Reflection in Green Miarayon

While eating in one of the fast food in Sta. Mesa, I heard some annoying students who were also eating. Some of the customers were started to be irritated too. There was an old couple - the old woman approached the manger and complained about the noisy students. As I was sitting next table to the old couple’s table, I heard the manager agreed to the complaint. The manager and the old woman had a little conversation afterwards. She asked if all the crews are full time. The manager said, “No ma’am they are just part time. Actually they are scholars of this fast food chain.” Seemed astounded by what she heard, the old woman smiled and asked how it could be possible that they are sponsoring students. The manager told that the part time crew can avail the full scholarships or half scholarships depending on those who deserve it based on their academic performance. Then the manager added “Mas mabuti na po yung ganito, free na ang tuition at the same time may sinasahod pa po.” (It is a good idea since they have already free tuition fee and at the same time they earn salary)” After the manager said that, I began to think about our previous plan with my sister. Since we both wanted to help those young and potential students who cannot afford to go to school, we were thinking to establish a small business where it can be a way of help for those who wish to continue to study. The eagerness of my heart to help those determined students to continue their studies are overwhelming. There is a kind of voice that always reminds me and gives me hope that it is possible way for it.

When my sister and I had our vacation in Miarayon, a barangay of Talakag, Bukidnon, the place was so green and it was like you were close to embracing the beauty of the nature. When we reached Miarayon, I indeed appreciate the students of Miarayon.





They appreciate and value education so much. All they need was a good support especially in financial aspects. I remember my sister telling me “kabalo ka kai. Naisip nako na sila ang swerte. Dili kita nga nagpuyo sa city (I think that they are the one who are lucky compared to us who are living in the city). When my sister shared to me her thoughts that time, I told her that I agree with her. The place gave us some sort of refreshment. Maybe that time we were referring to the quiet and peaceful place where they lived in. The place is surrounded with mountains and plantations of different vegetables. You can even just ask your neighbor a small amount of tomato but then in return they can give you at least half tray of tomatoes. My sister and I saw the life back there in Miarayon as simple in a stress free area. There was no internet connection and signal of mobile phones was hardly to find. People there never worry about load, emails or friendster but instead they just worry of what they will eat and how they can earn money out from their farming. Coming back to Manila, I heard the same crap noise - message alert tones of my phone, the emails, checking my friendster and everything. Then I thought, no wonder why I and my sister had fallen in love to the place. But when I ate in that fast food, the statement of my sister just pops up on my mind. ‘They are the one who are lucky’. Indeed, it is true on the other side as they do not experience a stressful life brought by competition in the cosmopolitan world. However, I was also thinking that my sister could be lucky also. We never experience the hardships compared to those kids in Miarayon especially in going to school.

My sister and I grew up in a small town. We lived a simple life also but we were able to go to and graduated in college. While we stayed in Miarayon for two nights, we met some students like Cute, who was our tour guide. A cute and charming girl, I admire her for she loves singing so much. Another is Gigi, a shy type of girl but deep down inside her she has determination that no one can be compared of. Then we met Lorna, a girl filled with determination and courage. As we build our friendship with these girls, they were sharing their dreams and ambitions in their life. My sister and I were listening to Lorna as she relate to us how she get to school for 3 years. Lorna relate to us that she would walked 3 hours every morning to be able to get in school on time and another 3 hours in the afternoon to home. Not until this school year when Lorna was invited to stay in the convent near her school. Lorna is now in her 4th year and soon will graduate. She hopes to be able to go to college. Lorna relates to us that she wants to study vocational courses when she reached her college years. Asking Lorna how she managed to continue going to school by walking 3 hours everyday, she answered us “kinahanglan jud para makahuman eskwela (I need it to finish school).” Such simple words but deep inside her I see a girl who possess great determination to overcome obstacles in her life. Reflecting on what Lorna told us, I felt very much lucky for what I have now. For living in the city, I’ve experienced to be a working student during college years. I do part time where I enjoyed it because the money I earned was just additional money to buy things that I want. I just think that living in an urban and rural has still its own advantage and disadvantage. For students like Lorna and for those who work as a crew in fast food chains are the same. They possess determination and optimism to finish studies but then somehow I think that the amount of determination they have would not equal to the place they are living now. Money is hard to find in urban areas unlike in rural, you can have part time to be able to earn money. The life in Miarayon is simple maybe but then the pain of struggling is sometimes unbearable. The kids in Miarayon hope for a better future when they finished their studies which become a desire to keep them going.

After my vacation, I realized that my eagerness to help those kids have limitation. I thought by helping Arnel, one of our scholars would be a great start but then as I think it over, I can’t also make it. The fact that I don’t have the resources to provide for needs of others. Visiting Miarayon left memorable words from their dialect, “Mayad na Pag-uma (Welcome)” and “Liko Liko Kaw Da (Come Back Always).” “Mayad na Pag-uma” which means welcome, had welcomed me to a place where I see different faces of determination. It is an eye opener for appreciating the determination and courage of those kids and I who shares the same dream, to have a better life. “Liko Liko Kaw Da” which means come back always, are words to live with for me and the children of Miarayon. To look and come back always from where you are from, from where you belong because it will always be the reason for what I am now and how they we will be shaping our future, me and the Miarayon children. Despite of the hardships, there will always be a bunch of rainbows that will clear every burden in our heart which will give us hope!