Handog ng Sining
Richard M. Collado
Alay ng mga bayani
Sa lahing kayumanggi
Hinubog ng dakilang hangarin at kaisipan
Sa buong kapulua’y pumailanlang
Pilipino’y may sarili nang kalinangan
Bago pa inalintana ng mga dayuhan
Ngunit di naging punyal na balakid
Upang magpakapantas yaring isip
Sining lalong namukad
Mga diwa’y inukit sa mga titik
Ng mga buhay na kaluluwang
Manlilikha ng musika, sayaw at awit
Refrain:
Kaya ngayon sama-sama tayo sa iisang tinig
Mapahilaga, timog, kanluran, silangan ang ating himig
Bunga ng dugo ng mga ninuno natin
Ipagdiwang ang buhay na handog ng sining
Ang pagkakaiba’y, huwag alintanahin
Ating pagsaluhan, ating pagyamanin
Ipagbunyi angking yaman ng mga Pilipino
Masasalamin sa kultura at sining mo
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
ON A DAY IN A LIFE OF A TEACHER
HOW DO WE KEEP THE SONG PLAYING
ON A DAY IN A LIFE OF A TEACHER
Richard M. Collado
She was being embraced by the cool December breeze passing through the old window made out of Capiz in their room. The fragrance of the guyabano, papaya, and other fruit bearing trees in bloom made a soothing sight of that early morning. She bent up her body with life bulging in her womb from the past restful and peaceful night. She gazed at her partner in life while still in his deep slumber from his graveyard schedule as a shift manager on a fastfood chain. As she is about to go to the kitchen she laid her hand to her two of the causes of her life, a four year old hyperactive son and a lovely one year old daughter.
She hurriedly went down from the staircase and prepare for a sumptuous breakfast and milk for her children. While doing the morning chores she suddenly hums a timeless song, a song that makes teachers more noble and committed in their profession.
ON A DAY IN A LIFE OF A TEACHER
Richard M. Collado
She was being embraced by the cool December breeze passing through the old window made out of Capiz in their room. The fragrance of the guyabano, papaya, and other fruit bearing trees in bloom made a soothing sight of that early morning. She bent up her body with life bulging in her womb from the past restful and peaceful night. She gazed at her partner in life while still in his deep slumber from his graveyard schedule as a shift manager on a fastfood chain. As she is about to go to the kitchen she laid her hand to her two of the causes of her life, a four year old hyperactive son and a lovely one year old daughter.
She hurriedly went down from the staircase and prepare for a sumptuous breakfast and milk for her children. While doing the morning chores she suddenly hums a timeless song, a song that makes teachers more noble and committed in their profession.
I’m a teacher a purveyor of truth and light,
I’m a teacher I was born to improve mankind
It’s my duty to enlighten the world and
And guide the young to the path of the Lord.
It’s already forty five minutes past the hour of six. She’s almost ready for school. She carried all her things with her vibrant maternity dress. She never fails to pay hugs and kisses to her siblings and her wife. As she went on to the waiting shed for a ride she took a deep breath and look at the vibrant sky as if asking for the ultimate creator to give her renewed commitment to her profession.
Indeed, teaching is one of the noblest professions. Or better be called a vocation. The travails which they pass through are untold. A teacher is a personification of righteousness, justice, fairness, beauty, and other virtues worth emulating by young minds.
I’m a teacher I must teach what is good and right
I’m a teacher I must live what I preach in life
As a model citizen of the world,
I must in thoughts, words and deeds be so good.
Now she’s in the portal of the nostalgic workplace. It’s her home for years, a world which she considers a home away from home. She finds the ingredients of a family. She was greeted by sweet lovely pupils wearing a contagious smile, comforting gestures of genuine affection from friends and co-workers who became her parents, brothers and sisters in most trying times. Yes this has been her kingdom for eight to ten hours a day, five times a week. This is where she spends most of time. At times she has been haunted by a feeling of guilt for she can’t pay much quality time to her kids and family. But that’s what a teacher all about. There are a lot of things she needs to forget once in a while for the good of others. She offers her selfless love to her clients for that is her calling. She needs to plant goodness not to expect something in return but for good is good. Her longing for her kids is being transferred to her pupils. That’s the very reason why the mother’s affection comes out naturally in her. She finds genuine happiness looking at them metamorphosed. Such a simple learning she saw in them gave her a feeling achievement.
In the children I write the future
In their learning I find great joy
I might never sit on a throne
But I’m contended my life is full
With all her impetus drive in teaching she didn’t even noticed its snack time. Some of her pupils ran towards her sharing some stuff which they brought with them for snacks. Undeniable there is a pinch of happiness in her heart. That simple gesture affirms her somehow how she has been loved by her pupils. While taking her snacks with them she called on her pupils who are going for a tilt. She made a point to check how far they have gone preparing for the competition. She sees to it they were able to do their assigned tasks. That was just in a couple of minutes but it will contribute somehow, because it isn’t her who will be competing but the pupils themselves. She has trying to imbibe the sense of responsibility and discipline.
She went back teaching after the snack. She faced the class with all enthusiasm and delight to deliver a new lesson. The room was filled with energy. The lesson became more interesting and more competitive because of the varied activities she has been giving.
One of the most awaited part of the day is the communion with her co-workers sharing the food for their lunch and the food they got from their classrooms- their interaction and experience with their pupils. It’s in this socialization that they will able to improve themselves as an individual and as a professional.
It’s time for the afternoon session. In the middle of her discussion, an unusual scenery did never escape from her sight. One of her pupils from the back is not paying attention on her. Instead, he is writing something on his paper. She walks slowly towards the little boy while delivering her lectures. The boy didn’t notice her. In her amazement, she saw the boy making a sketch of a woman having a big bulge on her stomach, wearing a floral printed maternity dress, with a short black hair, and has that lively rounded eye carrying a pile of books and a shoulder bag. Admittedly, she has made a conclusion that it was her whom the little boy is sketching. Instead of interrupting him she just continued her lesson.
Yes, I’m a teacher I must brave all the roaring waves
And the fury of the rivers and lakes and seas
I must climb on up the mountains and hills
Where children there wait for my love and care
At 4:30 o’clock, the bell prompted the end of the class. As customary, the kids bid the teacher adieu and run hurriedly towards the gate, a precursor that a day’s work is complete again. The teacher wipes her temple as she erases the blackboard. When she turns towards the room, she sees the sight of trembling child in an unnerving situation glued to the green painted chair. The little boy’s guilt trip was discernible; she could see it in those tiny, misty and apologetic brown eyes. She blankly approached the little boy when suddenly the boy said in a croaked voice…. “I know you will scold me. Ma’am I’m sorry for not paying attention, I was busy sketching my favorite teacher… Here look ma’am….” Then in a flash, he went out of the room leaving the room hastily with the teacher taken aback.
She looks at the paper in wild bewilderment. It seemed forever. It is a picture of a pregnant woman, who exactly looks like her. In an unruly penmanship it reads “teacher Marifel, my hero, my inspiration. That itself is a priceless possession, a precious gift, it’s more than everything. As she excitedly fixing herself going home and play another role of being a mother and a wife she’s carrying smile of contentment.
In the jeepney where she’s riding bound home, she gazed at the flame painted sky while the song keeps on playing, lulling her sense from a tiresome yet fulfilling day.
In the mountain or in the city
On an island where I may be
I shall keep on bringing the light
And live as a teacher until I die.
I’m a teacher I was born to improve mankind
It’s my duty to enlighten the world and
And guide the young to the path of the Lord.
It’s already forty five minutes past the hour of six. She’s almost ready for school. She carried all her things with her vibrant maternity dress. She never fails to pay hugs and kisses to her siblings and her wife. As she went on to the waiting shed for a ride she took a deep breath and look at the vibrant sky as if asking for the ultimate creator to give her renewed commitment to her profession.
Indeed, teaching is one of the noblest professions. Or better be called a vocation. The travails which they pass through are untold. A teacher is a personification of righteousness, justice, fairness, beauty, and other virtues worth emulating by young minds.
I’m a teacher I must teach what is good and right
I’m a teacher I must live what I preach in life
As a model citizen of the world,
I must in thoughts, words and deeds be so good.
Now she’s in the portal of the nostalgic workplace. It’s her home for years, a world which she considers a home away from home. She finds the ingredients of a family. She was greeted by sweet lovely pupils wearing a contagious smile, comforting gestures of genuine affection from friends and co-workers who became her parents, brothers and sisters in most trying times. Yes this has been her kingdom for eight to ten hours a day, five times a week. This is where she spends most of time. At times she has been haunted by a feeling of guilt for she can’t pay much quality time to her kids and family. But that’s what a teacher all about. There are a lot of things she needs to forget once in a while for the good of others. She offers her selfless love to her clients for that is her calling. She needs to plant goodness not to expect something in return but for good is good. Her longing for her kids is being transferred to her pupils. That’s the very reason why the mother’s affection comes out naturally in her. She finds genuine happiness looking at them metamorphosed. Such a simple learning she saw in them gave her a feeling achievement.
In the children I write the future
In their learning I find great joy
I might never sit on a throne
But I’m contended my life is full
With all her impetus drive in teaching she didn’t even noticed its snack time. Some of her pupils ran towards her sharing some stuff which they brought with them for snacks. Undeniable there is a pinch of happiness in her heart. That simple gesture affirms her somehow how she has been loved by her pupils. While taking her snacks with them she called on her pupils who are going for a tilt. She made a point to check how far they have gone preparing for the competition. She sees to it they were able to do their assigned tasks. That was just in a couple of minutes but it will contribute somehow, because it isn’t her who will be competing but the pupils themselves. She has trying to imbibe the sense of responsibility and discipline.
