To be a teacher here in the Philippines is to go beyond the ordinary. It means that extreme measures are needed just so lessons and assignments can be taught and submitted. Education in our country has always been a constant topic of criticism and talks. Truth is, it is not a secret that our teachers are underpaid and some students are financially struggling to continue their studies. The situation we are in is already a bad one. But, when COVID-19 happened, things just got worse, especially with online classes.
Online classes are the new normal now. For months, respective government departments are going back and forth whether to open physical classes or just settle for the digital version as of the moment. The teachers, however, have mixed reactions and emotions regarding this. Some agree to continue the online classes. But, most are against to push through with this new setup. Mainly for the reason that the internet connection is unstable and gadgets are not affordable for most families. But it seems that their woes just fell on deaf ears. Although individuals, groups, and organizations extended a helping hand, more struggling teachers are still out there. Waiting for a hope, a change, and a better treatment.
To Those We Owe Our ‘Thank You’
Being an educator is one of the most noble profession out there. They pour out their mind, heart, and soul to prepare us once we step outside into the real world. Saying words of appreciation will never be enough to show them how grateful we are that they plant the seeds of knowledge within us. And now more than ever, the people we look up to the most once again proved that indeed, these beautiful people can go the extra mile just to impart learning and wisdom to hopeful students. But should we just keep on normalizing their struggles?
The Climb
Efren Cabotage, a mathematics teacher at Narvacan National Central High School (NNCHS) in Ilocos Sur, went out of his way to help his students enroll in their online classes. Since internet connection and lack of devices are a problem for most students in the school he is teaching, Cabotage climbed a mountain to access a stronger signal for his pocket WiFi and enrolled those students who came to him for help.
According to a post written in DepEd Tayo NNCHS’ Facebook page, the admirable teacher went to greater lengths as he was once a student in a similar situation. He saw himself in the eyes of his students who badly want to go to school. Although he struggled to continue his studies, he still persevered and rose to the occasion.
Cabotage even had to spend his own money just to buy load for his pocket WiFi every time. Moreover, the location of the school is not in a great spot for a strong internet connectivity. So, he had to climb a mountain and spend hours there just to find a perfect area so he can enroll the kids.
“They just have to study hard and consider their parents’ sacrifices. They have to do their best to graduate. I’ve been there, on that kind of situation, so I’ll be there, to make that situation lighter, ” Cabotage said in an interview with NNCHS.
“Kung kinaya ko, kakayanin rin nila,” he furthered.
Kilometers For Webinar
Four teachers had to walk several kilometers just so they can attend a webinar for the blended learning aka new normal setup for the academic school year. June, this year, the teachers of Maducayan Elementary School didn’t mind the distance, bad weather, and tiredness from walking 9 kilometers in order to fulfill their duties. They even had to cross a river until they reach Barangay Saliok, where the signal is better.
“Kung bad weather talaga, syempre madulas, madulas ‘yung daan. Pero kapag good weather naman, puwedeng dumaan ng, lalakarin ‘yun ng mga two hours. Pero kapag bad weather, lalakarin mo ‘yan mga two to three hours,” Julita Gumatay, head teacher, said in an interview with GMA News.
As to why such actions were made by them, Gumatay said that it is their “pledge” as teachers. She even emphasized that during these uncertain times, it’s really a challenge for them to teach the students in the best way possible.
Moreover, the four teachers had to share a single cellphone and use it in the barangay where the signal is stronger.
“Ang signal naman doon ay fluctuating, nawawala, kasi ‘yung ginagamit namin ay cellphone, pumunta kami doon sa hill, kumuha kami ng speaker para isa lang ang magamit na cellphone para hindi naman maagawan ‘yung signal,” Gumatay added.
Trees and Signal
Climbing a tree is a favorite playtime activity of children before. But teacher Fredierick Castulo didn’t imagine that he had to go through such measure just to fulfill what his profession requires for the online classes. Castulo is an elementary teacher for the indigenous Palaw’an tribes in Barangay Ransang, Rizal.
Admittedly, his life as an educator was even more challenged when the pandemic hit. It took a lot of “research” for Castulo to know about accessing virtual meetings and lectures since everything has to be done online. He also stressed communication tools are quite complicated. An example is when his face can be seen and his voice can be heard even if the instruction says that there is no need to open the camera and to un-mute.
However, Castulo didn’t only face this kind of struggle. He also often finds himself in an awkward situation just to have access to an internet signal. One of this is climbing a tree.
