Issuu

by RamjeanA.Ramon

by LouvyMilesK.Yufan

by DarwinT.Dawang

by QuyncyD.Sumatra

by RailynS.Dani

by RamjeanA.Ramon

by RischebelleG.Gan

by OrlieY.Sugalkou

by ArahP.Sugalkou

PhotobyAnnaKilan

by AyahCleoFaithDani

by AikheaToguin

by KrystelKateT.Bantilan

PhotobyChristianJadeBualan

by ChazelA.Delgado

PhotobyAnnaKilan

PhotobyChristianJadeBualan

by DarwinT.Dawang

by QuyncyD.Sumatra

byAnnaN. Kilan

news

by QuyncyD.Sumatra

cartoonbyPeterBryllG.Gumbay

MaryjoyYufan DarwinDawang,Sr. @RomelPanoy @RosalisGansing

Introspection

by AlenaG.Ayog

by RheaS.

by LouvyMilesK.Yufan

@Ayah

@Edna

@Jorian

by MikkiA.Gan

Dani

by RheaY.Blahing

The ripple effect of Duterte-Marcos Rift on the Filipino People

cartoonbyPeterBryllG.Gumbay

by KieraClaireI.Donato

by QuyncyD.Sumatra

Photofromfoxyfolksy.com

Photofromflickr.com(Background)andrecipedia(PakoSalad)

roadtowardsourdreamsisnot easytonavigate.Twistsand turnsarealongtheway.Trials andstrugglesarewaitingforthose whotrytoventureit.Highmountains toclimb.Extremeterrainstoovercome.Alongthejourney,mostofus chosetoquit.ButforCloydieA.Adey, quittersneverwin.

Cloydieisagrade12studentof sectionIbrahim.Heisaconsistent honorstudentandoneoftheIPlearnersbelongingtoaTboliTribe.Athis earlystagesofschooling,heendures wakingupearlyinthemorningand walksthealmostthreekilometerrocky andmuddyroadeverydayfromheis homeatSitioMalaklongtoNomoh IntegratedSchool.Beforereaching theschool,hehastocrosstheriver, whichbecomesdangerousduring heavyrains.Withhimishisoldbag thatgavebyhisteacherwhenhewas inGrade10.Heistheeldestamong thefivechildren.Despitebeingpoor, quittingislastthinghewoulddo. Nothingintheworldcouldstophim fromgoingtoschool,evenonabad weatherorinanemptystomach.

“Myfatherisaconstruction workerandmymotherisjustahousekeeper.Mostofthetimes,myfather’s salaryisnotenoughforallofus. Thatswhymostofthetimes,Iendure goingtoschoolwithouttakinga breakfast.Sometimesmyparentstold metostopschoolingandinstead, helptheminfarming.Butforme,itis bettertogotoschoolwitharumbling stomachthantostayathomewithout somethingtolearnfromourteacher.” CloydieconfessedinaTbolidialect.

Sadly,inourcountrymorechildrenhavesufferedfrompovertyand hungerandforcedtostopstudyingin ordertomakealiving.Mostofthem

arechildrencomingfromtheIndigenousGroups.

InNIS,morethan50%ofparentsdonotseehowimportanteducationis.AmongofthemareClodies parents.Forthem,tomakealivingin ordertoputfoodontheirtableiswhat onlymatters.ButforCloydie,theyare wrong.HeisoneoftheNomohIntegratedSchool’suncelebrateddreamer.Thoughtheyhavesufferedfrom lackofparentalsupport,theysee thingsinaperspectivedifferentfrom thatofthemajority’ s.Forhim,educationisoneofthemostimportant thingsintheworld.Hebelievesthat educationcanchangepeople’slives.

“Mydreamistofinishmystudy. Iwanttohelpmyparentsearnadecentliving.Iwanttobuyahousefor them;buylotsoffoodformyyounger brothersothattheywillneverget hungryanymore.”saidbyCloydieina Tbolidialect,whichvoucheshereagernessanddeterminationtofacelife challengeswithcourage.Thespiritof positivitycanbeseenbrightlyinhis eyes,whichportraysthefeatureofa trueFilipinowhoisresilientandforeverbegratefulforwhateveralifecould give.

Ouruncelebrateddreamers journeyhasjustonlybeganandhis finishlineisquitetoofartobeseen. ButCloydie’ spositiveoutlookinlife willbeservedashisguidinglight throughouthisjourney;inclimbingthe mountains;toovercomingtheextremeterrains.Maybefornow,this uncelebrateddreamerandotherslike himareoftenleftunnoticed.Buttime willcomethatthesededicateduncelebrateddreamersbyheart,willcelebratebyeveryoneandforeverbe celebrated.

teacher’ sheartnevergrows tired,evenwhentheroadis longandthejourneyishard. TheselinescapturetheperfectdescriptionofateacherfromNomoh IntegratedSchoolnamedCesonS. Sugalkou,Jr.,wholivesinoneof thefar-flungareasinSarangani.He isnotjustateacher;heisalifeline fortheTbolichildrenofNomohIntegratedSchool.

