CALATRAVA, Negros Occidental- The household of Allen Obia Sr. was placed under suspension last year. The conditional grant was put on hold due to non-compliance in education.
Being newly assigned to this area as Municipal Link, it is my duty to visit the household to know the reason why the monitored child has stopped schooling. Together with the School’s Guidance Counselor, Parent Leader and Pantawid Staff, we visited the house.
“He will have difficulty going to school. His physical handicaps will surely hamper his activities. He’s better off staying home where he can be safe from danger,” said Obia Sr. as he is expressing the reason why he decided to let his sole Pantawid-monitored child discontinue from attending school.
I am thinking behind my mind that it seems there was no valid reason why a father chose to let his son stay at home rather than allow him to enjoy normal student life. As I convinced him of the importance of education to a child, the father gently called on the son he’s referring to and asked him to come out and present himself to us.
The next scenario was totally different. Something was not quite right with Allen Obia Jr. as he approaches us. He is smaller than the children of his age, he sluggishly moves in an awkward posture, and he has an unreadable facial expression. Alas! I was not prepared for what I saw and all my reasoning ability eventually expired. Given the boy’s physical deformity, I was convinced by the decision of his father. The fear of being bullied and jolted by other students while climbing the stairs of classroom building has crept into the father’s mind.
We also learned that the boy was abandoned by his own mother at a very young age and was left in the custody of his aging grandmother. He never had the chance to be checked by a doctor which made it even more difficult for the family to receive any medical help from the government. In all of these years, it even made more impossible for Allen Jr. to pursue education.
For the reasons mentioned above, the father opted to consider the safety of his son over the program’s conditions. However, the father’s decision is opposite to Allen’s desire to pursue his studies.
As to our best to help the child, we arrived at the best possible solution that could ensure the continuity of Allen’s studies as well as protecting him from any form of danger. The idea of enrolling the child to Alternative Learning System (ALS) provided a more practical way to keep Allen Jr. in school. This decision offered both the father and son a safer and better learning environment since the classroom is a lot more accessible and there is a limited number of students which would mean that the teacher can pay more attention to him.
This is the only way also that the father would allow his son to go back to school.
At present, Allen Jr. is enjoying his student life. His supportive father is fetching him to and from school, and the teacher even provided positive feedback on Allen’s learning ability. The young boy is a fast learner and is currently at the top of his class.
What is considered an ordinary morning of running to school every day in order to learn is a strenuous race set for Allen. His race track may be far from over and a lot more hurdles await in pressing towards a brighter future. The huge difference this time is knowing that Allen is running alongside a confidant-his father.
“Ako gusto puhon kay mag trabaho ko sa opisina nga naga atubang computer ug tawhay na pungko-anan,” Allen Jr. said ni vernacular words. (What I want in the future is to have a decent job in the office with a comfortable seat and working on a computer.) These were the words that etched my heart as I was about to end my interview with Allen Jr. With such a strong heart and will, he is bound to win this race of life.
He also added that if someone like him could make it and become a professional someday, others will be inspired to give their best and never give up. I couldn’t disagree more with Allen Jr. this time. It was a jaw-dropping, no-nonsense concluding statement.
In the process of searching for stories of change, I was privileged to have stood at the same road where I saw Allen Jr. and his father cheering for each other. It was like witnessing a coach cheering for his athlete. This act of showing support has etched their hearts and changed their perspective. And I, too, will never be the same again. //dswd6/mgc (Written by Calatrava Municipal Link Jeric Ryan T. Belargo, MPA, Neg. Occidental (POO1)