She went back teaching after the snack. She faced the class with all enthusiasm and delight to deliver a new lesson. The room was filled with energy. The lesson became more interesting and more competitive because of the varied activities she has been giving.
One of the most awaited part of the day is the communion with her co-workers sharing the food for their lunch and the food they got from their classrooms- their interaction and experience with their pupils. It’s in this socialization that they will able to improve themselves as an individual and as a professional.
It’s time for the afternoon session. In the middle of her discussion, an unusual scenery did never escape from her sight. One of her pupils from the back is not paying attention on her. Instead, he is writing something on his paper. She walks slowly towards the little boy while delivering her lectures. The boy didn’t notice her. In her amazement, she saw the boy making a sketch of a woman having a big bulge on her stomach, wearing a floral printed maternity dress, with a short black hair, and has that lively rounded eye carrying a pile of books and a shoulder bag. Admittedly, she has made a conclusion that it was her whom the little boy is sketching. Instead of interrupting him she just continued her lesson.
Yes, I’m a teacher I must brave all the roaring waves
And the fury of the rivers and lakes and seas
I must climb on up the mountains and hills
Where children there wait for my love and care
At 4:30 o’clock, the bell prompted the end of the class. As customary, the kids bid the teacher adieu and run hurriedly towards the gate, a precursor that a day’s work is complete again. The teacher wipes her temple as she erases the blackboard. When she turns towards the room, she sees the sight of trembling child in an unnerving situation glued to the green painted chair. The little boy’s guilt trip was discernible; she could see it in those tiny, misty and apologetic brown eyes. She blankly approached the little boy when suddenly the boy said in a croaked voice…. “I know you will scold me. Ma’am I’m sorry for not paying attention, I was busy sketching my favorite teacher… Here look ma’am….” Then in a flash, he went out of the room leaving the room hastily with the teacher taken aback.
She looks at the paper in wild bewilderment. It seemed forever. It is a picture of a pregnant woman, who exactly looks like her. In an unruly penmanship it reads “teacher Marifel, my hero, my inspiration. That itself is a priceless possession, a precious gift, it’s more than everything. As she excitedly fixing herself going home and play another role of being a mother and a wife she’s carrying smile of contentment.
In the jeepney where she’s riding bound home, she gazed at the flame painted sky while the song keeps on playing, lulling her sense from a tiresome yet fulfilling day.
In the mountain or in the city
On an island where I may be
I shall keep on bringing the light
And live as a teacher until I die.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
MVF: Pundasyon ng Liwanag at Pag-asa
MVF: Pundasyon ng Liwanag at Pag-asa
Richard M. Collado
Sa bayang nahaharap sa napakaraming mga hamon, maaaring ang liwanag ng pag-asa’y mailap na masilayan. Subalit sa bayang puno ng mga pagpapahalagang nababalot ng kadakilaan ang pag-asa’y hindi sa kinabukasan pa masisilayan kundi ito’y mangyayari na sa kasalukuyan.
Ang lungsod ng Laoag, lugar ng mga mamamayang nagsisikap na makipagsabayan sa panahon. Dahil sa kanilang natatanging kaugalian, namumukod sila sa karamihan. Napananatili nila ang kaayusan, kagandahan, at kapayapaan ng lugar. Kaya naman, di lamang ang mga nananahan dito ang nahahalina kundi maging ang mga turistang galing saanmang lupalop ng bansa at ng mga dayuhan. Ayon sa kanila, ang lungsod ay pangalawang tahanan malayo sa kanilang tahanan dahil sa pang-akit nitong taglay.
Ang tahanan ay nangangailangan ng isang matibay na pundasyon upang manatili ito sa katatagan. Isang moog na sandalan sa anumang panahon, sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Ang mga Laoagueño ay nananahan ang kanilang kapanatagan sa pagkakaroon ng isang pinunong may matatag na pundasyon sa kanyang pamumuno. Sinubok at hininog ng panahon. Mayor Michael Versoza Fariñas o kilala bilang si MVF, kapita-pitagan, kagalang-galang at minamahal ng kanyang mga mamamayan sa kanyang katapatan sa kanyang tungkulin.
Sa kanyang mga dakilang mga panukala, programa at adhikain katulad ng “Trabaho Mo, Sagot Ko”, pagpapaunlad sa serbisyo, proteksyon at kalusugan ng publiko, “Wish ko Kay Mayor Program”, “Iskolar ni MVF” at sa turismo ito’y naging daan ng lungsod upang lalong umunlad at makilala.
Dahil sa kanyang mga matagumpay na programa at pamumuno umani siya ng mga parangal. Ilan dito ay ang Most Outstanding “City Mayor of the year/Exemplary Public Servant” and “Foremost Advocate of Good Government, Local Government Leadership Awards, at sa kanyang panunugkulan ay natanggap ng lungsod ang Apolinario Mabini Award na ibinigay mismo ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
At kamakailan lamang noong Setyembre 17 iginawad sa kanya ang 2009 CSC Pag-asa Award sa Palasyo ng Malacañan dahil sa kanyang katangi-tanging paraan ng paglilingkod na nagbigay ng malaking tulong sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan.
Ngayon masasabing ang lungsod ng Laoag ay kasalukuyang tinatamasa ang liwanag. Ginawang posible ang pag-asa na mangyayari na ngayon at hindi sa darating pang bukas dahil sa kadakilaan ni MVF na naging tunay na pundasyon ng liwanag at pag-asa sa mga Laoagueño.
Richard M. Collado
Sa bayang nahaharap sa napakaraming mga hamon, maaaring ang liwanag ng pag-asa’y mailap na masilayan. Subalit sa bayang puno ng mga pagpapahalagang nababalot ng kadakilaan ang pag-asa’y hindi sa kinabukasan pa masisilayan kundi ito’y mangyayari na sa kasalukuyan.
Ang lungsod ng Laoag, lugar ng mga mamamayang nagsisikap na makipagsabayan sa panahon. Dahil sa kanilang natatanging kaugalian, namumukod sila sa karamihan. Napananatili nila ang kaayusan, kagandahan, at kapayapaan ng lugar. Kaya naman, di lamang ang mga nananahan dito ang nahahalina kundi maging ang mga turistang galing saanmang lupalop ng bansa at ng mga dayuhan. Ayon sa kanila, ang lungsod ay pangalawang tahanan malayo sa kanilang tahanan dahil sa pang-akit nitong taglay.
Ang tahanan ay nangangailangan ng isang matibay na pundasyon upang manatili ito sa katatagan. Isang moog na sandalan sa anumang panahon, sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Ang mga Laoagueño ay nananahan ang kanilang kapanatagan sa pagkakaroon ng isang pinunong may matatag na pundasyon sa kanyang pamumuno. Sinubok at hininog ng panahon. Mayor Michael Versoza Fariñas o kilala bilang si MVF, kapita-pitagan, kagalang-galang at minamahal ng kanyang mga mamamayan sa kanyang katapatan sa kanyang tungkulin.
Sa kanyang mga dakilang mga panukala, programa at adhikain katulad ng “Trabaho Mo, Sagot Ko”, pagpapaunlad sa serbisyo, proteksyon at kalusugan ng publiko, “Wish ko Kay Mayor Program”, “Iskolar ni MVF” at sa turismo ito’y naging daan ng lungsod upang lalong umunlad at makilala.
Dahil sa kanyang mga matagumpay na programa at pamumuno umani siya ng mga parangal. Ilan dito ay ang Most Outstanding “City Mayor of the year/Exemplary Public Servant” and “Foremost Advocate of Good Government, Local Government Leadership Awards, at sa kanyang panunugkulan ay natanggap ng lungsod ang Apolinario Mabini Award na ibinigay mismo ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
At kamakailan lamang noong Setyembre 17 iginawad sa kanya ang 2009 CSC Pag-asa Award sa Palasyo ng Malacañan dahil sa kanyang katangi-tanging paraan ng paglilingkod na nagbigay ng malaking tulong sa kapakanan ng mga mamamayan.
Ngayon masasabing ang lungsod ng Laoag ay kasalukuyang tinatamasa ang liwanag. Ginawang posible ang pag-asa na mangyayari na ngayon at hindi sa darating pang bukas dahil sa kadakilaan ni MVF na naging tunay na pundasyon ng liwanag at pag-asa sa mga Laoagueño.
Monday, September 28, 2009
LC getting ready for 2015
LC getting ready for 2015
Richard M. Collado
Poverty and hunger indeed are two main global issues. It has been identified as two of the roots of all other concerns to be immediately addressed. In fact the United Nations Development Programme is making full efforts, calling on donors to “continue, and ideally boost, their current commitments” to help the agency pull the world’s developing countries out of poverty.
With the help of the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (End poverty and hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership), these alarming global problems will be mitigated if all the concerned agencies will participate actively.
In the country, they have been doing all sorts to respond to this call. On June 8, 2005, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the "Dunong ng Bata, Yaman ng Bansa" or the National Supplemental Feeding Program (NSFP) to reduce by 50% the prevalence of 0 to 5 underweight children in 2015. Since then, food distribution continued for said sector through the Department of Education and the DSWD and in partnership with concerned agencies and the local government units.
