Walk with Us.

After visiting more than two hundred schools in the last 3 years and 11 months, I find myself now writing about the most difficult school visit I’ve ever made. Allow me to share with you our journey to Kagbana Elementary School (ES), located in the the farthest and most remote barangay of Burauen, Leyte.

 

The Teachers of Kagbana Elementary School 

During this trip, I would meet the teachers of Kagbana ES – both the outgoing and incoming set. Due to the difficult conditions associated with this post, teachers would only be assigned a maximum of one year there and then be replaced by new hires. The outgoing teachers shared how difficult it was, but at the same time would reassure us that we could handle the journey there. Before our long trip up to Kagbana, I sat down with the two incoming teachers, Rucel Cadion and Ruvylyn Remandaban. The third teacher, Wiljake Narca, I would meet only later. They seemed a little tense. Little did they know that this whole trip was actually about them. This trip was about THEIR school. This trip was about THEIR 86 students. All three of them were at the top of the ranking for teacher hiring within their district. All the teaching positions that they filled up were either newly created or as a result of retirement of other teachers and thus creating a natural vacancy. Previously, Rucel served as a substitute teacher after graduating at Eastern Visayas State University in 2007 and passing the licensure exam thereafter. She then worked as a volunteer teacher for four years and eight months. Ruvylyn was the high school classmate of Rucel and graduated from Leyte Normal University in 2009. She served as a substitute teacher for a month and worked as a volunteer kinder teacher for three years. She has two kids, a two-year-old and a nine-month-old. Wiljake Narca is the only male teacher among the three and was a substitute teacher for two years. He then worked as a volunteer kinder teacher for three years before getting a DepEd teaching item.  

My story below about our trek to Kagbana ES is just a glimpse of what these teachers will go through for the next year—the walk they will have to make each and every week just to get to work and back.

 

The Walk That Tests Limits

We decided a week before that we would accompany the teachers on their way to the school in time for school opening. On the Sunday before June 2, we took an early morning plane trip to Tacloban. I was with three people from the DepEd Central Office – Roger, Niza and Charmie. We were met in Tacloban by the Division Superintendent of Leyte and his team. We were also joined by ABS-CBN reporter, Jeff Canoy, and his crew, and together we drove towards Buruaen town proper which was an hour away.   http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/06/03/14/teachers-endure-40-km-journey-reach-tribal-kids

My colleagues from Central Office who joined the trip

Jeff Canoy drawing a crowd.

Upon reaching the district office, we were welcomed by our teachers and principals from various schools in the Buruaen South district. They seemed so elated and ready for the next day’s school opening. I (half) jokingly told them that I hoped their excitement would last throughout the year. After eating a hearty breakfast of luncheon meat, hotdog, and eggs, we got ready for our ride on a couple of motorcycles. But, wait! Picture taking first! We couldn’t leave without the customary shot with fellow DepEd personnel.

Teachers, Principals and staff of DepEd Burauen South District

Vice Mayor Juanito Renomeron also came to greet us. He looked ready to rock and roll in shorts, a jacket, and gloves. The local Deped personnel then assigned us our respective motorcycles and drivers. From there, I knew this was going to be an adventure. Our target destination was Managhao ES, where we would disembark and start walking. We would pass by several schools on the way there, as this first class municipality has a total of 60 elementary schools and three high schools. As there had been some passing rains, the 21km trip was a combination of good road and a bumpy experience onboard a motorcycle. It went from good to bad. It rained enough to get us wet during the two-hour ride. We passed by two lakes: Maaslum and Mahagnao lake. Maaslum means salty and is said to be a part of a volcanic crater. Mahagnao means clear and home to tilapia. The captive scenery made me forget the bumps.

Military personnel were assigned to us and we would pass them walking and making sure the area was clear and safe. They belonged to the 78th Infantry Batallion of the 8th ID. When we got to Mahagnao ES, we were greeted by all the teachers of the school and Barangay officials. This was going to be our lunch stop before we started walking. They pointed out a distant mountain with a landslide as a distinguishing mark. That was where Kagbana was. When everyone starts teasing you about the difficult walk, you will have to take it seriously. When they start giving you Gatorade and a chocolate bar, be worried. We were served casili, or freshwater eel. How could I say no? I needed to load up for the long walk. We all had to.

A last minute decision was made that we keep riding the motorcycle up to Brgy San Vicente of MacArthur, Leyte. This would lessen the walking distance by 3 km. Not all would get to ride, though. The others who were going to accompany us, including the new teachers, would have to walk. Principals from other schools, residents who helped carry our stuff including the food supplies for everyone, would walk.   We started to leave Mahagnao by around 1145am and it was scorching hot. The ride was a lot bumpier and on a much narrower trail. Apparently, we would be passing through two barangays of MacArthur town to get to Brgy. Kagbana. These were Lanawan and San Vicente.

