From the greatest adversity, a paramount of intrepidity was born. During these trying times, we learned how to unfold the extent of our capabilities; from being a college to community, and a community to family. Let us unveil the faces of believers who became their own fighters by the test of this crisis, whose stories reflected the hopes of the COC community that lived in the course of challenges of the current for the future times. 

 

PAGSUONG

 

I know that there is a new beginning and hope that God will give us.

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Studying for your dream degree is hard enough already. But what if while taking your journey towards this lifelong plan, you’ve faced the greatest storm? 

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Juggling her works whilst studying, and supporting her needs all by herself in the middle of the COVID- 19 pandemic, are what made her stronger. This is the story of Airiam Sancho; her dedication and perseverance to make her dreams come true.

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Already in her final year in college under the program of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, she had been supporting herself since both of her parents died in 2014. Her previous works include being in the line of sales, a cashier of a leading supermarket, a crew of a fast-food chain, and a beauty advisor of cosmetic products. She now works as a customer service representative in one of the country’s telecommunication network providers. Airiam admits that obtaining a white-collar job is difficult when you aren’t a degree holder. 

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Airiam struggles with time management and there were even days where she skipped school because she needed to work first. “I need it badly because I am obliged to sustain my needs and responsibilities; pambayad sa renta sa dorm, pambili ng pagkain, stock at groceries, at pamasahe papunta sa trabaho.” 

Despite her needing to skip some class, she made sure her studies aren’t neglected. Whenever there is an opportunity at work to sneak in some studying, at lunch break for example, she allotts her time to do her homework. 

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But sometimes, things don’t go the way we planned them to. 

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Way back in her sophomore year in 2017, she had to stop for one semester due to lack of financial support. It was the hardest choice she had to make knowing that she won’t be able to graduate on time anymore. Still, Airiam persevered and was able to continue her studies with the help of Rotary Club of Quirino Manila Central. They made her their scholar for the school year 2019 to 2020 and helped with her financial needs. 

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But life really likes to play harder and test our faith. 

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Like the rest of the world, Airiam didn’t expect the biggest twist the year 2020 gave. 

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When the pandemic took a hit on the Philippines and life seemed to stop, Airiam was one of the many people who lost their source of livelihood. She was left stranded in her dormitory; jobless and alone. Without an income, she found it difficult where to start; thinking of numerous ways how she can sustain her daily needs during these tough times. Adding to the fact how difficult it is to go out without a quarantine pass while the number of cases is getting higher. Airiam was stuck.

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Fortunately, there were people who chose to lend her a helping hand.

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“Mabuti na lang at mayroong PUP – NSTP Volunteers at Department of Journalism na nag-abot ng tulong (relief goods) para sa mga stranded students.”

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Help doesn’t just stop there as the spirit of camaraderie triumphs. 

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A fellow COCian and close friend of Airiam, Thoni Taller, also gave her support. 

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“Yung class president namin si Ate Thoni Taller, inalok ako na mag business kami; online selling ng siomai, siya namuhunan. Tinulungan nya kami ni Kuya Kyle Antonio para magkaroon ng pangbayad sa rent and panggastos na rin.” 

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With just a starting capital of Php 4,200, they were able to buy at least 40 packs of siomai. And within a span of two weeks, their income grew to Php 10,700; of which Airiam was able to take half of it.

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This entrepreneurial accomplishment of theirs was even featured at the well-known livelihood program, My Puhunan. 

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“Sobrang nakakataba ng puso na may nag-aalala sa’yo, sa kalagayan mo, at handang tumulong.”

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And although the pandemic has brought a lot of struggles especially on our mental health, Airiam breezed it through. Despite losing her work and getting stranded in her dorm, no other difficulties were standing in her way. What helped her in managing the loneliness of quarantine and being stuck in her dorm was her friends and siblings whom she frequently talked to and guided her.

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“Pray lang na maging okay at gabayan ka ni Lord.”

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As the quarantine was lowered to the General Community Quarantine level, Airiam was able to find work at the city of Makati as an encoder. But because the transportation was lacking, she wasn’t able to last there for long. Thankfully, she was able to find a job which was much nearer to her.

