ADVENTURE 101: Places I’ve Never Been Before

My first week in CFSI, being in four municipalities, and interacting with children who lives there and also some locals, a lot of realization came up to my mind. Almost everything is rumbling and puzzling in my head.

We’ve been to different municipalities in Maguindanao Province. I’ve never been to these places in my entire life, though I’m familiar to some municipalities because I’ve heard their places before, especially in the news. Most of these places were battlefields about 8-10 years ago. The scenery opened up my mind more. I don’t know if I should pity them or think that I am lucky, or think of them as an inspiration. I really don’t know. I’ve seen a lot, and I mean a lot…

• “I see trees of green, red roses too.”
• Bumpy roads. Good for 4x4 Off Roads competitions.
• 5 minutes before we arrived in one district 2 people were killed.
• Rebels (MILF) are visible.
• Sitting beside a rebel and his M16 riffle.
• People are carrying guns.
• Political posters are everywhere.
• Half cemented road.
• One-fourth cemented road.
• Durian, Lansones, Rambotan, Marang Trees are everywhere.
• Children go to school without slippers.
• Schools with no flooring.
• Teacher-student ratio, 1:200
• Students on the floor due to lack of chairs.
• One school, one classroom with three different uniforms.
• A 37 year old woman in 4^th grade.
• Two 21 years old males in 3^rd grade.
• 8 hours for teachers, half of the day are for female elementary pupils and male in the afternoon.
• Schools with no classrooms.
• Improvised classrooms.
• Classes are held in the school stage.
• 3^rd grade and 4^th grade class are merged.
• Schools located at the top of the mountain.
• Schools located at the middle of the cornfield.
• Schools located at the middle of nowhere.
• Community existing in the place where you less expected.
• Elementary students have to cross 3 rivers just to go to school.
• Students taking a bath in the flood before going to school.
• They have the mountains and rivers as their playground.
• Many are absent because it’s harvest time, they baby-sit their younger siblings.
• Many are absent because it rained last night, they cannot cross the rivers because of strong current.
• One student: 3 years in 1^st grade.
• Horses at the school yard.
• Carabaos at the school yard.
• Cows at the school yard.
• Chicken at the school yard. (Schools became farms)
• Teachers can dismiss their class whenever they like to.
• Cross the bridge that’s made out of coconut tree trunks.
• Carabaos underneath the improvised bridge.

More photos on my mulitply account.
CFSI (Community and Family Services International)