 

Unsung heroes we met along the way

We proceeded to San Vicente ES. This was a really small school with an enrollment of 39. There was only one teacher for the entire school who was going to begin her second year there. Her name is Cherilyn Abalos. I asked her why she was all alone. She said the second teacher who was supposed to be a transferee from another town refused to be assigned there. So no replacement was found. She found herself teaching grades 1 to 6 all by herself! I had no words. I couldn’t accept that things would stay as they were.   I told her, “Ma’am, you belong to an elite group of 43,000 teachers who are teaching in about 8,000 multi grade schools and attending to almost a million students who otherwise wouldn’t have any education.”   Then it happened. She cried and leaned on my arm. At that point, I was silently cursing myself for even talking, and fighting off my own tears. I promised I wouldn’t leave until she had a teacher who would accompany her for the incoming school year and that she gets redeployed to a school nearer the poblacion by next year.   The superintendent and supervisor agreed to do this the following day and they explained that they had actually planned to send a second teacher already a few weeks before. Cherilyn told me she wanted to give her best to provide quality education to her students even if there were only a few of them. I told her by saying yes to the assignment, she already sends a strong message to these kids. That they are worth it. That their education is that important. I told her how  very privileged I felt to have met her.   While the trip so far had been extremely exhausting, it had already been worth it.  But the journey was far from over.

 

Cherilyn Abalos, teacher of San Vicente ES

Living with the community

By around 1pm, we started to walk to Kagbana. It began with a thirty-minute continuous descent until you reach a stream. By then, my feet were shaking. I thought to myself, this means we climb and ascend this tomorrow. Good luck to us.   That was the first hill. After resting a bit, we climbed the second hill and as you reach the top, you take a small trail on the edge before going down again. This is where I slipped and bruised my knee. So I now have a Burauen souvenir.   After you descend, you reach the second stream. The nurse who joined us gave me paracetamol to fight off the pain as I washed the bruise with water. It was time for the third and last hill that seemed like a mountain. We had to make several stops along the way before we could reach the top. This was deep into the Leyte mountain range. I reached the final peak past 3pm. Others had gone ahead. And there was another group behind me. My heart was racing. My muscles were shaking. But the view was breathtaking. From the peak, we could see the community of Kagbana…down there. Yes, we had to traverse a winding, steep slope to get to the community and cross a river to boot.   After resting to normalize my heart rate, we slowly walked down the steep slope until we reached the riverbank. Others were on the opposite bank resting. The army tied a rope from end to end so we could hold on to it and avoid slipping while crossing the river. This is the Marabong River which flows all the way down to Dulag town and out to sea. After crossing the river, there was one final ascent.   We reached Brgy Kagbana at 4pm. This Barangay is on a valley surrounded by mountains of Burauen, MacArthur, Javier, Ormoc, and Baybay. Philippine eagles were spotted here last year and in fact, expeditions by Philippine Eagle Foundation and DENR are expected soon.    

We wanted to take a picture of ourselves before the walk. The mountains behind us was the destination.

There were many fallen trees as a result of Typhoon Yolanda.

I shared trail mix with the teenagers who helped carry our supplies. The colored chocolates were the first to go.

One of the four descents we have had to make. At least this one had steps to make it more manageable.

We had to cross the Marabong river to get to the poblacion of Barangay Kagbana. The military tied rope from end to end to help everyone.

A bustling Kagbana community

When we got to Kagbana, people were playing the national sport — basketball. Charmie, one of my staff, had extra energy to even shoot some hoops with them. The three teachers were inspecting the classrooms and trying to organize their thoughts, I suppose. I met the Barangay captain and took a look at some of the damage caused by Yolanda.   Slightly above the school, a group of houses was occupied by members of the Mamanua tribe. I had the opportunity to meet their 98-year-old elder who was 12 when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. It was so surreal to hear him say this. He and his group moved from Butuan to this place via Surigao and Maasin in the early 70s. They chose this place because it was a dense forest. He recounts that he was one of those who built the school in the late 90s. His name is Bernal Managbanag. He doesn’t look his age. It usually takes him an hour to walk what took me three hours.

 

By the time we finished swapping stories and introducing ourselves, it was already getting dark. We went back to the school area and dinner was about ready. Everyone was talking about the long trip and swapping jokes. Despite the long day, everyone was in a jovial mood.   There was going to be a quick after dinner program since the Mamanua wanted to welcome us visitors. We got the chance to see their native dance with the influence of the Curacha dance known in this part of the country. As the couple dances to the native beat, the audience comes forward and places money on a blanket laid out on the ground. I had the chance to take two swigs of tuba with Coke as chaser. It was a good way to cap the night. Some of us slept in the teachers’ cottage while most slept inside.