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Now that online classes have resumed, Airiam is driven more than ever. Confidently managing her roles as a breadwinner and a student. And when asked if it ever crossed her mind to stop studying despite her difficult situation and the on-going pandemic, she answered never. 

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“Wala sa isip ko tumigil kasi... kumbaga malapit na ‘ko sa finish line. Konting sikap at tiyaga na lang malapit na magbunga yung pinaghihirapan ‘ko, yung makapagtapos ng pag-aaral sa kolehiyo.”

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Determination, hard work, resourcefulness, and strength in life are Airiam’s other arsenals to overcome her struggles in this journey called life. Her story is just one of the many faces of resilience of present time; that instead of giving up and losing hope from the chains of this adversity, she continues to stand and find ways to survive – following her own hiraya.

 

PAGPUPUNYAGI

 

Getting on the finish line is not the end of taking on our responsibility, yet, it is only the beginning.

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Let us tell you a story of a believer who continues to bring hope, molded by different contests in life, whose aspirations for his community were endured during the trials of crisis. 

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He first became part of a campus paper publication when he was in his fourth grade in elementary. Wins after wins, he realized that he wanted to pursue journalism. In 2011, he became a participant at the National Schools Press Conference, the highest competition for journalism for both private and public elementary and secondary schools in the country, in the Photojournalism category. That event built a distinct aspiration in himself – that love for words is not what he is yearning for but it was the photographs that stare at the reflection of reality.

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His journey in campus journalism prolongs. In 2015, when he wasn’t able to notch a spot in the Photojournalism category for the regionals, he was called in to join Collaborative Writing and Desktop Publishing as the group’s chief photojournalist. They placed fifth at the Nationals, marking another milestone in his flight in journalism.

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With his love for journalism, he took a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - pursuing his hopes of becoming a real journalist in the future.

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In 2017, during his third-year stay at the university, he joined the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) photography contest after being referred by one of his professors to be the representative on the contest by the University Center for Culture and Arts (UCCA). This became his turning point in joining more competitions wherein he can showcase his love and talent in photojournalism. 

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In 2018, he won the Photography-PASUC NCR and NGCP-CSR Logo Making Contest. 

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Behind those achievements is a man named Jhon Marlou D. Abcede or “JM” as what his friends call him; an enthusiastic photojournalist with a patriotic heart who kindled the youth to be motivated in life. Despite his busy schedules, these did not stop him from making ways to succeed. Through his life experiences, one community organization was born. 

 

ASPIREN

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During his first year at the College of Communication, one of his subjects, Communication Society and Development required them to form a group that comes up with a communication plan which looks at a specific issue in the country. They decided to shed light onto the lack of educational support. They began their search and this brought them to Gagalangin, Tondo.

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They started walking around in the hopes of finding a compelling story in the bustling community. While rifling for ideas, they’ve met a group of children hanging around under a bridge. They approached the group and asked them why they are in the streets instead in school. Listening to their stories, they learned that the children are out-of-school youths. That’s when JM’s group decided to help these children in Gagalangin. 

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They passed a proposal, explaining what drove them to help these children. It was then approved by their professor. 

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In the second semester, they planned to organize an event dedicated for their chosen community as their final output. It was a three-part event; about self, life, and God. They arranged teaching sessions with the out-of-school youths. After the fruitful event, they talked about how this kind of help brings self-fulfillment.

JM’s group wants a better future and place for the children. JM, in his own distinct cause, would want to convey a spark of aspirations to these children – that just like him, they could dream in line with their talents and good desires. 

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Coming from the Confucian term ‘ren’ which means goodness, benevolence, and humanity, JM and his group mates named their group Aspiren. 

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They continued helping children even after passing the requirements. JM, together with his team members, decided to make it an official organization. They searched for more communities to stretch their organization’s mission. 

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But everything didn’t go as planned. As students, they find it hard to organize more activities for their organization. Raising funds became difficult, most of their funds came from their own pocket, and it’s almost impossible to raise the needed amount to organize one specific event. To fulfill these needs, they generally relied on diminutive donations.

