I remember a story told by a relative about a young country "boy" who was
born in a roof-leaking nipa hut, a.k.a.bahay-kubo, in Barrio Calantas. The land
where the nipa hut was built was owned by a rich landlord and many, including
the boy's family, were farm workers.
At an early age, he already experienced hard life by waking up at cock's crow
in the morning to bring the only family carabao (water buffalo) to the pasture
land for an early grass grazing. The mother carabao would have plenty of milk
if she would be fed early in the morning.
Boy would come back home after two hours for his dad to milk the carabao. As
soon as the milk was ready and placed in some empty catsup bottles, he had to
walk by himself and sometimes with other milk vendors from the same barrio
for about an hour and would have to sell the bottled milk.
Boy never wanted to go to school but his mom asked him on what would he
prefer to do, saying: "Would you go to school or catch some snails from the
river?".
born in a roof-leaking nipa hut, a.k.a.bahay-kubo, in Barrio Calantas. The land
where the nipa hut was built was owned by a rich landlord and many, including
the boy's family, were farm workers.
At an early age, he already experienced hard life by waking up at cock's crow
in the morning to bring the only family carabao (water buffalo) to the pasture
land for an early grass grazing. The mother carabao would have plenty of milk
if she would be fed early in the morning.
Boy would come back home after two hours for his dad to milk the carabao. As
soon as the milk was ready and placed in some empty catsup bottles, he had to
walk by himself and sometimes with other milk vendors from the same barrio
for about an hour and would have to sell the bottled milk.
- He sold the milk for fifty centavo a bottle. But sometimes, it took time for
all the bottled milk to be sold. And so, he sold them for less so he could
go home early. Then, he had another hour walk back home. That was only
one of the many hard things he did to help out his parents.
- He had practically done all farm works including being hired by other
farmers just so to earn little extra money. Even then, his earning was very
minimal, not enough even to buy him a pair of slippers or pants or a
decent shirt. And this was going on even before he enrolled in his first
grade at age 8. His life is similarly typical among youth who live in
poverty.
Boy never wanted to go to school but his mom asked him on what would he
prefer to do, saying: "Would you go to school or catch some snails from the
river?".
- Young as he was, he would rather catch some snails from the river.
- However, he was forced and hesitantly went to school, only to find out
in a few days that....He was smart and began to enjoy being in school
that even to these days, he keeps being in school! - Remember, though, that he was already 8 years old and was the oldest in
his class when he was in grade 1. - No wonder and surprisingly, he was a consistent first honor student till he
graduated from the 6th grade.
| Everybody is scared of getting wet in the rain... |
| The Mendoza Children (Niniko Little Prairie in Calantas, August 2000) (L-R): Serafin, Emilia, Antonio, Estela, Faustina (Mom), Froilan, Melisa and Roosevelt |
The sad moment came! Boy's parents could not send him to continue high
school immediately after graduation even if he had one year free tuition fee as a
benefit for being a first honor student. He was forced to stop going to school for
two years.
Until one day...His mom, apparently feeling sorry for him and seeing his intense
desire to continue going to school, decided to ask for help. She went to seek help
from the boy's grandfather who was generous to extend a hand in helping him to
enroll as a first year student in a downtown Catholic high school.
It is in this same spirit and commitment that CYDFI is founded to generate
empowerment which could create sparks of hope in the life of "many indigent
but deserving talented youths like him, in Calantas and Nabuclod.
In time, this young lad trailed the unchartered course of his life and founded the
Calantas Young Dreamers Foundation, Inc. (CYDFI Philippines), for he deeply
believes that the Foundation shall continue to serve as a BRIDGE where its
scholars will pass through to have their dreams meet reality and share their
experience to incoming scholars on a continuous spiral loop basis.
school immediately after graduation even if he had one year free tuition fee as a
benefit for being a first honor student. He was forced to stop going to school for
two years.
- As expected, he found himself doing a lot of odd menial jobs to help feed
the family. - Year after year in tears, he begged his parents to try to find a way for him to
continue his schooling. He felt very sad with tears slowly running through
his cheek whenever he would see his classmates passing by his house going
to high school. - It was really breaking his heart. It was a painful moment in his life and
was seemingly caught in a cage of helplessness and despondent situation.
Until one day...His mom, apparently feeling sorry for him and seeing his intense
desire to continue going to school, decided to ask for help. She went to seek help
from the boy's grandfather who was generous to extend a hand in helping him to
enroll as a first year student in a downtown Catholic high school.
- That day, a seed of hope was planted in his heart!
- A new dawn of beginning was laid upon him like the rays of the morning
sun shining through the blue clear sky making a difference in his life for it
brought forth a spark of hope of what his future could be and become. - That day became a moment in time unlocking his sweet dream into a reality.
- He was empowered, at best, to be self-empowered! This propels and
turns his life around...
It is in this same spirit and commitment that CYDFI is founded to generate
empowerment which could create sparks of hope in the life of "many indigent
but deserving talented youths like him, in Calantas and Nabuclod.
In time, this young lad trailed the unchartered course of his life and founded the
Calantas Young Dreamers Foundation, Inc. (CYDFI Philippines), for he deeply
believes that the Foundation shall continue to serve as a BRIDGE where its
scholars will pass through to have their dreams meet reality and share their
experience to incoming scholars on a continuous spiral loop basis.
| Written by: Easther Marie M. Serrano Secretary, CYDF USA, Inc., FY: 2007-2009 |
CYDFI Philippines: The Reason For Being
| Calantas Folks Residing in California in 2005 Annual Meeting and Family Fiesta Gathering in San Mateo Park |
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