This is indeed a commendable effort of the government. Evidently because of this noble program almost all the schools nationwide are sponsoring supplemental feeding programs. Local government units, private agencies are strengthening their partnership in organizing information dissemination and parallel programs to address these issues.
Youth are likewise actively been involved in this call. In the 10th International Youth Day held last August 5-7 which was spearheaded by the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines, which was participated in by youth around the globe, they have an intensive discuss ion on platform of actions in realizing the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals.
In the city of Laoag, aside from the feeding programs, the Laoag City government is giving scholarships to deserving school children from elementary and secondary schools. Recipients of the said scholarships were identified by the schools based on the criteria for selection.
While it is true that in order for one to succeed, the effort must come from him but if no one will help, still it is difficult especially if the family is facing the challenge of poverty and hunger.
As what the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said, “If children are pulled out of school because of the effects of the crisis on their families and their countries’ budgets, they may never get a second chance in education. If children have poor nutrition because of the crisis, the long-term effects on their cognitive skills and productive potential are serious.”
This is a challenge to all that come 2015, poverty and hunger will be eliminated, education will be highlighted, and progress will be achieved with the concerted effort of the public.
Richard M. Collado
Poverty and hunger indeed are two main global issues. It has been identified as two of the roots of all other concerns to be immediately addressed. In fact the United Nations Development Programme is making full efforts, calling on donors to “continue, and ideally boost, their current commitments” to help the agency pull the world’s developing countries out of poverty.
With the help of the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (End poverty and hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership), these alarming global problems will be mitigated if all the concerned agencies will participate actively.
In the country, they have been doing all sorts to respond to this call. On June 8, 2005, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the "Dunong ng Bata, Yaman ng Bansa" or the National Supplemental Feeding Program (NSFP) to reduce by 50% the prevalence of 0 to 5 underweight children in 2015. Since then, food distribution continued for said sector through the Department of Education and the DSWD and in partnership with concerned agencies and the local government units.
This is indeed a commendable effort of the government. Evidently because of this noble program almost all the schools nationwide are sponsoring supplemental feeding programs. Local government units, private agencies are strengthening their partnership in organizing information dissemination and parallel programs to address these issues.
Youth are likewise actively been involved in this call. In the 10th International Youth Day held last August 5-7 which was spearheaded by the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines, which was participated in by youth around the globe, they have an intensive discuss ion on platform of actions in realizing the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals.
In the city of Laoag, aside from the feeding programs, the Laoag City government is giving scholarships to deserving school children from elementary and secondary schools. Recipients of the said scholarships were identified by the schools based on the criteria for selection.
While it is true that in order for one to succeed, the effort must come from him but if no one will help, still it is difficult especially if the family is facing the challenge of poverty and hunger.
As what the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said, “If children are pulled out of school because of the effects of the crisis on their families and their countries’ budgets, they may never get a second chance in education. If children have poor nutrition because of the crisis, the long-term effects on their cognitive skills and productive potential are serious.”
This is a challenge to all that come 2015, poverty and hunger will be eliminated, education will be highlighted, and progress will be achieved with the concerted effort of the public.
ACHIEVING MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
ACHIEVING MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
THROUGH ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Richard M. Collado
Even in the midst of continuing impediments to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro called on the world “to show that it can (still) make progress under adverse conditions.
While it is true that the United Nations Organization is making their optimum efforts to mitigate the challenges of the present global condition through these so called MDGs of 2015, countries around the globe should likewise participate and act accordingly in combating the eight major concerns to realize the said goal.
Undeniably, poverty and hunger were identified as two roots of all other global concerns. But these can be addressed side by side with proper education. If we are going to trace history, lack of proper education leads to idleness and uselessness. That is the very reason why education is always the top priority in the country as it has been justified in the national budget. But is quality education really been catered to most of the learners?
In the global arena employment is so competitive. For you to become a world class worker, it is very essential that you need to be proficient linguistically. You should be able to demonstrate both accuracy and fluency, and can use a variety of discourse strategies.
For this reason the government through the Department of Education is launching several programs to meet this demand. Even the private sectors made their own movements. One of which is the ‘Promoting English Proficiency’ (PEP) Project an initiative of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Makati Business Club that aims to develop a world-class Filipino workforce with English proficiency that meets high international standards.
"English means jobs," said Rick Santos, AmCham president. "We believe that there are great opportunities in business process outsourcing (BPO), IT-enabled services, software development, and tourism in the country.
With this we can see how important English proficiency works to this aspect. In the country, the proliferation of BPO companies has opened job opportunities to Filipinos. But one of the most important qualifications that a customer representative must possess is the ability to speak with an American intonation. These companies cite Filipinos' cultural inclination towards Americans and their "proverbial" American accent. But take note of this: Russ Sandlin, an American businessman in the Philippines, recently closed his call center in Manila because he said he could not find enough English proficient workers. “Not even 3 percent of the students who graduate college here are employable in call centers,” he complained.
Adding to this, the Department of Education reported that 80 percent of secondary school teachers in the Philippines failed in an English proficiency test in 2007.
So where is the veracity of those claims that the Philippines have a substantial pool of English-proficient workers?
What the government and the industry should do is go back to formal education, a step steadily taken through the House Bill 305: mandating the use of English as the medium of instruction in all academic subjects from Grade 3 onwards and encouraging the use of English as the medium of interaction outside the classrooms to be able to produce citizens who are proficient in English and globally competitive.
The call of the time is employment is equated with English proficiency. In the workplace people can interact and participate actively to issues which make them feel how their dignity was elevated and it help them value life. If we will reach this level, MDGs (End poverty and hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership), eventually be realized even earlier than 2015.
THROUGH ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Richard M. Collado
Even in the midst of continuing impediments to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro called on the world “to show that it can (still) make progress under adverse conditions.
While it is true that the United Nations Organization is making their optimum efforts to mitigate the challenges of the present global condition through these so called MDGs of 2015, countries around the globe should likewise participate and act accordingly in combating the eight major concerns to realize the said goal.
Undeniably, poverty and hunger were identified as two roots of all other global concerns. But these can be addressed side by side with proper education. If we are going to trace history, lack of proper education leads to idleness and uselessness. That is the very reason why education is always the top priority in the country as it has been justified in the national budget. But is quality education really been catered to most of the learners?
In the global arena employment is so competitive. For you to become a world class worker, it is very essential that you need to be proficient linguistically. You should be able to demonstrate both accuracy and fluency, and can use a variety of discourse strategies.
For this reason the government through the Department of Education is launching several programs to meet this demand. Even the private sectors made their own movements. One of which is the ‘Promoting English Proficiency’ (PEP) Project an initiative of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Makati Business Club that aims to develop a world-class Filipino workforce with English proficiency that meets high international standards.
"English means jobs," said Rick Santos, AmCham president. "We believe that there are great opportunities in business process outsourcing (BPO), IT-enabled services, software development, and tourism in the country.
With this we can see how important English proficiency works to this aspect. In the country, the proliferation of BPO companies has opened job opportunities to Filipinos. But one of the most important qualifications that a customer representative must possess is the ability to speak with an American intonation. These companies cite Filipinos' cultural inclination towards Americans and their "proverbial" American accent. But take note of this: Russ Sandlin, an American businessman in the Philippines, recently closed his call center in Manila because he said he could not find enough English proficient workers. “Not even 3 percent of the students who graduate college here are employable in call centers,” he complained.
Adding to this, the Department of Education reported that 80 percent of secondary school teachers in the Philippines failed in an English proficiency test in 2007.
So where is the veracity of those claims that the Philippines have a substantial pool of English-proficient workers?
What the government and the industry should do is go back to formal education, a step steadily taken through the House Bill 305: mandating the use of English as the medium of instruction in all academic subjects from Grade 3 onwards and encouraging the use of English as the medium of interaction outside the classrooms to be able to produce citizens who are proficient in English and globally competitive.
The call of the time is employment is equated with English proficiency. In the workplace people can interact and participate actively to issues which make them feel how their dignity was elevated and it help them value life. If we will reach this level, MDGs (End poverty and hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership), eventually be realized even earlier than 2015.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
IN MY SOLITUDE
IN MY SOLITUDE
Richard M. Collado
Love has never wane in its indefinite an infinite mystery. It captures the vibrant colors of dawn and haunts the echoing silence of twilight. It weaves tales of complexities that are incomprehensible, not even a sage can especially when the two powerful forces of mystery and fate conspire to move creatures in serial crossroads and in mystifying labyrinth of life.
For almost three decades now, I’ve been searching for the probabilities of love in various dimensions. I’ve tasted the bitterest of it yet it turned out to be the sweetest. And the sweetest which I knew ideally, became bitter in reality. I even fight with the ocean in its roaring waves in spite of cunning less to swim yet I have forcibly learned it eventually. I have been into the battlefield without a sword and a shield yet what was so amazing is, you will come to know that somebody will just keep you from harm. But all of these are incomparable in the greatest challenge of my life, the battle within myself.
Certainly, understanding oneself is the hardest thing to do. It can’t answer you back if you have queries. It can’t explain uncertainties. But the keenness of our senses will articulate everything in our solitude. We need to be a slave in a moment of silence even in the busiest days of our life. Introspection as they say can help you comprehend qualms. Yes, and this day I grabbed the elusive time which was hiding and has never mine for a long time. I took a moment of silence and there I have found the answers to some of my questions but still cynical.
