TEACHERS CONVERT HOME TO SCHOOLS

With classrooms crowded and with evacuees and the school grounds still flooded, where could the students go?

One could only imagine the devastation caused by typhoon "Ondoy", but cannot comprehend the damaged lives that were affected, physically, socially and psychologically as well.

Teachers of the Malaban elementary school in Binan, Laguna have converted their homes into schools to accommodate the pupils who were displaced when their school was used as an evacuation center. According to DepEd, there are still 51 schools that are used as evacuation centers due to lack of important infrastructures that are in dire need at this very moment.

This catastrophe is nothing more than one of the many manifestations of corruption, poverty, and poor management of resources in our country. Correct me if I am wrong, but all of us, and i do mean all of us Filipinos are aware of this fact and yet we stand here idly and watch as our country slowly succumbs to the fruits of corruption and injustice. I for one will not stand for such ignorance and foolishness. We must all do our part as citizens of this country. We instill in our minds that our country is nothing but a shame, a disgrace on the international stage and in part of its economic competitors. We say that the Philippines is the lowest of the low, and yet all these maybe true, but not without a reason. We must bear in mind that our country would not have been like this if it weren't for our infamous officials who foolhardily run our country and pocket billions of pesos just to satisfy their distasteful greed. On the other hand, let us not forget the people who brought them to that position; us. We all must take a portion of blame and cease this habitual ignorance that we resort to everyday.

To even just start getting back on our feet, we should all accept at some time, in our ignorance that in the end, it all comes down to us; we are the ones responsible for this, no one is exempted. Not that senator, not that mayor, not that president but us. It's time to stop finger-pointing, face the cutting edge of reality and start making solutions to the problem instead of adding a few more to stir up our already messed up country. If you want change, a change for the better, then start now.

(Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 10/19/09, from an article by Maricar Cinco)