In What Context

JASMIN L. MANGIO

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Reflecting these words by Mahatma Gandhi, I remember my neophyte years as a classroom teacher. Before stepping in the public school, I was blessed to have a five year private school teaching life. I should admit that it is not also a bed of roses teaching experience.

But luckily I had with me all the learning packed with basic knowledge of using technology in day-to day encounters with students. All of us had our own shares of being treated as if we all know everything while those we met specially the season teachers, feels being left behinds scenes.

The same scenarios still exists, and it will always be our choice to know where we stand. “do not be too near, but do not be too close too,” is just one mantra that I personally developed in this battle.

It has always been about the commitment and moral ascendancy that I keep in mind that makes me stay. Still exerting all my efforts for my student welfare. Still offering my thoughts for those who are wholeheartedly accepting those ideas that for others may not be suited to their standards.

And today, that the “new Normal came into open, the more I am willing to practice servant leadership to my brethren specially my students. With God’s grace, I know I can fight this pandemic and make learning still feasible anytime, anywhere.

For self- worth and for my students’I will continuously do all these not to be labelled as the BEST TEACHER for them but a person who is willing to be their co-learner in this training ground.

Together, I would willingly spent growing years with my students but lasting memories within my heart.

In God’s time, I believe everything

author Mabalacat City

is Teacher

III

will always store

fall in their proper

--oOo-The at Paralayunan Elementary School, Schools Division of

will

places.

Filipino people, especially the underprivileged, are always known for their resilience. In fairness, they are given a hand for it, just not what they expect to receive.

When classes became mostly online and/or modular due to the global pandemic, stories Filipino resilience surfaced all over the internet and the national television.

One of these, the story of Teacher Moises Palomo who crosses and swims a river in Surigao del Sur just to deliver modules to his students with no internet connection, was recently featured in Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho.

Similarly, the story of Arvin Curangcurang, a grade two student who has to climb up a tree house just to get a good signal for his online class, trended on social media. These people, and those who experience the same hardships just to get by the ramifications of the pandemic, are clearly suffering and they should be given a hand.

Ironically, the idiom "to give a hand" could mean two things: (1) to extend help, and to applaud.

Unfortunately, when our kababayans are suffering or, as they say, when they "show resilience," the latter is given to them when what they clearly need is the former. Romanticising the suffering of others should be put to an end.

It is as absurd as clapping your hands for someone screaming for help.

Friendly reminder: always consider the context when you "give a hand."

*** ** at Mauaque Resettlement Elementary School Division of

all

of

(2)

The author Mabalacat City

is Teacher

III