For the past years, I am fortunate that I have at least felt the existence of that feeling that you can feel when someone feels the feeling that you feel. Funny?!!! It’s love, that’s what I’m toying at. It’s really so amazing how it works in a very unique means of making people in a crazy like state. They do all sorts to make their lines active to quench their intense wanting of that strange feeling, from the stereotypical ways (writing notes, words that are sweet-nothings) to the state-of –the –art media to conceive and nurture a relationship. Admittedly, I have been so negative about these things, not until I have tried and enjoyed its offers.
My senses have been dormant for almost ten years. Psychological imbalance terrorized my being. Freudian wanting has never visited me in my dreams. It’s indeed alarming! It’s far beyond normal, until I tried opening myself to infinite possibilities. And there, I found out, lies an inexplicable experience of a world which I have not been into for almost 10 long years. I enjoyed it, undeniably, yet eventually I just found myself hollow, empty and cold.
Then I go back questioning. “What power does love possesses?” I can’t get rid of it even I know for a fact that it might cause me trouble within myself. Yet, unexpectedly, came this stranger, possessing a hypnotic spell that even in just a couple of minutes you will be enveloped in its enchantment. How wonderful this spell would be. It never frightened me at all but instead it gives me a feeling of acceptance and a substance which fills my incompleteness. However, it’s just like a world of phantom, it will just fade unexpectedly. Then again, I’ll just go back to the world of delusion and found myself hoping that everything will come true.
Now in my solitude, I’m trying to trace a picture of myself after all that I went through. Am I really happy that at least I have tasted the conspiracy of love and fate or regretful because it just brought me into complexities and perplexities? But no, love is always right and nothing it can offer but happiness, it’s on us how we make it real.
Richard M. Collado
Love has never wane in its indefinite an infinite mystery. It captures the vibrant colors of dawn and haunts the echoing silence of twilight. It weaves tales of complexities that are incomprehensible, not even a sage can especially when the two powerful forces of mystery and fate conspire to move creatures in serial crossroads and in mystifying labyrinth of life.
For almost three decades now, I’ve been searching for the probabilities of love in various dimensions. I’ve tasted the bitterest of it yet it turned out to be the sweetest. And the sweetest which I knew ideally, became bitter in reality. I even fight with the ocean in its roaring waves in spite of cunning less to swim yet I have forcibly learned it eventually. I have been into the battlefield without a sword and a shield yet what was so amazing is, you will come to know that somebody will just keep you from harm. But all of these are incomparable in the greatest challenge of my life, the battle within myself.
Certainly, understanding oneself is the hardest thing to do. It can’t answer you back if you have queries. It can’t explain uncertainties. But the keenness of our senses will articulate everything in our solitude. We need to be a slave in a moment of silence even in the busiest days of our life. Introspection as they say can help you comprehend qualms. Yes, and this day I grabbed the elusive time which was hiding and has never mine for a long time. I took a moment of silence and there I have found the answers to some of my questions but still cynical.
For the past years, I am fortunate that I have at least felt the existence of that feeling that you can feel when someone feels the feeling that you feel. Funny?!!! It’s love, that’s what I’m toying at. It’s really so amazing how it works in a very unique means of making people in a crazy like state. They do all sorts to make their lines active to quench their intense wanting of that strange feeling, from the stereotypical ways (writing notes, words that are sweet-nothings) to the state-of –the –art media to conceive and nurture a relationship. Admittedly, I have been so negative about these things, not until I have tried and enjoyed its offers.
My senses have been dormant for almost ten years. Psychological imbalance terrorized my being. Freudian wanting has never visited me in my dreams. It’s indeed alarming! It’s far beyond normal, until I tried opening myself to infinite possibilities. And there, I found out, lies an inexplicable experience of a world which I have not been into for almost 10 long years. I enjoyed it, undeniably, yet eventually I just found myself hollow, empty and cold.
Then I go back questioning. “What power does love possesses?” I can’t get rid of it even I know for a fact that it might cause me trouble within myself. Yet, unexpectedly, came this stranger, possessing a hypnotic spell that even in just a couple of minutes you will be enveloped in its enchantment. How wonderful this spell would be. It never frightened me at all but instead it gives me a feeling of acceptance and a substance which fills my incompleteness. However, it’s just like a world of phantom, it will just fade unexpectedly. Then again, I’ll just go back to the world of delusion and found myself hoping that everything will come true.
Now in my solitude, I’m trying to trace a picture of myself after all that I went through. Am I really happy that at least I have tasted the conspiracy of love and fate or regretful because it just brought me into complexities and perplexities? But no, love is always right and nothing it can offer but happiness, it’s on us how we make it real.
Monday, June 15, 2009
ISANG BALAGTASAN
Gusto kong ibahagi sa inyo ang ginawa kong piyesa ng aking mga mag-aaral sa patimpalak ng balagtasan na itinaguyod ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon. Kampyon ito sa Pansangay na Balagtasan at pangalawa sa Rehiyunal na patimpalak. Ang pagtatanghal ay tumagay sa 22 minuto.
Aking binabati ang aking mga mag-aaral na bumuhay sa piyesang ito: Ruben Mateo Jr., (Lakandiwa); Val Benedict Medina (Dapat); Allanah Mae Sudario (Di Dapat)
DAGDAG NA ISANG TAON SA HAYSKUL:
DAPAT O HINDI DAPAT?
Richard M. Collado
LAKANDIWA:
Isang makapangyarihang araw ang alay ko sa inyo
Sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong nagkalat sa buong mundo
Mga kapamilya, kabarkada at katropa ko
Hanapan natin ng kasagutan ang tanong na ito:
Dapat ba o hindi dapat dagdagan
ng isang taon ang pag-aaral ng sekundarya?
Hinihikayat ko ang inyong mayayamang mga diwa
Upang pag-aalinlangan ng madla’y masagot na.
Kayat sa inyong harapa’y dalawang nilalang
Kanilang ibabahagi ang mga mayayamang kaalaman
Sa isang pagtatalong kay Kikong Baltazar, pinagmulan
Kilalang-kilala ito sa tawag na Balagtasan
Ngayo’y umupo nang matuwid, buong lugod kayo'y inaanyayahan
Dito sa tagisan ng talino sa ngalan ng katwiran
Tiyak kong nag-iinit na ang dalawang magkalaban
Upang isambulat ang taglay na kaalaman
Kayat mga kaibigan huwag na natin silang pigilan
Unahin ang binatang, nag-uumapaw sa katapangan
Ang panig ng DAPAT mauuna nating pakinggan
Pasalubungan nating lahat ng masigabong palakpakan
DAPAT: (Unang Tindig)
Buong paggalang akong bumabati sa madla
Sa inyong pagparito pakinggan ang aking nasa
Kalagayan ng edukasyon ngayo’y hindi maitatatwa
Habang sinusubok ng panaho’y, pahina nang pahina
Sabi nga nila’y “anuman ang ngayo’y pwedeng magawa
Huwag ipagpaliban, di na ipagpabukas pa”
Kayat nararapat na harapin ang hamon, mga problema
Posibleng paraa’t kalutasa’y kailangang ipatupad na
Sa nasyonal na budyet ng bayang sinisinta
Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa pondo’y nangunguna
Upang patibayin karunungan na sandata
Sa ating lipunan at maging sa ibang bansa
Ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga nakaraang dekada
Namamayagpag ang husay sa bansa man at sa Asya
Ngunit ngayo’y nahuhuli at nangangamote na
Lalo na sa Agham, Ingles at Matematika
Ang katotohanang ito’y sadyang nakababahala
Lalo pa’t ang mga nabanggit na asignatura’y
Mga pandaigdigang kaalamang kailangang mahasa
Upang si Juan, global ang maging taguri sa kanya
Kaya marapat lamang bigyang sapat na panahon
Sa mga kabataa’y, ibigay ang wastong tulong
Ibayong paghasa sa mga kasanayan, dapat isulong
Isa pang taon sa sekundarya ating idugtong
LAKANDIWA:
Ating napakinggan tinuran ng sa panukala’y pumapanig
Dagdagan ng isa pang taon sa sekundarya, kanyang itinitindig
Ito ang laman puso’t diwa, ito ang ipinipintig
Animo’y walang makabali, walang makapanlulupig.
Ang susunod naman ay determinadong dalaga,
Isa-isahin ang katwirang ihaharap na kanyang inihanda
Kaya ang lahat ng narito’y humanda at tumalima
HINDI DAPAT, masigabong palakpakan igawad sa kanya
HINDI DAPAT: (Unang Tindig)
Bago ko sisimulan ang aking turan
Mainit na pagbati sa inyo’y aking ilalaan
Ang inyong pagparito’y sana’y maging daan
Mabigyang hatol ang aming katwiran
Sinasaluduhan ko ang pamahalaan at lideratura
Na edukasyon ay binibigyang tunay na halaga
Mga nakalaang pondo’y, sana’y mapunta
Sa dapat paglaanan at magamit ito nang tama
Ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, punung-puno ng panukala
Wala akong masabi, napakaganda, walang kaduda-duda
Ngunit ‘pag umabot sa implementasyon na
Di piho ang punta, parang napigtas na saranggola
New Secondary Education Curriculum, Secondary Education Development Project,
Basic Education curriculum, at may 2010 Secondary education curriculum pa
Ilang kurikulum ang pagdaraanan kaya?
