toots”, as she is fondly called, said she visited the Aeta community together with Dr. Caridad Labe, district superintendent of the Department of Education, and she was “impressed by the children’s determination to learn from their volunteer teachers.”

Susan, who was former Labor undersecretary, said their center is giving out “Ople shoes” to indigent schoolchildren who, despite abject poverty, have exhibited enormous potential as learners.

She also said that the program was based on the life of her father who was a product of a public school. Susan said that because of her father’s desire to be educated, poverty never became a hindrance to him.

In fact, she recalled, her late father told them that he had to borrow shoes from a rich uncle so he could deliver his valedictory speech as a young student.

According to Susan, the “Ople shoes” program has already reached the other parts of the country especially in calamity-stricken areas like barangay Guinsaugon in St. Bernard, Leyte; and to the flood victims in Luzon.

“The Aeta community will be the first recipient of Ople shoes in Cebu,” Susan told reporters.

She added that they would like to provide the Aeta tribe a Christmas that they won’t forget by making sure that their schoolchildren have new shoes on Christmas Day as well as books and other school supplies.

Susan who was in Cebu yesterday claimed that she was offered a slot for the senatorial slate of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who is considered as one of the presidential contenders.

She said that she will make the decision whether or not to run for senator within the next two weeks. However, she promised that if given the chance to serve as senator she will push for the genuine labor agenda and for the protection of the Filipino overseas contract workers. — Fred P. Languido/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)