TeacherSugalkou,anIndigeniousPeoples(IP)teacher,

theageof36.

Educationsavedmeeven thoughIamatmy30s.Anyway, studyingisneverarace,andnow,it ismyturntogivebacktomycommunity.”Hesaid.

Tobeateacherwasnotreally hisdream;hewantedtobecomea soldier.Butfatehadotherplans.

Lifeledmehere,andIrealizedthisiswhereI’mmeanttobe.I maynotweartheuniformIdreamt

Our by RischebelleG.Gan

aveyouheardofacrowthatisbefriendedwithpeople?Crowsare amongstthemostfearedbirdsbychildrenbecauseoftheirlooks.In moststories,crowsrepresentas “death” - badbirdsthatstolehumans’ eyes.ButnotourcrowhereinNomohIntegratedSchool.

by QuyncyD.Sumatra

by QuyncyD.

Sugalkou,teachingismorethana job;Itisamissiontopreservetheir heritagewhilepreparinghisstudentsfortodaysmodernworld.

Thechallengesareimmense. Duringrainyseasons,overflowing riverfloodwatersandmuddytrails oftenmakeitimpossibleforstudentstoreachschool.ButTeacher Sugalkoualwaysshowsup,evenif itmeanswadingthroughfloodwatersorbravingstorms.Heeven carriesschoolmaterialsinhisback, ensuringnochildisleftbehind.

“Teachinginthelastmileis noteasy.Butthesechildrendeserveachance,nomatterhowdifficultandfarIhavetogo.”Hesaid.

Beyondthefourcornersofthe classroom,TeacherSugalkouisa pillarofthecommunity.Parents

MeetKiko,acrowthat seemedtohavebecomepartof NIScommunity.Kikowasnot justordinarybird;ithadbecomeafriendtothestudents andtheircompanionsintheir dailylifeatschool.Buthowdid thisunusualstoryoffriendship cometobe?

AccordingtoTeacher LeahS.DelaPeña,herfirst encounterwithKikowasone morningwhileshewassweepingherclassroom.

“Hesuddenlyapproached me,notscared.Ithoughthe wasjustlookingforfood,butit seemedlikehewantedtocommunicate.Andsincethen,Kiko visitedtheschool,entermy classroomeveryday,asifhe wasmyGrade1pupil.”Dela Peñashared.

Kikoquicklycaughtthe attentionofthestudents.During recess,hecouldbeseenwith children,eithereatingwiththem

trusthimtoguidetheirchildren,and heworkstirelesslytoencourage familiestosendthemtoschool.For many,hisunwaveringdedication hastransformednotonlythelivesof hisstudentsbutalsothefutureof hisbelovedNomoh.

Ialwaysremindparentson theircrucialroleintheirchildseducationsuccess.Theirsupportis whatthesestudentsalwaysneed.” Heremarked.

Inaworldthatoftenforgets thefar-flungcornerswherehope flickerslikeafragileflame,Teacher Sugalkoustandsasatestamentto thepowerofoneteacher’sloveand sacrifice.Heis,indeed,ateacher forallseasons.Aherowhosededicationensuresthatnodreamis evertoofaraway.

orhelpinginsimplewayslike pickingagarbage.Hispresencebroughtjoytostudents, speciallythosewhostruggledin class.

However,noteveryone washappywithKikko’ spresence.Somewereannoyeddue tohishyperbehavior.

“Kikowassoannoying!I wasreallyangrywithhimbecausehewenttomyroomand startedbreakingthings!”Liza CorazonB.Bautistasaid.

Butwhentheysawhow Kikohadapositiveeffecton children,theirviewschanged gradually.

ThestoryofKikosparks valueamongchildreninNIS. Studentsarelearnedtolove andrespectanimalsregardless oftheirlooksandtheresponsibilityofcaringandprotecting theenvironment.

by RischebelleG.Gan

eoplesay:awordhasapower. Itcanmakeorunmakeaman. Itcanpropelhimtomoveonor simmerhisspiritdown.Butwhatif youcan’ ttalkandevenhearasingle word?Willyoubeconsideredaspowerless?

Inafar-flungcommunityofBarangayNomoh,therelivesawoman inasmallhutwhoseactionsspeak louderthanwords.Hernameis JanetteCabilol,orcommonlycalled as Omaw - aTboliwordformute. Sheisasinglemotherwhoisalso deaf.Tosome,thesemightseemlike insurmountableobstaclesbut,to Omaw,theyaremerelythebackdrop toherinspiringstoryofamother’s unconditionallovetoherchild.

Omaw’slifehasbeenfarfrom easy.Abandonedbyherboyfriend whenherdaughter,Inda,isjusta montholdinhertummy.Shefound herselfaloneinaworldthatoften overlooksthevoiceless.ButOmaw neverallowedhercircumstancesto dictateherdestiny.Herdaughter’s educationbecamehermission,and embraceditwithimmeasurablededication.