Upang sistema ng edukasyo’y mapaghusay pa
At hindi pagkaraan ng ilang tao’y may bago na
Ayon sa 1996-2005 Master Plan for Basic Education
Modernisasyon sa edukasyon kanilang isusulong
Mapaunlad kagamitang pampagtuturo ito ang layon
Kompyuter, internet, modernong laboratory idagdag pa ‘yon
Pagsasanay sa mga guro sa mga makabagong istratehiya
May mga programang iskolarship sa ‘Pinas at sa ibang bansa
Ngunit ilan ang natulutan kaya ng biyaya
Naibahagi kaya sa mga mag-aaral na naghihintay sa kanila
Kaya aking kabalagtas magnilay-nilay, mag-isip-isip ka
Ang pagdagdag ng isa pang taon ay isang parusa
Hindi ito ang kalutasan sa ating problema
Ayusin lang ang sistema sa pagpapatupad ng programa.
LAKANDIWA:
Ang inyong lingkod, damdami’y di masawata
Sa dalawang mambabalagtas na nakatindig pa
Sa paglipas ng oras sila sana’y humihina
Bagkus, katwira’y nagagatungan pa nga
Kaya sa ikalawang siklo ng kanilang sagupaan
Pihadong mga alas ay ipangangalandakan
Upang ipinaglalaba’y mabigyang katarungan
Mga kababayan, isa pang malakas na palakpakan
DAPAT: (Ikalawang Tindig)
Ang pagbabago’y isang katotohanang kakambal na ng panahon
Isang bagay na permanente, buong mundo’y nakatuon
Paghahanap ng pagbabago’y isa ng tradisyon
Matuklasan lamang mga epektibong solusyon
At paano ngang di mag-isip ng bagong paraan
Kung mga indicators ay nangangalandakan
Na marami pang mga kailangang paghusayan
Mga dapat na matutunang mga kasanayan
Sa National Achievement Test na lang hindi maitatatwa
Kompetensi ng mga mag-aaral ay talagang mababa
Sa High School Readiness Test na isinagawa
Nagpapatunay na kailangan ng ibayong paghahasa
Kaya nga mula sa ating dating Kalihim Butch Abad
Bridge Program kanya ngang inilunsad
Ingles, Agham, Matematika layuning mapaunlad
Bago sa haiskul, tuluyang makitalad
Maging sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, sila’y nagmungkahi
Ikalimang taon sa sekundarya’y huwag isantabi
Sagot ito sa pagbulusok ng bumababang literasi
Huwag tingnang pahirap kung ito ang mithi
HINDI DAPAT: (Ikalawang Tindig)
Maaring ikaw, ako, at bawat Pilipino
Nais mapayaman ang kakayahan at talino
Ngunit ang pamamaraan sa pagkamit ay magkaiba tayo
Kaya mga katwiran ko’y pakinggan ninyo
Sa Saligang Batas, Artikulo XIV, Seksyon 2, dito nakasaad
Magtatag, magpanatili, at magtustos nang sapat
Sa pangangailangan ng sambayanan, iyon ang dapat
Libreng edukasyon sa elementarya at sekundarya ay ipatupad
Ngunit sa kabila nito’y, mahal pa ring mag-aral
Dahil sa mga iba pang bayaring nakakasakal
Di sapilitan ang pagbabayad kanilang itinatanghal
Ngunit di lang naman ito ang kailangan sa pag-aaral
Ayon nga sa pag-aaral ng IBON Foundation
Tatlo sa sampung grade I di makatapos sa elementaryang layon
Dahil sa ekonomiyang lumalala ang kondisyon
Maraming di nakapag-aral, tumitigil dalawa hanggang apat na milyon
Kung sa elementarya, pangarap ay naunsyami na
Sa hayskul pa kaya, tapos dagdagan mo pa ng isa?
Ilan pa kayang Marianette Amper ng Davao ang matutulad sa kanya?
Nais mang magtagumpay, sa hukay na lang mapupunta.
DAPAT: (Ikatlong Tindig)
Anila, mas masarap ang tagumpay kung pinaghihirapan
Kaysa sa nakamit na ninanasa sa madaling paraan
Walang kasintamis namnamin ang pinagpawisan
Kaysa sa madaliang parang naglalaro lang
Tingnan natin ang bansang America, Inglatera, Japan at Korea
Umaabot sa pitong taong pag-aaral sa sekundarya
Nilalayon mahusay na edukasyon, upang mag-aaral ay handa
Ng mga kaalamang sa trabaho talagang uubra
Ani Chito Salazar, miyembro ng Philippjne Business for Education
Ang basic education na dapat sana ay labin-dalawang taon
Sa Pilipinas daw ay ginawa lamang na sampung taon
Sapat na bang paghahanda ang iniukol na panahon?
Hindi nga rin maitatatwa maraming Pilipino sa ibang bansa
Doon nag-aaral at ngayo’y namamayagpag na
Dahil sa mataas na uri ng edukasyong ibinigay sa kanila
Mahaba man ang panahong ginugugol ay di alintana
Kaya nga pami-pamilya pumupunta sa Amerika, sa Canada
Upang magtrabaho, manganak paunlarin ang pamilya
Dahil doon ang kinabukasa’y sigurado ka
Bumalik man sa Pilipinas ay angat pa rin sila
HINDI DAPAT: (Ikatlong Tindig)
Ang makipagsabayan sa industriyalisadong bansa
Sa teknolohiya, ekonomiya, edukasyon idagdag pa
Pangarap na lang yata, darating man ang panaho’y, malayo pa
Kaya isipin na lang muna ang bansa, dito tayo magsimula
Ang pitong taong pag-aaral sa sekundarya
Sa magulang at mag-aaral ay isa lamang parusa
Marami na ngang mahihirap di makatapos sa elementarya
Sa hayskul pa na daragdagan pa ng isa?
Andun na tayo, na kahandaan lamang inyong ninanasa
Pagdaragdag nang isa pang taon, isang kalutasan kaya?
Dahil dito, maraming magkabilang reaksyon ang naglabasan na
Kaya, maging Malacañang ay nabahala
Kagawaran ng Edukasyon hindi na ipinagpilitan pa
Nasa mag-aaral at magulang daw ang pagpapasya
Isa ngang matalinong desisyon dahil sa kalagayan ng ekonomiya
Kahit 6.4 % ang itinaas ng Gross Domestic Product ng bansa
Bago isipin ang pangarap na limang taon sa sekundarya
Ayusin muna ang pangangailangan at sistema
Aklat, gusali, klasrum, mga guro kailangang handa
Di lang literasi kundi pag-unlad ng bansa ang resulta
LAKANDIWA:
Talagang ako’y napapatda sa mga katwirang kabi-kabila
Walang ibig mahuli sa mga patunay at ebidensya
Makakaya pa kaya nila ang isa pang ronda?
Eto na nga’t sila’y nagbabadya na ang balagtasa’y ipagpatuloy na
Kaya marikit na binibini at makisig na binata
Hinihiling ko na kayo muna ay huminga
Alam kong kailangan pa ninyo ng enerhiya
Maging ang mga manonood ay nag-iinit na
DAPAT:
Ang buhay ay magkahalong eksperimento’t subukan, ika nga
Nangangailangan ng pag-aaral ng sapat na panahon at tiyaga
Sa mga panukala ng kagawaran at pamahalaan sinupurtahan ba ng madla?
Di pa naisasagawa’y, pagbatikos, kaliwa’t kanan na
Aminin man natin o hindi marami ang mangyayari sa isang taon
Basta bukas ang isip, pumapasok ang dunong
Kailangan sa pag-aaral matinding determinasyon
Sipag at tiyaga sabi nga ng mga marurunong
Pahayag nga ng Malacañang, kung gusto’y maunlad na bansa
Hindi sa dami ng gradweyt ang iisipin sa tuwina
Kundi paghahandang mataas ang kalidad, ito’y sandata
Na ayon kay G. Bunye, upang ang mga itinuro’y hindi maging basura
Sa ating ekonomiya, dollar remittances ang nagpapaangat
Dahil sa mga Pilipinong nakakuha ng edukasyong sapat
Sinubok sa haba ng ginugol na pag-aaral at paghahanda
Upang makipagsabayan dito at sa ibang bansa.
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang panaho’y huwag sayangin, pagkat ginto ang kahambing
Gawa sa matagal, gawa sa madali, gayun din
Kung pinag-aralan ang programa, magagawa natin
Basta mga kailangan di nabibitin
Yaman din lang nabanggit ang mga industrialisadong bansa
Maraming inihahandog kursong subok na
Mabilisan mang kinukuha, ito nama’y kumikita
Nakatitipid ng panahon, hirap at pera
Certified Nursing Assistant sa America’y, isang halimbawa
Tinatapos lang ito sa dalawang buwan, ang bilis di ba?
Sa Pilipinas gumawa ng Caregiver course anim na buwan pa
Di rin lang itinuturing na requirement sa ibang bansa
Caregiver? Pwedeng ituro sa araw na isa o dalawa
Lalo sa mga Pilipinong ‘caregiving’ nasa kultura’t dugo na
Pagkuha ng experience walang tuition, libre pa nga
Pumasok lang na katulong, mag-alaga ng bata at matanda okey na
DAPAT:
Aking kabalagtas, matuto tayo sana
Sa mga katotohanang tayo ay nahuhuli na
Resulta ng NAT, HSRT at mga pagsubok sa ibang bansa
Pilipino’y kawawa, ikalima mula sa ibaba
Huwag alintanahin ang dagdag na isang taon sa sekundarya
Kung pagiging global ang layunin at adhika
Bawat gradweyt ay may sapat na bala
Sa mga hamon ng kinabukasang di mawari ang ibinabadya
DI-DAPAT:
Totoo ngang ang mga resulta ng mga pagsubok nakaaalarma
Ngunit marapat bang ipapasan ang hirap sa masa?
