Kid Conductor

It was a rainy morning when I left home around 5:50 am heading for work. As I was approaching near a jeepney stop where I usually ride. A parked jeepney was already waiting for passengers, So I immediately find a place to sit.

When I sat down near the exit I noticed that the conductor was a child, he was around 8-9 years old. I noticed that he lack some rest because of his sleepy eyes. While the vehicle was running the rain poured more.

It's December 23,2013 and this kid is awake as early as he could trying to earn money. Wet and feeling cold as he chills from time to time he continue to collect jeepney fare's. I was assuming that the driver was his father.

Tomorrow would be December 24, 2013 and hours from that it would be Christmas Eve. I don't know how long this child be working for this day. I bet he wants to earn a lot so that he can buy something as a gift to himself. And also want to contribute so that they will have some foods on their table during Christmas Eve.

I can see he's getting cold since his legs started shaking. But he keep chanting for passengers when the vehicle would reach a certain jeepney stop. I was thinking on the outcome of this child on tomorrow's celebration.

• Instead of sleeping in a warm bed and woke up with a milk. He is here on the streets doing a child labor and assisting the driver. 
• Instead of getting excited to unwrap his gift while waiting for Christmas Eve. He is on the streets asking passengers about their jeepney fare.
• Instead of playing with their relatives when the night comes. He is working overtime with his driver to earn enough money.

Not all child are lucky since others are born with this kind of reality. Other's would be chanting and caroling Christmas songs. While others would be selling rags, newspapers and cigarette's early in the morning.

Early bitterness of learning.

It's rainy season once again and going to school would be a day to day struggle for most of the kids living in Philippines. During these times many would suffer including kids and those who  are living near canals and other areas where water can immediately rise. I myself experienced worst case scenario during heavy and unexpected rains.

Water would overflow and get inside your house as quickly as 5 mins. Polluted water would fill  the drainage system and those houses nearby river banks would get flooded in an instant.

Polluted water that would knock on your door but also garbage's and also both human/animal waste.

Children would suffer from this kind of situations as they can't focus on their studies. Since they are distracted by the bitter reality that sorrounds them.

Kids would be soaked in wet together with their bag and school supplies.

Another problem would be the electric shortage to other places. Kids would study using candles or lamp.

 As they try to review their notes or do their assignment on the pitch-black environment.

Others would do it as soon as they arrive in school with a dim light.

As the pages of their books and notebooks would curl and the content would fade because they are all wet. The lack of these supplies would be another hindrance to quality education.

Unfortunately few kids would not get adequate and proper education. Some of them would even share books with others during classes.

One book would be shared with 3 to 4 kids during on-going class discussions. The hardships that these kids have encountered should be attended. They deserve some attention since as young as their age they settle to half bake learning system.  It's just unfair for them to have been treated like this.

Rainy days would be a huge problem especially if the school is quite far.

Kids from those provinces would travel at least 30 mins of walking just to reach their Alma Mater.

And when it rains you would usually see them on parade using banana leaves to comfort them and keep them dry.

As they march together with their neighbors going to school and talk about random things.

As they trick their minds on ignore both the weather and the obstacle terrain that they are going through.

When they arrive in school expect wet socks with dirt on their feet. And that would be the first thing that you would see. Some who are wearing sleepers have mud all over their feet(lucky for them they will just wash it off).

How hard for these kids to absorb knowledge despite these resources that they have. How fragile they can go as they continue to learn things the hard way.

As these kids would grow and sooner they would realize how they spent their childhood. They would just look back and start to think all over again how things happened quickly during those youthful and innocent era.

Back to school

It's the first day of June and usually this reminds us one common thing. Classes would start or it's back to school once  again. I could still remember my struggles when I was a kid especially waking up early LOL!. As soon as the month of June enters leave the fun times and memories of summer behind.

• Get a new haircut that the school requires. 
• Make sure your circumcision is healed. Kids will be kids sharing and brag your experiences on how was it(Wa may sakit dali ra kaayo na ayo, gikamatis man to ako bai naka tamak kog iti)
• Try to find school supplies and things that can still be used in school.
• Check if the uniforms would still fit(usually they don't after growing)

I miss my childhood experience the moment that classes would start. Some would cry

and weep at school. Others would eventually scream and run in the lobby after knowing their parents or guarding had went home. Others are still lazy same as before were in they are like snorlax inside the classroom.

For the girls you would just be shocked how they grow so fast especially their height. You would wonder what they wear eating all summer long since they ended up that tall in just a couple of months. Well others would still be the same as before but others would have changed complexion. 

Others who have fair, white complexion had turned into brown due to too much summer escapade and vacation. Others would even have dyed their hair for the purpose of summer activities.

Since it's start of the school summer fun and activities would be missed. And of course rainy situations would be experience were in this would be a nightmare for kids who loves to sleep all day just like me.

The first thing that I remember when I was in elementary the moment the school ends was to check my classroom. The second worse feeling was know how crucial our teacher/adviser would be(always prayed for this hehehe).

The second would be knowing and checking who are your classmates. This goes both ways were in you would see if you are still with your comrades or they are now on different sections. And then you would know if you are classmates with your childhood crush LOL!.

The last part would be claiming your territory and that would be were to sit. I always hope that seat plan would not be implemented so that I can sit beside my friends and were I am comfortable(dili pa atubangan para makatog og dili maoy pa answeron hahaha).

And after the class I would just go home right away so that I can still watch cartoons when I get home. Or play to whatever games.  And perhaps the best news you can hear be NO CLASSESS/ WALANG PASOK. Such a sweet and satisfying  to hear that it gives you an overjoy reaction.