Sirok Mangga (Under the Mango Tree )

Back in the Philippines, there is a certain place which we call Sirok Mangga or SM for short. Early morning until late evening, street boys, housewives, kids and adults alike gather around that place and talk anything under the sun. What’s even funnier is that even passers-by were included on their so-called agenda. That’s their day-to-day life: gossiping.

In front of our apartment here in BKK has a replica of our SM in the Philippines. But since I barely understand Thai I dunno what their daily agenda are. My son Dylan loves to go out, he feels like a prisoner every time he is locked in our room. He giggles when he sees a lot of kids playing outside. It is embarrassing for me and for my husband because we can't communicate well with our neighbors. They are very sweet and fun-loving people but all we can do is to smile.

One time a group of kids came to me and was so excited. I guess they were asking something about my son. But despite my award-winning charade, they still could not understand me. The next day, a grade 8 boy approached me again and I gave my best effort to communicate but to no avail. That frustrated me much.

I and my husband decided to reach-out with this kid. Some can say a little English but only those who study in private schools, but most of them can not even say a word. When I told their parents that I and my husband will have a free tutorial to their kids every Sunday afternoon under the Mango Tree, they were glad and said ‘yes’ right away.

There is a different kind of feeling after each Sunday school. We feel that even though we don’t go to church often I know that He loves what we do. The song “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today” inspires us to continue this missionary work.

Have I Done Any Good?

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

We realize that we don’t need money to help people who are in need. We are blessed that we can give more even if we have less.  We have made the Sirok Mangga here in Thailand a better place to stay. :)

Never in a Public School

While having a kill-the-time kind of conversation, I overheard a mother boasting that she’ll never gonna bring her kids in a public school. This has brought me into writing this blog.

Bringing a child in a private school is NEVER a debate. Even if it causes the parents to have a 10 feet under the ground lists of debts. That is a personal choice. But what makes this an issue is how some people disgrace public school teachers (PST).

She said:

The only thing they know is to sell anything which their garden can offer. Teachers have their families to feed. They find ways to make both ends meet, even if this would mean selling their mangoes on their backyard.  I just hope they do not turn their classroom in a market though.

During break time, they are like bees swarming around their beehives. I myself witnessed this during my primary school years but let us not single out them. Even private school teachers and employees in private companies find ways to chat with their colleagues once in a while. The only difference is that private employees gossip via facebook and twitter. :)

Advanced vs. Obsolete Knowledge.  Now this one is quite offending. Using manila papers, chalk, and green boards instead of power point presentation, markers, and interactive board don’t really mean that PST inculcate obsolete ideas. As a matter of fact they are sent to national conferences, lectures, seminars, and workshops to enhance and gain more teaching skills.

Greener pasture awaits private school students. One question which is not missed during job interview is “From what school did you graduate?”  It is true that being a graduate to well-known school makes you a step higher over other applicants but it’s just an initial impression. Applicants are hired not mainly because of their educational background but because of their experience, skills, and confidence.
<>

Interactive board makes my presentation more interesting.

I’ve been in the academe for 6 years and I am privileged to teach in private high school, college, and university in the Philippines and abroad. I am honored to have become an English instructor to first and second-coursers in the university. I am proud to their pronunciation and twangs as they report in the class. I am happy to see how they use technology to make and present their research systematically.  I am lucky to teach with the use of I-board (interactive board) and whiteboard, 42-inch LCD TV, projectors, computers, and Macmillan and Cambridge books.  Yet with all these conveniences to private schools, I have seen a melting pot of students from genius to unintelligent, from well-bred to underbred, from well fashion to old fashion alike. Some enrolled and dropped their subjects several times. While teaching in an air-conditioned room, it breaks my heart as I see some students physically present but their minds are wandering elsewhere. And every time I check some of their books, all I can see are smiley emoticons for each activity.

<>

<>

 

I am blessed to have students who are very willing to learn.

I finished my education from a government school from primary to tertiary level.I witnessed how my teachers trained me and my classmates for quiz bees until we reached the regional competition. I can still recall my grade six teacher who required us to be in our room 30 minutes before the time so we could copy additional grammar lessons researched from other grammar books. My writing skill was honed by my advisers in our high school publication/newspaper organization. Yet, I also saw some of my previous classmate in pilot section who ended up as tricycle drivers and early moms. My college years were even more memorable. Every poor student who wanted to graduate took the entrance examination but only few were admitted because the university couldn’t accommodate us all. Some of our professors were like as old as my granny but I found out we’re still lucky because we experienced a firsthand lectures and teachings given by doctors in education.

When I was young, I  remember how my mother helped  me and my sisters covered our books with a brown paper (Manila paper) so it won’t be destroyed and would be used by other students for the coming years. When I and my siblings were in high school, mom and Inang checked our uniforms and bags if they were still in good shape so we could reuse them. I believe I was still blessed that time  compared to others who walked miles going to school  barefooted and with an empty stomach. Sometimes a student’s motivation to finish a degree and to have a better life comes from his/her sacrifices. Poverty inspires  a person to strive and excel.  Private school on the other hand has an edge to individual teaching. Because of lesser number of students in the classroom, they have more time to participate to individual presentation and activities. Students have more opportunities to hands-on experiments and teachers have ample time to get to know more of her students.

I don't need to use a marker to write on the I-board.

Bringing  children to a private school will not be a  100% guarantee that they will have a great future, likewise to public school. The elegant uniform, expensive bag and shoes, and glossy books will not assure a child’s success.  The technologies are just AID to teaching. The teachers GUIDE and FACILITATE the students’ learning. There are good and not so good teachers and students both in private and in public. Each has its own style of  "bureaucracy".

My experience to both learning environment has helped me come with unbiased judgment. As a teacher, I realized that no matter how much I prepare and make my lessons interesting, if the student is just as lazy as a hippo, there is no use. No matter how great the teacher’s desire to pull out the student from his bed if the parents were there embracing him tightly to sleep, again it will be of no effect.  I believe parents have a great part to their children’s attitude and perception to learning. Students are more motivated to learn if they see and feel that their parents are with them along the way. Students and parents have to their part too.  So the next time you judge a public school teacher, think again.