Ang buhay nga ni Juan higpit sinturon na
Baka hanggang pawis at dugo ay wala nang mapiga
Tayong mga Pilipino edukasyo’y talagang mahalaga
Ngunit kung di makayanan, uunahin ang sikmura
Kaya’t marapat ayusin ang programa’t sistema
Hindi ang pagdagdag ng isang taon ang sagot sa problema
DAPAT:
Ang lumalakad nang mabilis kung matinik ay malalim
Ang isang tao’y huwag isiping pasanin
Ang hirap ay huwag alintanahin
Kung ang pangarap ay gustong kamtin
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang oras ay tumatakbo kaya’t makipagsabayan
Ang isang taong dagdag na walang patutunguhan
Dagdag alalahanin sa mga magulang at mga kabataan
Lalo pa’t ang bansa’y nasa gitna ng kahirapan
DAPAT:
Mas mabuti ang magpakahirap sa una
Kung kinabukasan ang nakataya
Kaysa sa madaliang gawa
Hilaw ang pagkaluto, kulang sa timpla
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang hirap ay hindi punto, basta’t mabuti ang proseso
Kahit matagal kung walang kabuluhan ito
Dahil ang pagpaplano ay malasado
Masarap na kinabukasan kaya ang ihahain nito?
DAPAT:
Ang dagdag na isang taon malaki ang kabuluhan
Makakaipon din dagdag na kaalaman
HINDI DAPAT:
Sa maikling panahon ma’y, layuni’y makakamtan
Matanggal lang ang mga balakid sa daan
DAPAT:
Dagdag na isang taon sa hayskul ay kailangan
Sa may kalidad na edukasyon at mas maunlad na bayan
HINDI DAPAT:
Dagdag na isang taon sa hayskul huwag ng pag-ukulan
Pahirap lang sa pamilya at buong sambayanan
LAKANDIWA:
Maghunos dili kayong dalawang umuusok ang ulo!
Sa inyong mga katwira’y para akong naiipit sa nag-uumpugang bato
Para kayong mga giyererong, walang patatalo
Ipaglalaban ang paniniwala, hanggang huling patak ng dugo
Ngayo’y ang katapusan ng pagtatalo’y sumapit
Siguradong mga manonood, mga ulo’y namimilipit
Kung sino ang papanigan, ang pumili sa dalawa’y pinipilit
Upang mabigyang hatol ang nagtatalong sa kaalama’y nakahihindik
Sinong dapat ihayag na lamang nitong ating balagtasan
Kapwa naman silang busog sa kaalaman at katwiran
Parang wala namang angat, wala namang nakalamang
Kaya mula sa inyong abang lingkod: sila’y patas, tabla lamang
Kung anuman ang inyong pasya’y sa isipan na lang ilalaan
Maaaring di rin kayo makapili ng kampeonatong gawaran
Dahil sa mga katwirang pareho naman ang timbang
Ngayon, huling hiling ko sa inyo’y, paulanan sila ng malutong na palakpakan!
Aking binabati ang aking mga mag-aaral na bumuhay sa piyesang ito: Ruben Mateo Jr., (Lakandiwa); Val Benedict Medina (Dapat); Allanah Mae Sudario (Di Dapat)
DAGDAG NA ISANG TAON SA HAYSKUL:
DAPAT O HINDI DAPAT?
Richard M. Collado
LAKANDIWA:
Isang makapangyarihang araw ang alay ko sa inyo
Sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong nagkalat sa buong mundo
Mga kapamilya, kabarkada at katropa ko
Hanapan natin ng kasagutan ang tanong na ito:
Dapat ba o hindi dapat dagdagan
ng isang taon ang pag-aaral ng sekundarya?
Hinihikayat ko ang inyong mayayamang mga diwa
Upang pag-aalinlangan ng madla’y masagot na.
Kayat sa inyong harapa’y dalawang nilalang
Kanilang ibabahagi ang mga mayayamang kaalaman
Sa isang pagtatalong kay Kikong Baltazar, pinagmulan
Kilalang-kilala ito sa tawag na Balagtasan
Ngayo’y umupo nang matuwid, buong lugod kayo'y inaanyayahan
Dito sa tagisan ng talino sa ngalan ng katwiran
Tiyak kong nag-iinit na ang dalawang magkalaban
Upang isambulat ang taglay na kaalaman
Kayat mga kaibigan huwag na natin silang pigilan
Unahin ang binatang, nag-uumapaw sa katapangan
Ang panig ng DAPAT mauuna nating pakinggan
Pasalubungan nating lahat ng masigabong palakpakan
DAPAT: (Unang Tindig)
Buong paggalang akong bumabati sa madla
Sa inyong pagparito pakinggan ang aking nasa
Kalagayan ng edukasyon ngayo’y hindi maitatatwa
Habang sinusubok ng panaho’y, pahina nang pahina
Sabi nga nila’y “anuman ang ngayo’y pwedeng magawa
Huwag ipagpaliban, di na ipagpabukas pa”
Kayat nararapat na harapin ang hamon, mga problema
Posibleng paraa’t kalutasa’y kailangang ipatupad na
Sa nasyonal na budyet ng bayang sinisinta
Kagawaran ng Edukasyon sa pondo’y nangunguna
Upang patibayin karunungan na sandata
Sa ating lipunan at maging sa ibang bansa
Ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa mga nakaraang dekada
Namamayagpag ang husay sa bansa man at sa Asya
Ngunit ngayo’y nahuhuli at nangangamote na
Lalo na sa Agham, Ingles at Matematika
Ang katotohanang ito’y sadyang nakababahala
Lalo pa’t ang mga nabanggit na asignatura’y
Mga pandaigdigang kaalamang kailangang mahasa
Upang si Juan, global ang maging taguri sa kanya
Kaya marapat lamang bigyang sapat na panahon
Sa mga kabataa’y, ibigay ang wastong tulong
Ibayong paghasa sa mga kasanayan, dapat isulong
Isa pang taon sa sekundarya ating idugtong
LAKANDIWA:
Ating napakinggan tinuran ng sa panukala’y pumapanig
Dagdagan ng isa pang taon sa sekundarya, kanyang itinitindig
Ito ang laman puso’t diwa, ito ang ipinipintig
Animo’y walang makabali, walang makapanlulupig.
Ang susunod naman ay determinadong dalaga,
Isa-isahin ang katwirang ihaharap na kanyang inihanda
Kaya ang lahat ng narito’y humanda at tumalima
HINDI DAPAT, masigabong palakpakan igawad sa kanya
HINDI DAPAT: (Unang Tindig)
Bago ko sisimulan ang aking turan
Mainit na pagbati sa inyo’y aking ilalaan
Ang inyong pagparito’y sana’y maging daan
Mabigyang hatol ang aming katwiran
Sinasaluduhan ko ang pamahalaan at lideratura
Na edukasyon ay binibigyang tunay na halaga
Mga nakalaang pondo’y, sana’y mapunta
Sa dapat paglaanan at magamit ito nang tama
Ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, punung-puno ng panukala
Wala akong masabi, napakaganda, walang kaduda-duda
Ngunit ‘pag umabot sa implementasyon na
Di piho ang punta, parang napigtas na saranggola
New Secondary Education Curriculum, Secondary Education Development Project,
Basic Education curriculum, at may 2010 Secondary education curriculum pa
Ilang kurikulum ang pagdaraanan kaya?
Upang sistema ng edukasyo’y mapaghusay pa
At hindi pagkaraan ng ilang tao’y may bago na
Ayon sa 1996-2005 Master Plan for Basic Education
Modernisasyon sa edukasyon kanilang isusulong
Mapaunlad kagamitang pampagtuturo ito ang layon
Kompyuter, internet, modernong laboratory idagdag pa ‘yon
Pagsasanay sa mga guro sa mga makabagong istratehiya
May mga programang iskolarship sa ‘Pinas at sa ibang bansa
Ngunit ilan ang natulutan kaya ng biyaya
Naibahagi kaya sa mga mag-aaral na naghihintay sa kanila
Kaya aking kabalagtas magnilay-nilay, mag-isip-isip ka
Ang pagdagdag ng isa pang taon ay isang parusa
Hindi ito ang kalutasan sa ating problema
Ayusin lang ang sistema sa pagpapatupad ng programa.
