VISIONS AND VOICES
October 2009 Article No. 1
Submitted by: Vera Paola Reyes
When my Mommy told me I have to transfer to a public school I just kept quiet. I did not say a word of protest nor asked for some explanations. I kept whatever feelings I have to myself. We’re experiencing financial setback and I could see how my Mommy suffered during that time. I told myself, I would not want to see her suffer more.
Enrollment came. My Mommy had to see to it that I would be in the star section because people say that in public schools only those in the star section receive good education and thankfully our adviser was a friend of her kumare. I eventually landed in the star section. First day of school came and I met my new classmates. My new surroundings did not affect me much. What affected me were the different attitudes of my new classmates. They were rude, noisy, and arrogant and always make fun of their classmates. I am more blessed than another boy who is also a transferee from a private school. Our classmates would always make fun of him and will not stop until he would cry. I am lucky to have “Kakay”, who is the top 1 in their class to my rescue. She was my Uncle’s “inaanak” and we knew each other since were kids. The bully group could not touch me because I have Kakay by my side.
First grading period is almost over. I took the test and made it good. I thought everything would be alright but I was wrong.
My Mommy told me one night that we have to move to Caloocan City. We have to do this in order to save my parents’ business. She told me she had arranged my transfer to another school and we have to move immediately to our new house. We have to leave our newly built house and live in an apartment that is only a walk away from their place of business.
My transfer was not that easy because first grading is almost over and I am beginning to adopt myself to my new surrounding. But I could not do anything. I have to obey my parents.
My new school was big. It has bigger population than my previous. The students are from different classes of people but mostly are from low income families. My new adviser had only accommodated me because she knew my Mommy. Only she and the assistant principal accommodated my transfer because they were my Mommy’s batch mate in college.
I was not in the original enrollment list but my new adviser was able to add my name. Because of this, I was not allowed to have books. My books were return to my previous teacher before I left. My mommy had to buy some and her other batch mates in that school made some provisions. I also did not have my seat. I have to made use of a broken chair on the first day I attended my new classes.
On that day, my Mommy accompanied me and had a talk with my new teacher. While they were talking I could see her throwing glances at me as I sat on a broken chair on the farthest corner of the room. I was also wearing the uniform of my previous school and I looked so different from my classmates. Before she left, my teacher allowed us to have a talk.
My mommy was crying and repeatedly asked forgiveness that I have to be in that situation. I did not say anything but I also cried. I don’t the reasons why but I cried and cried. My mommy had to assured me that everything will be alright.
I did not know how that first day ended and when my Mommy came to take me home, she was riding in a tricycle and introduced to me an old man I called Tatang as my service. At first I did not want to ride in that stuff. It was the first time I have to use such mode of transportation as my service that will take me from home to school and vice versa. But I could not do anything because I do not want to walk just like my new classmates.
I did not know how I survived the first week but I am beginning to like my service especially Tatang who treated me as his apo. He would ask me if I would like to take the long route so that I could do some sightseeing since he knew I am new in that area. He would also allow me to buy street foods and would not tell it to my Mommy.
My new classmates are also good to me. They were different from my previous. They were friendly and very helpful and accommodating. They were also good academically although they did not have books. They were very resourceful. I made a lot of friends and actually all of them were my friends. They would go to our house and nap over after doing our group assignment. I felt I am more blessed although my family was in some financial setback, I am still enjoying things that were not familiar to them.
I did not know how I survived my new surrounding. The room was crowded and accommodates more than seventy pupils. The chairs are shared by three and moving around is not easy. But what made it worse was that from an airconditioned room of a private school, it was now a hot and not well-ventilated one. I would come from my home with an air-conditioned room and stay in that room for almost half day and would go home again to my air-conditioned room and that made me irritated for some period of time. Soon I realized I am lucky to have it and should not be annoyed with it.
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Caloocan City is known to be a flood prone area. Our school although located in a higher ground, its surroundings were not. During a heavy rainfall, floods would be all around the vicinity. First time I experienced the floods, I was so afraid but seeing my classmates and other pupils enjoying it as if it was a holiday, I soon learn to enjoy it, too. Tatang would allowed me to wade my feet in the floods and as he raced with other PADYAK cars crossing the floods. It was such an experience and I always look forward for another high tide or heavy rainfall. To us, kids in that school, it was a fun day rather than a disaster.
I graduated with lots of good and nice memories of that school. When my mother asked me if I want to be in a private high school because they have recovered a little from our crisis, I told her, no, I still want to be in a public school.
Being in a public school is not that bad. I believed it offers more than education but more of realization of what life really is. I am proud that I am among those who had the experience. The turning point in life came with it.
Category: Experience
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