I am 23

June 19, 2009-- the day I marked my 23rd day of existence in this world.

Some people think that the coming of age should and is usually accompanied with new levels of thinking, renewal and more changes. I also do think so, but I am afraid that I won't be able to do such as I come to a new year of my life.

Sure is, I am unpredictable, even for myself. I tell so many lies and have done and continue to do so many mistakes in my life. At times I am quite and I love it. Oftentimes I am loud outgoing and every after such situation , I usually regret the way I acted. I want to be like those silent, intelligent, thinking and deep people who knows far more than what their tongues strike. I want to be like those detectives in novels and movies as well as undercover agents or super intelligent someone that can do something more than what is expected and what is normal.

Now, do I think I have to change my life? I guess I do.

I don't hate the me, I just do not entirely like it. The hell, im 23, and time is running out, if not for my ego, but atleast to my sanity.

Happy birthday to me.

A Real Free Education

SITIO LADIAN, MARILOG DIST., DAVAO CITY— Tightly gripping on her umbrella with another hand clutching her newly given schoolbag, Jinky Tan, 12, heads back towards her classroom in hurried steps after the sudden rain put a temporary stop to the handing-out of donated school supplies by “Church people” from Davao City.

Jinky, a Manobo, along with the rest of the 159 pupils of Ladian Elementary School here, is one of the beneficiaries of the Lumad Scholarship program of the Sacred Heart Parish in Obrero, Davao City.

The pupils received one year supply of school materials, uniforms and shoes raised through the efforts of parish priest Fr. Jesus Samaniego with the assistance of parish staff and some parishioners.

Aside from school supplies, the parish also gave the school faculty materials that may be used for more effective classroom instruction throughout the school year. Also given were sports equipments and used clothing for the pupils and neighboring houses.

Fr. Samaniego said that the school was chosen as beneficiary because of its manageable population and the poor conditions of the area’s residents.



“This is the real free education,” Fr. Samaniego said emphasizing the birth-right of the children for free education as provided by the Constitution.

With only four classrooms for pupils, Ladian Elementary School uses a multi-grade teaching strategy to accommodate the children’s learning needs.

Parents’ immeasurable gratefulness

Diding Mangil, 45, a Bagobo and a mother of 2 pupils at Tadian, expressed gratefulness to the efforts made by the parish as she recalls how, as a young child, she dreamed of studying but was unable to finish even the first grade because of poverty.

Mangil like most of her neighbors only learned a little on reading and writing through a literacy program offered by soldiers in a military detachment here.
“This is the first time that my children get to own a school bag,” she said adding that his husband’s income from working for landowners is only enough to buy food.

“The donated school supplies are really a big help for us parents and we are very thankful for this good-hearted people,” said Mangil.

The school supplies were distributed June 15 at the sitio’s covered court fronting Ladian Elementary School. Congee was distributed among pupils and parents for lunch after the distribution.