LAKANDIWA:
Ang inyong lingkod, damdami’y di masawata
Sa dalawang mambabalagtas na nakatindig pa
Sa paglipas ng oras sila sana’y humihina
Bagkus, katwira’y nagagatungan pa nga
Kaya sa ikalawang siklo ng kanilang sagupaan
Pihadong mga alas ay ipangangalandakan
Upang ipinaglalaba’y mabigyang katarungan
Mga kababayan, isa pang malakas na palakpakan
DAPAT: (Ikalawang Tindig)
Ang pagbabago’y isang katotohanang kakambal na ng panahon
Isang bagay na permanente, buong mundo’y nakatuon
Paghahanap ng pagbabago’y isa ng tradisyon
Matuklasan lamang mga epektibong solusyon
At paano ngang di mag-isip ng bagong paraan
Kung mga indicators ay nangangalandakan
Na marami pang mga kailangang paghusayan
Mga dapat na matutunang mga kasanayan
Sa National Achievement Test na lang hindi maitatatwa
Kompetensi ng mga mag-aaral ay talagang mababa
Sa High School Readiness Test na isinagawa
Nagpapatunay na kailangan ng ibayong paghahasa
Kaya nga mula sa ating dating Kalihim Butch Abad
Bridge Program kanya ngang inilunsad
Ingles, Agham, Matematika layuning mapaunlad
Bago sa haiskul, tuluyang makitalad
Maging sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, sila’y nagmungkahi
Ikalimang taon sa sekundarya’y huwag isantabi
Sagot ito sa pagbulusok ng bumababang literasi
Huwag tingnang pahirap kung ito ang mithi
HINDI DAPAT: (Ikalawang Tindig)
Maaring ikaw, ako, at bawat Pilipino
Nais mapayaman ang kakayahan at talino
Ngunit ang pamamaraan sa pagkamit ay magkaiba tayo
Kaya mga katwiran ko’y pakinggan ninyo
Sa Saligang Batas, Artikulo XIV, Seksyon 2, dito nakasaad
Magtatag, magpanatili, at magtustos nang sapat
Sa pangangailangan ng sambayanan, iyon ang dapat
Libreng edukasyon sa elementarya at sekundarya ay ipatupad
Ngunit sa kabila nito’y, mahal pa ring mag-aral
Dahil sa mga iba pang bayaring nakakasakal
Di sapilitan ang pagbabayad kanilang itinatanghal
Ngunit di lang naman ito ang kailangan sa pag-aaral
Ayon nga sa pag-aaral ng IBON Foundation
Tatlo sa sampung grade I di makatapos sa elementaryang layon
Dahil sa ekonomiyang lumalala ang kondisyon
Maraming di nakapag-aral, tumitigil dalawa hanggang apat na milyon
Kung sa elementarya, pangarap ay naunsyami na
Sa hayskul pa kaya, tapos dagdagan mo pa ng isa?
Ilan pa kayang Marianette Amper ng Davao ang matutulad sa kanya?
Nais mang magtagumpay, sa hukay na lang mapupunta.
DAPAT: (Ikatlong Tindig)
Anila, mas masarap ang tagumpay kung pinaghihirapan
Kaysa sa nakamit na ninanasa sa madaling paraan
Walang kasintamis namnamin ang pinagpawisan
Kaysa sa madaliang parang naglalaro lang
Tingnan natin ang bansang America, Inglatera, Japan at Korea
Umaabot sa pitong taong pag-aaral sa sekundarya
Nilalayon mahusay na edukasyon, upang mag-aaral ay handa
Ng mga kaalamang sa trabaho talagang uubra
Ani Chito Salazar, miyembro ng Philippjne Business for Education
Ang basic education na dapat sana ay labin-dalawang taon
Sa Pilipinas daw ay ginawa lamang na sampung taon
Sapat na bang paghahanda ang iniukol na panahon?
Hindi nga rin maitatatwa maraming Pilipino sa ibang bansa
Doon nag-aaral at ngayo’y namamayagpag na
Dahil sa mataas na uri ng edukasyong ibinigay sa kanila
Mahaba man ang panahong ginugugol ay di alintana
Kaya nga pami-pamilya pumupunta sa Amerika, sa Canada
Upang magtrabaho, manganak paunlarin ang pamilya
Dahil doon ang kinabukasa’y sigurado ka
Bumalik man sa Pilipinas ay angat pa rin sila
HINDI DAPAT: (Ikatlong Tindig)
Ang makipagsabayan sa industriyalisadong bansa
Sa teknolohiya, ekonomiya, edukasyon idagdag pa
Pangarap na lang yata, darating man ang panaho’y, malayo pa
Kaya isipin na lang muna ang bansa, dito tayo magsimula
Ang pitong taong pag-aaral sa sekundarya
Sa magulang at mag-aaral ay isa lamang parusa
Marami na ngang mahihirap di makatapos sa elementarya
Sa hayskul pa na daragdagan pa ng isa?
Andun na tayo, na kahandaan lamang inyong ninanasa
Pagdaragdag nang isa pang taon, isang kalutasan kaya?
Dahil dito, maraming magkabilang reaksyon ang naglabasan na
Kaya, maging Malacañang ay nabahala
Kagawaran ng Edukasyon hindi na ipinagpilitan pa
Nasa mag-aaral at magulang daw ang pagpapasya
Isa ngang matalinong desisyon dahil sa kalagayan ng ekonomiya
Kahit 6.4 % ang itinaas ng Gross Domestic Product ng bansa
Bago isipin ang pangarap na limang taon sa sekundarya
Ayusin muna ang pangangailangan at sistema
Aklat, gusali, klasrum, mga guro kailangang handa
Di lang literasi kundi pag-unlad ng bansa ang resulta
LAKANDIWA:
Talagang ako’y napapatda sa mga katwirang kabi-kabila
Walang ibig mahuli sa mga patunay at ebidensya
Makakaya pa kaya nila ang isa pang ronda?
Eto na nga’t sila’y nagbabadya na ang balagtasa’y ipagpatuloy na
Kaya marikit na binibini at makisig na binata
Hinihiling ko na kayo muna ay huminga
Alam kong kailangan pa ninyo ng enerhiya
Maging ang mga manonood ay nag-iinit na
DAPAT:
Ang buhay ay magkahalong eksperimento’t subukan, ika nga
Nangangailangan ng pag-aaral ng sapat na panahon at tiyaga
Sa mga panukala ng kagawaran at pamahalaan sinupurtahan ba ng madla?
Di pa naisasagawa’y, pagbatikos, kaliwa’t kanan na
Aminin man natin o hindi marami ang mangyayari sa isang taon
Basta bukas ang isip, pumapasok ang dunong
Kailangan sa pag-aaral matinding determinasyon
Sipag at tiyaga sabi nga ng mga marurunong
Pahayag nga ng Malacañang, kung gusto’y maunlad na bansa
Hindi sa dami ng gradweyt ang iisipin sa tuwina
Kundi paghahandang mataas ang kalidad, ito’y sandata
Na ayon kay G. Bunye, upang ang mga itinuro’y hindi maging basura
Sa ating ekonomiya, dollar remittances ang nagpapaangat
Dahil sa mga Pilipinong nakakuha ng edukasyong sapat
Sinubok sa haba ng ginugol na pag-aaral at paghahanda
Upang makipagsabayan dito at sa ibang bansa.
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang panaho’y huwag sayangin, pagkat ginto ang kahambing
Gawa sa matagal, gawa sa madali, gayun din
Kung pinag-aralan ang programa, magagawa natin
Basta mga kailangan di nabibitin
Yaman din lang nabanggit ang mga industrialisadong bansa
Maraming inihahandog kursong subok na
Mabilisan mang kinukuha, ito nama’y kumikita
Nakatitipid ng panahon, hirap at pera
Certified Nursing Assistant sa America’y, isang halimbawa
Tinatapos lang ito sa dalawang buwan, ang bilis di ba?
Sa Pilipinas gumawa ng Caregiver course anim na buwan pa
Di rin lang itinuturing na requirement sa ibang bansa
Caregiver? Pwedeng ituro sa araw na isa o dalawa
Lalo sa mga Pilipinong ‘caregiving’ nasa kultura’t dugo na
Pagkuha ng experience walang tuition, libre pa nga
Pumasok lang na katulong, mag-alaga ng bata at matanda okey na
DAPAT:
Aking kabalagtas, matuto tayo sana
Sa mga katotohanang tayo ay nahuhuli na
Resulta ng NAT, HSRT at mga pagsubok sa ibang bansa
Pilipino’y kawawa, ikalima mula sa ibaba
Huwag alintanahin ang dagdag na isang taon sa sekundarya
Kung pagiging global ang layunin at adhika
Bawat gradweyt ay may sapat na bala
Sa mga hamon ng kinabukasang di mawari ang ibinabadya
DI-DAPAT:
Totoo ngang ang mga resulta ng mga pagsubok nakaaalarma
Ngunit marapat bang ipapasan ang hirap sa masa?
Ang buhay nga ni Juan higpit sinturon na
Baka hanggang pawis at dugo ay wala nang mapiga
Tayong mga Pilipino edukasyo’y talagang mahalaga
Ngunit kung di makayanan, uunahin ang sikmura
Kaya’t marapat ayusin ang programa’t sistema
Hindi ang pagdagdag ng isang taon ang sagot sa problema
DAPAT:
Ang lumalakad nang mabilis kung matinik ay malalim
Ang isang tao’y huwag isiping pasanin
Ang hirap ay huwag alintanahin
Kung ang pangarap ay gustong kamtin
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang oras ay tumatakbo kaya’t makipagsabayan
Ang isang taong dagdag na walang patutunguhan
Dagdag alalahanin sa mga magulang at mga kabataan
Lalo pa’t ang bansa’y nasa gitna ng kahirapan
DAPAT:
Mas mabuti ang magpakahirap sa una
Kung kinabukasan ang nakataya
Kaysa sa madaliang gawa
Hilaw ang pagkaluto, kulang sa timpla
HINDI DAPAT:
Ang hirap ay hindi punto, basta’t mabuti ang proseso
Kahit matagal kung walang kabuluhan ito
Dahil ang pagpaplano ay malasado
Masarap na kinabukasan kaya ang ihahain nito?