“May mga online reports na kailangan umakyat ng puno, isabit ang cellphone o kaya ang wifi, maglakad ng malayo (sa kabilang bundok), maulanan, magbaon pang maghapon (sardinas the best), matumba sa motor, magtawid ng ilog, para sa online submission. Nakaka-self-fulfilling kapag na send mo na reports pero nakaka-smile din pag minsang hindi mai-count report mo o kaya may mali sa ginawa mo,” he said in an interview with Palawan News.
Out Of Pure Love
But despite such difficult situations he had to face almost everyday, he is still continuously doing what he loves to do because of his passion for his profession. Even if he had to use some of his personal money to provide the students’ need for writing and reading materials, he still do it out of “pure love” for the kids.
“Personal na diskarte na rin, meron na rin kaming hugot sa sariling bulsa para lang ma-i-provide namin ang kailangan ng bata pero ‘yon ay hindi pahirap sa amin, sama-sama kaming tumutulong para ma-provide ‘yong para sa mga bata at the same time ay hindi namin napapabayaan ang mga pamilya namin,” he disclosed.
Camp Highway
With the hopes of attending the webinar last June, some public school teachers from Maco, Davao de Oro didn’t have a choice but to set-up a camp in the high areas of the city so they can have access to better signal. According to the teachers, the highway was 15 minutes away from the school.
The teachers from New Leyte Elementary School and New Leyte National High School look like stranded passengers waiting for a rescue along the road. In an interview with Manila Bulletin, the teachers said that one of the challenges that they faced in this new normal education is the poor signal in their area. They also shared how some students lack devices like phones and laptops for their online classes.
The Department of Education in Region 11 commended the teachers for finding ways to attend the webinar for online classes. This, despite the situation the teachers were in.
“While others look at these photos with disdain, many look at them as heroes; unheralded but honest, courageous, and true,” DepEd Region 11 said in their Facebook post.
“The teachers in these photos are laudable, let alone edifying. Despite the lack of resources like Internet connection, these teachers went out of their way to be connected,” it said.
“They went out of their way to find means to help themselves, to help the schools division that they belong to,” it furthered.
Akyat Fence
Angie Sabuero, a teacher in Butuan City had to climb a fence to grab an internet connection for her online classes and meetings. Just like all other struggling teachers during this time, Sabuero also finds it difficult to do her job because of the lack of a stable signal in their house and community.
“Eh wala po kaming internet so data po ‘yong ginamit ko. Sa aming lugar po, napakahirap po ng connection kaya po ‘yong time na nakaakyat po ako sa bakod kasi marami na pong beses na nag-attend ako ng meeting namin, minsan nahuhuli po ako,” Sabuero said in an interview with GMA News.
Being a teacher for 22 years now, Sabuero find this academic year a big challenge for her and other teachers. She mentioned how she consumes load amounting to Php 600 in a month just so she can teach during online classes.
“Una, pumunta ako sa kaibigan namin sa ibang barangay, maaga po ako pumunta doon para lang makisingit sa WiFi. Noong malapit na ‘yong time ko na ako na ‘yong mag-report, ‘yong connection nila, humihina rin kaya natataranta na ako. Bumalik ako sa bahay kasi kako baka doon sa taas mayroong signal eh wala pa rin,” she narrated.
Depth of Struggle
The depth of struggle that our teachers are facing now is really deep. But for a certain teacher in Surigao del Sur, that depth is literally up until his neck. There is a lack of resources to give out the modules for his students. So, just to get across to the barangay he is headed to, Moises Palomo swam a river.
According to him, most houses lack an internet connection. So, in order to provide those students learning materials, they had to create printed or written modules for them. Teacher Moises’ day starts by waking up at 5 in the morning to prepare for the things he need to bring. Then, he would start travelling to reach the far located houses of his students.
Although a boat is available on the river, it is not accessible all the time. Therefore, Palomo did what he had to do. He swam. The river is not something you can cross with just by walking. So, the only way to go is to swim. The waters are relatively deep that it even reached the teacher’s neck area. It’s a dangerous thing to do. But because of his desire to help the students he was left with no choice.
The Sad Reality
Here and there, we will come across viral posts of teachers who did unimaginable things just so they can practice their profession and assist their students in these uncertain times. For some, they should be lauded for their sacrifices. But should we really just look at their struggles as something to be proud of? Are we not supposed to call out the very system that allows such unfair treatment to them?
Students are the future of this world. But they will never be successful without the teachers that stayed by their side for number of years, honing them to be better in what they want to do. And so, let us be grateful to our ma’am and sir. But let us also not settle for the kind of treatment they are receiving. They deserve more. They deserve better.