Everymorning,Omawrises beforethesun,preparingeverything sheneedsfortheday.Whileothers mayrelyonverbalcommunications, Omawsroutineisetchedinthe rhythmofhergesturesandtheunspokenunderstandingsheshareswith Inda.

Toprovideherdaughter,Omaw workstirelesslyasalaundrywoman, scrubbingclothesforherneighbors andaweeder,removingweedsinher neighbor’ shousesinexchangefora smallsumofmoneyand2-5kilosof rice.Thoughthepayismeager,she savesaportionofitforInda’sschool supplies,uniforms,anddailyallowance.

“Itissoheartwarmingtosee someoneasdedicatedasOmaw. Althoughshecanttalkandhear,but herloveandsupportforherdaughter ismorethananyoneelse.Sheisan inspirationtoallofus.”AdelinaMagon,herneighbor,shared.

Omaw’scommunicationrelies solelyonbodylanguage.Although shedidnotgotoschool,shesitsbesideIndawhendoingherhomework, offeringsilentencouragement.

“Dilimanmakasultiakongmama,perodaghansiyaggipahayag pinaagisaiyangbuhat.”Indaproudly said.

Omaw’ sstoryisapowerfulreminderthatparentingisnotabout whatyousay;Itisaboutwhatyoudo. Hersacrifices,love,andresilience standstarkcontrasttosomeparents who,despitehavingthemeansof resources,failtoprioritizetheirchild’s education.

Inaworldthatoftenmeasures successbywhatyoucanbesaid, Omaw’ ssilenceisaresoundingtriumphthatechoesfarandwide.

D.Sumatra

Photosby:Christian JadeS.Bualan

Banana Bounty Corn Cropping

Cornfarmingisavitallivelihoodformany communitiesinthePhilippines.InNomoh,asignificantnumberofresidentsrelyoncornastheirprimarysourceofincome.Itsversatilitymakesit highlymarketable,servingasakeyingredientin producinganimalfeed,cornmeal,starch,oil, snacks,andevenbiofuel.Thiswiderangeofuses keepscorninconstantdemand.

Plantingcornisrelativelyeasy.Itrequireswell preparedsoilandproperspacingbetweenseeds toensurehealthygrowth.Cornthrivesinsunny areaswithgooddrainage.Regularweedingand applyingorganicorcommercialfertilizerscanhelp improvetheyield.

Comparedtoothercrops,cornhasashorter growingperiod.Ittypicallytakesonly3–4months fromplantingtoharvest.Thisquickturnaround allowsfarmerstoplantmultiplecyclesinayear, providingconsistentincomefortheirfamilies.

Coconut Cultivation

CoconutPlantationisoneofthemostpopularlivelihoodsinthePhilippines InNomoh ,almost 98%oftheresidentsusedcoconutastheirmain sourceofincome.Duetoitsmanyusesastheraw ingredientsinmakingoil,milk,flour,sugar,vinegar, soapandcosmetics,charcoal,andmanymore thatmakesthiskindofcropindemandinthemarket.

Toplantthis,youneedonlyitsfruitthathas asprout.Youcanplantitanywherebecausecoconutsarenotassensitiveasothercrops.For maintenance,youonlyhavetocleanitssurroundingsandputsomefertilizersifyoulike.

Unfortunately,thiscroptakestimetobear fruits.Unlikeothercropswhichtakes1-3yearsto harvest,coconutsbeartheirfruitsfrom8-10years. However,thegoodnewsis,yourharvestswilllasta lifetime.

Morethan50%ofresidentsinBarangay Nomohrelytheirdailyincomefrombanana farming.Itisoneofthemostcommonand easiestcropstoplant.Itcangrowanywhere withanykindofweather.HereinNomoh,most farmerschoosetoplantthreekindsofBanananamely:“Stanfilko”whichisgoodforexportation,“Tondan”and“Lakatan”.

Toplantbanana,youneedtohavea cleanandafertileland.Every15days,you needtocleanitssurroundungsandeliminate unwantedplantsthatgrowbesideitsstem. Perseveranceandhardworkarethekeyin ordertomaintainitsproductivegrowth.It takessixmonthstobearitsfirstbatchoffruits.

Toharvestabananaiseasy,youneed tocutdownitsbody(stem)inordertogetits fruit,thencuteachbunchonebyoneandsell themtothebuyerswithpricerangesfrom1215pesosperkilo.

by RailynS.Dani

Toensuresafetyforlearners

by RailynS.Dani

cartoonbyPeterBryllG.Gumbay

by RamjeanA.Ramon

NEWHOPE,RENEWED SMILE.Japan’sbreakthroughthattransformsthelandscapeofdentalcarebringshopeto peoplewholosttheirpermanentteethandespeciallytopatientssufferingfromanodontia.Thisresearchcouldbe thekeytosolveproblemsinadult’sdamagedteethandbringhealthysmilestotheworld. PhotofromMaenCG|Adobestock(Teeth)andturmenportal.com(Dentists)