DAPAT:
Ang dagdag na isang taon malaki ang kabuluhan
Makakaipon din dagdag na kaalaman
HINDI DAPAT:
Sa maikling panahon ma’y, layuni’y makakamtan
Matanggal lang ang mga balakid sa daan
DAPAT:
Dagdag na isang taon sa hayskul ay kailangan
Sa may kalidad na edukasyon at mas maunlad na bayan
HINDI DAPAT:
Dagdag na isang taon sa hayskul huwag ng pag-ukulan
Pahirap lang sa pamilya at buong sambayanan
LAKANDIWA:
Maghunos dili kayong dalawang umuusok ang ulo!
Sa inyong mga katwira’y para akong naiipit sa nag-uumpugang bato
Para kayong mga giyererong, walang patatalo
Ipaglalaban ang paniniwala, hanggang huling patak ng dugo
Ngayo’y ang katapusan ng pagtatalo’y sumapit
Siguradong mga manonood, mga ulo’y namimilipit
Kung sino ang papanigan, ang pumili sa dalawa’y pinipilit
Upang mabigyang hatol ang nagtatalong sa kaalama’y nakahihindik
Sinong dapat ihayag na lamang nitong ating balagtasan
Kapwa naman silang busog sa kaalaman at katwiran
Parang wala namang angat, wala namang nakalamang
Kaya mula sa inyong abang lingkod: sila’y patas, tabla lamang
Kung anuman ang inyong pasya’y sa isipan na lang ilalaan
Maaaring di rin kayo makapili ng kampeonatong gawaran
Dahil sa mga katwirang pareho naman ang timbang
Ngayon, huling hiling ko sa inyo’y, paulanan sila ng malutong na palakpakan!
AWIT NG GURO
Richard M. Collado
Sumikat na naman si haring araw sa silangan
Binabadya isa na namang araw ng karunungan
Uhaw na mga kaisipan, naghihintay na masilayan
Sinag sa karimlan ng kamangmangan
Alipin ako ng umagang may pag-asa
Kamalayan ko’y kanyang hinihila
Gunita ko’y pinaghaharian niya
Maging puso’y hinahamon sa tuwina
Pagpasok sa bukanang nag-aanyaya
Humubog ng kinabukasan, iyan ang panata
Kalimutan ang makasariling paglaya
Matibay na katauhan, kailangang ihanda
Gabundok mang alalahanin ang dala
Matamis na ngiti ipamamalas sa tuwina
Sa harap nila’y alagad tayo ng pag-asa
Paninindigan ito sa abot ng makakaya
Di sa kalabisan, daig pa ang artista sa teatro
Sa haba ng mga linyang kailangang isaulo’t isapuso
Iba-ibang kasaysayan ng buhay ng tao
Kailangang gampanan at isabuhay ito
Pinapasok mundo ng mga doctor
Kwentista, makata, manunulat at orador
Counselor, accountant, minsa’y dyanitor
Minsa’y pilit na ginagawa sa ngalan ng pabor
Mahirap mang tunay kung iisipin
Kailangang handa sa libong tiisin
Minsa’y luha kaulayaw sa gabing malalim
Lalo pag pamilya’y nakipagsabayan na rin
Alin kaya sa dalawa? Walang dapat piliin
Dito nasusukat tunay na husay at galing
Kung mapagtatagumpayan at kayang pagsabayin
Tunay ngang pagiging guro’y walang kahambing
Di man sapat ang sweldong natatanggap
Kaluluwa nama’y parang nasa alapaap
Kung may nagtagumpay sa kanillang mga pangarap
Malaking pasasalamat, naririnig sa likod at harap
Abogado, inhinyero, mamamahayag, politiko
Sino sa kanila ang hindi dumaan sa isang guro?
Ang mayaman nitong isip at mapagpalang puso
Bumuhay sa pag-asa, humabi sa kinabukasan ng mga ito
Kung ang puno’y sinusukat ang yaman
Sa bilang at uri ng bunga raw kailangang tingnan
Kung sa guro kaya, ito rin magiging sukatan?
Siguradong yaman nito’y wala ng pagsidlan
Buhay nga ng guro’y napakapayak kung iisipin
Kaligayahan nito’y mababaw man, ay malalim
Di lang karunungan inihahatid sa bawat aralin
Ang mabuhay ng marangal kanyang itinanim
Kaya dumarating man ang punto ng kapaguran
Panahon ng kawalan at masidhing pagdaramdam
Hanggang sumapit sarili lang ang tanging sandalan
Pakaisipin na lamang ang dakilang sinumpaan
Malapit nang lumubog si haring araw sa kanluran
Hatid nito’y hindi kailanman isang katapusan
Kundi’y isang pagsisimula para kinabukasan
Sa mga nagnanasang isip na lalong mapayaman
Kapag dumarating na oras ng pamamahinga
Ilatag ang katawan sa malambot na kama
Naisin mang alalahani’y pansamantalang mawala
Gunita pa ri’y patuloy na nananariwa
Kaya sa pagtulog sana pumailanlang isang musika
Oyayi sa isang gurong tapat sa kaniyang panata
Handog sa kanyang di matatawarang ginawa
Guro, tunay na bayani, sana’y pagpalain ka!
(Mananatili ka sa aming gunita
Butil ng kaisipan iyong ipinunla
Sinag ka sa bawat magandang umaga
Ibinigay mo ang tanglaw ng pag-asa
Karunungang sandata sa anumang pakikibaka
Kayamanan na kailanman hindi mawawala)
Sumikat na naman si haring araw sa silangan
Binabadya isa na namang araw ng karunungan
Uhaw na mga kaisipan, naghihintay na masilayan
Sinag sa karimlan ng kamangmangan
Alipin ako ng umagang may pag-asa
Kamalayan ko’y kanyang hinihila
Gunita ko’y pinaghaharian niya
Maging puso’y hinahamon sa tuwina
Pagpasok sa bukanang nag-aanyaya
Humubog ng kinabukasan, iyan ang panata
Kalimutan ang makasariling paglaya
Matibay na katauhan, kailangang ihanda
Gabundok mang alalahanin ang dala
Matamis na ngiti ipamamalas sa tuwina
Sa harap nila’y alagad tayo ng pag-asa
Paninindigan ito sa abot ng makakaya
Di sa kalabisan, daig pa ang artista sa teatro
Sa haba ng mga linyang kailangang isaulo’t isapuso
Iba-ibang kasaysayan ng buhay ng tao
Kailangang gampanan at isabuhay ito
Pinapasok mundo ng mga doctor
Kwentista, makata, manunulat at orador
Counselor, accountant, minsa’y dyanitor
Minsa’y pilit na ginagawa sa ngalan ng pabor
Mahirap mang tunay kung iisipin
Kailangang handa sa libong tiisin
Minsa’y luha kaulayaw sa gabing malalim
Lalo pag pamilya’y nakipagsabayan na rin
Alin kaya sa dalawa? Walang dapat piliin
Dito nasusukat tunay na husay at galing
Kung mapagtatagumpayan at kayang pagsabayin
Tunay ngang pagiging guro’y walang kahambing
Di man sapat ang sweldong natatanggap
Kaluluwa nama’y parang nasa alapaap
Kung may nagtagumpay sa kanillang mga pangarap
Malaking pasasalamat, naririnig sa likod at harap
Abogado, inhinyero, mamamahayag, politiko
Sino sa kanila ang hindi dumaan sa isang guro?
Ang mayaman nitong isip at mapagpalang puso
Bumuhay sa pag-asa, humabi sa kinabukasan ng mga ito
Kung ang puno’y sinusukat ang yaman
Sa bilang at uri ng bunga raw kailangang tingnan
Kung sa guro kaya, ito rin magiging sukatan?
Siguradong yaman nito’y wala ng pagsidlan
Buhay nga ng guro’y napakapayak kung iisipin
Kaligayahan nito’y mababaw man, ay malalim
Di lang karunungan inihahatid sa bawat aralin
Ang mabuhay ng marangal kanyang itinanim
Kaya dumarating man ang punto ng kapaguran
Panahon ng kawalan at masidhing pagdaramdam
Hanggang sumapit sarili lang ang tanging sandalan
Pakaisipin na lamang ang dakilang sinumpaan
Malapit nang lumubog si haring araw sa kanluran
Hatid nito’y hindi kailanman isang katapusan
Kundi’y isang pagsisimula para kinabukasan
Sa mga nagnanasang isip na lalong mapayaman
Kapag dumarating na oras ng pamamahinga
Ilatag ang katawan sa malambot na kama
Naisin mang alalahani’y pansamantalang mawala
Gunita pa ri’y patuloy na nananariwa
Kaya sa pagtulog sana pumailanlang isang musika
Oyayi sa isang gurong tapat sa kaniyang panata
Handog sa kanyang di matatawarang ginawa
Guro, tunay na bayani, sana’y pagpalain ka!
(Mananatili ka sa aming gunita
Butil ng kaisipan iyong ipinunla
Sinag ka sa bawat magandang umaga
Ibinigay mo ang tanglaw ng pag-asa
Karunungang sandata sa anumang pakikibaka
Kayamanan na kailanman hindi mawawala)
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