First day of school

By 4am, I was up and so were a few of the group. By 5am, people were preparing for breakfast and getting ready for school opening. I found time to talk to the three new teachers—the reason for our visit—Rucel, Ruvylyn, and Wiljake, who were going to be installed on the first day of school. I congratulated them for having gotten there after serving for several years. I told them to remember this day. Not only because it was so unique. I asked them to remember this day as a reminder of why they chose to teach. In the future, when they rise through the ranks, their reason for teaching should help them keep on a straight path. Remember all the anxieties, fears, and excitement they feel today. I also wished them luck. I told them today was special for me too because through them, we will be able to deliver education to the many children of this Barangay. We are able to reach the unreached. Ruvylyn, in particular, makes the supreme sacrifice of being away from her two kids. I was damn proud to be part of this agency. Despite our imperfections as an organization, these people were making the bold move.

By 7:30am, we started flag ceremony. Together with the parents, the Philippine Army, the LGU reps led by Vice Mayor Renomeron, the DepEd Leyte contingent, central office staff, media people and the students – we all sang our national anthem and swore our oath to our country.   Then kids proceeded to their respective classrooms and my teachers started to weave their magic with the help of principals from other schools and the division superintendent who accompanied us. Talk about solidarity and passing on the baton. We were one DepEd.   By 830, we said our goodbyes and started the long journey back to Tacloban.   For me, this was a tiring two-day trek.  For Rucel, Ruvylyn and Wiljake, this is what they would go through every week for the next 36 weeks of the school year, to make sure the kids in Kagbana will have an education.  I knew that the teachers were going to go through a challenging school year. But I also know they will remember that they are not alone. They belong to an elite group of 43,000 plus teachers teaching in 8,000 plus multi grade schools serving close to a million students living on the fringes. They are an army striving to make sure no one is left behind. And we walk with them.

Supervising Principal introduces the new teachers, Rucel, Wiljake and Ruvylyn (not in photo).

Will you join us?

There were so many people who helped make this trip possible and they too, walked with us and our teachers. And I thank them. In particular, i will mention Niño, my assigned motorcycle driver. He was classy and cool as he navigated through the muddy road without allowing us to fall. He told me about his two kids, the eldest would be starting Kindergarten the following day. Yet, he drove for us. Thank you, Niño.

I thank all the residents, principals from other schools, nurses and dentists, and even the military personnel, who made the journey up with us – going on foot for hours, crossing rivers, and traversing mountains.   Similarly, the success of this school depends on many people and groups. The journey to educate is long and hard and it will take the “whole village” for them to succeed.   To the students, school opening brought hope. It brought the prospect of a better future. It meant that government has not forgotten them and that we will bring education to those who need and deserve it.   I invite you to join this journey. Come and walk with our students, our teachers and our government as we tackle the myriad of problems we face. Walk with us.

 

Education knows no boundaries.

Have you ever heard of multi-grade schools or multi-grade teaching?

Multi-grade schools are public elementary schools combining two grade levels into one class handled by one teacher throughout the school year.

Schools such as these exist because of a variety of factors. On the demand side, enrollment is low in areas where households are scattered or sparse. Given supply constraints, multi-grade instruction is adopted combining gr 1&2, 3&4, 5&6. As enrollment increases, the school may slowly shift to a mono grade setup and split the grade levels as separate classes.

Figures from DepEd show that there are close to a million enrollees in multigrade classes in about 8000 schools all over the country.

Br. Armin Luistro FSC, Secretary of DepEd, considers this as “part of our thrust to democratize access to education and make the learning experience inclusive to as many sectors. In effect, we are bringing more students to school.”

He adds that “If a class does not meet the required number of enrollees and therefore it is not viable to conduct a class of limited number of pupils, the supposed enrollees are merged into a single class and taught by one teacher.”

Consequently, the mode of teaching is also adjusted for this approach, which was formally recognized by the Department in 1990.

I want to highlight the teachers who teach in multi-grade schools. Currently, there are about 43,000 teachers in these kinds of schools.

It is often observed that new hires are assigned to these far-flung and remote schools – almost like a rite of passage for them. After several years, most of them aspire to move down to the Poblacion Barangay and are replaced by another set of new hires.

But in the meantime, they toil and brave the challenges of reaching the unreached.

It is typical that they walk for hours, cross rivers and seas, ride motorcycles, and brave the elements as part of a weekly/monthly commute. During the school week, they stay in-school and form a community of teachers in houses sometimes provided by the community for them. Most of these places are off-grid and are without power.

The Department is doing what it can to support these teachers – from specialized training, hazard pay, to additional operating expenses.

But I want to highlight that these teachers are miracle workers. Their sacrifices are in fact, building blocks in providing education to children who deserve it. They do more than simply teach. They live with the community. They guide parents. They act as community organizers. They immerse themselves and embrace the remoteness as an act of solidarity with the poor. They provide hope by their apostolate of presence. They represent the government that reaches out to the marginalized.

They are living heroes in my book.

I hope to write about some of these teacher heroes as I meet more of them in my trips.