The long, long road to education

The award-winning indie film Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong (The Road to Kalimugtong) directed by Mes de Guzman tells the story of orphans Jinky (Analyn Bangsi-il) and Potpot (Rhenuel Ordonio) whose lives routinely consist of taking the arduous journey to school from their house in Sitio Kalimugtong, Benguet a barrio 15 km. away. The siblings wake up before sunrise and start a tiring trek on the steep, slippery path by the mountainside at 4 a.m. They gait down cliffs, cross rivers and hanging bridges, and climb hills until they reach their school. So strong is their determination to study that not even a storm can dampen their spirit. When it rains, they take refuge from the giant gabi leaves which serve as their cover.

Jinky and Potpot are examples of schoolchildren in remote areas of the country who endure lengthy hours of walking just to get to school. Some schoolchildren walk barefoot or in slippers but armed with a thirst for knowledge. Remarkable is their unwavering spirit to illuminate their young minds that despite crossing perilous mountains and gorges just to get to school everyday, these children remain steadfast. We learn valuable lessons from these kids. Young as they are, they show us the importance of perseverance, patience, hard work and the value of good education.

When we were kids our elders often reminded us to study hard. Parents motivate their children in different ways. Some impose rules, rewards and punishments like curfews to make sure their kids behave and study well. Some parents hire tutors for their children. Or if they can’t afford tutors, I know of some young parents who double as tutors despite punishing schedules. Although problems like lack of accessible roads in far-flung barrios, inadequate facilities and equipment, lack of instructional materials, and poverty beset the education system in the country, students must remain unfazed. Education, to me, is still the way out of the penurial pit.

Media recognize the importance of learning and illuminating young minds. Television programs are creatively conceptualized to provide alternative teaching methods for children. Who could forget Sesame Street with its combination of puppets, animation and actors? The educational children’s TV series teaches letter and word recognition, mathematics, geometric forms, classification and basic life skills like crossing the street safely, proper hygiene, healthy eating habits and social skills. People who grew up with Sesame Street still remember the muppets Bert, Ernie, Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Grover, and Elmo as well as Mr. Hooper, Gordon, Maria, Luis, and Bob. The show brings back happy childhood memories!

Anyone remember The Electric Company? This kiddie show used comedy and circus to provide an entertaining program so children in primary school can develop their reading skills. The original cast included Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Bill Cosby, and Lee Chamberlin. Some of the sketches were Blond-Haired Cartoon Man voiced by Mel Brooks where he read words that appeared onscreen which were not in correct order; Vincent the Vegetable Vampire played by Freeman and Easy Reader which featured a smooth hipster who loved to read at every opportunity and every printed thing he saw, teaching words of the day. Short Circus is a singing group of kids whose songs facilitated reading comprehension.

Our very own Batibot is based on Sesame Street. It premiered in 1984 as Sesame! and was renamed Batibot. The word Batibot in Tagalog means "small but strong and robust." As Sesame!, the program used English and Tagalog while Batibot became a completely Filipino children’s educational show. Remember Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing, Manang Bola, and siblings Ningning and Gingging as well as Kuya Bodjie and Ate Sienna?

Other kiddie shows in the past include Art is Kool and 5 & Up both produced by Probe Productions, Inc. of Cheche Lazaro. Atom Araullo, Chynna Ortaleza and Zak Yuson became 5 & Up hosts.

A show for Samar schoolchildren

Imagine a school without roofs, chairs or books. The Island School Works Society aims to focus attention on the pitiful conditions of thousands of schoolchildren in Samar for whom this is a sad reality — and to do something about it.

The Island School Works Society launches its 2007 projects with a special benefit concert featuring Pops Fernandez, Rivermaya, Jay-R, Iya Villania, Pokwang, Pooh, Kris Lawrence and many surprise guests who share the society’s mission. The show is set tomorrow night at 7, at Metro Bar, West Ave., QC. Each P500 ticket will buy one chair or 10 books. (Tickets are available at the venue’s entrance or text 0916-6080417 or 0921-4011480 for reservations.)

The chairman of the non-profit organization is director Chito S. Roño who says, "Our island schoolchildren must struggle daily — against all odds — to get the most basic education. They must work in classrooms without roofs, often without windows or doors. There is no protection from the elements and when it rains, students must huddle in one corner to keep themselves dry. There are hardly any books and no libraries, much less toilets or playgrounds. Our initial projects will cover the Tampipi and Bansud Primary Schools and we hope to raise funds to put in a new roof and add school chairs."

At present, the Tampipi school is made of a recycled container van whose roof has blown off. "It’s not just about building roofs or giving chair or books," says Roño, "it’s about bringing back hope and inspiration to our children’s lives."