CYDFI Philippines:
THE REASON FOR BEING
THE REASON FOR BEING
"Why has the root taken so deep in the Founder's
heart to share and give something back to community?"
heart to share and give something back to community?"
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 pastureland 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
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 pastureland 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
| Easther Marie M. Serrano Board Secretary, CYDF USA FY: June 2007- May 2009 |
| CYDFI's dream is for its scholars to become productive and socially responsible to effect growth and development in Calantas and Nabuclod... |
in 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. 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 of his 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 youth "like him in Calantas and Nabuclod. The Founder believes that CYDFI 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.
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. 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 of his 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 youth "like him in Calantas and Nabuclod. The Founder believes that CYDFI 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.
| The Mendoza Children (Niniko Little Prairie in Calantas, August 2000) (L-R): Serafin, Emilia, Antonio, Estela, Faustina (Mom), Froilan, Melisa and Roosevelt |
| Everybody is scared of getting wet in the rain... |
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