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Throughout his college life, JM dedicated his time in writing, joining Photojournalism-related contests, and organizing events for Aspiren. After graduating, he worked as a freelance photographer and graphic artist.

 

Upholding his promise to keep motivating the children while appreciating the arts of photography, his journey with Aspiren still continues in different places to reach out to other less fortunate communities.

 

BEYOND MISSIONS 

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Aspiren was not spared of the pandemic trials. But altruism – the ought to continue their legacy of missions, Aspiren thrived to help those who are in need, and brought a little light of hope.

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Bringing relief goods to different parts of Metro Manila, JM also extended their help to our frontliners, “…sa mga panahon na kailangan tayo ng tao at ng bayan, tumindig tayo” Abcede said.

 

Their donation drive started when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in the ridges of the entire island of Luzon.

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They started a fundraising project titled COBEAT-BISIG LABAN SA COVID-19 to help garbage collectors and homeless families in Metro Manila. 

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Aspiren had their first donation drive at Payatas, Quezon City. They wished to give assistance to garbage collectors because they believe that individuals working in the sanitary sectors are one of the most affected in the pandemic. Shedding light to the efforts of this community during the pandemic crisis is given too little attention, when in fact they contribute largely in the front line.

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For JM, seeing how grateful everyone they helped was more than enough to keep them fired up from helping more.

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“Sa amin naman yung salitang thank you sapat na, malaking bagay na. Isa sa mga milestone namin na kapag babalikan ang sarap sa pakiramdam” Abcede explained.

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Now that he’s working and struggling with his busy schedule especially during this pandemic, he makes sure to find time for Aspiren. He constantly deems to meet with his organization co-members to refresh their memories on why they have created Aspiren in the first place, and carried on with the mission of their organization despite the trials of the pandemic crisis. With his encouragement and its organization members’ support, Aspiren continues to help the society even in the smallest way possible.

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True excellence can’t be measured on how far you made it in life nor how many achievements you have acquired. True excellence is unmeasurable, no figures and amounts of numbers can determine how much impact you can put into someone else’s life. In the end, JM believes, as a PUP alumnus, that it is his responsibility to impart wisdom, to enkindle the society, and to uphold what the true meaning of being a PUPian, gagamitin ang karunungan mula sa’yo, para sa bayan. 

 

PAGLAUM

 

What do you want to be when you grow up?

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A question often asked to the little ones as they stood in front of their class, unknowingly heading for the person they earn to be in the future. Some may praise dreams that soar high – aspirations that seek to help people or to fulfill their fathers’ ambitions. But for a child who came from without, dreams do not soar high, but believe that dreams are seeds that grow within oneself; deeply rooted with one’s passion and hopes.

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From the city of San Carlos, Pangasinan, Jomar Soriano began his childhood marvels of becoming an educator. After graduating elementary and high school in his small hometown, he planted this lifelong advocacy for teaching, entrenched with his faith that education is a vital instrument in shaping one’s hope for a better society.

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Soriano attended a diploma course for Liturgical Music, a musical genre that usually deals with psalms and religious music at Yamaha School of Music in Parañaque City. Completing his diploma course in music, he worked right away as a Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH) instructor in a certain junior high school. 

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Pursuing his journey of becoming a professional teacher, he decided to have a bachelor’s degree related to his lifetime purpose. 

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But this road did not become the route he wanted it to be.

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He planned to take a Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) major in English at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). It was a funny story to begin. On the day of his enrolment, he didn’t know the admission process of the University. He was new to the place, so he had no idea that he’s walking towards the Ninoy Aquino Library and Learning Resources Center (NALLRC) building absentmindedly. There, somebody pulled him for an interview. While getting interviewed, he’s wondering why he was being asked about communication research. He thought that he was still inquiring for BSEd, but he wasn’t. When he glanced at his admission papers, he was already enrolled for Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research.

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Hala, he muttered in great surprise. He pondered about the course he enrolled. He worried that he might not fulfill his dream, because the program he signed up for is far afield to the discipline of education.

 

In 2017, he graduated as the most outstanding student on the degree program of Communication Research. After years of mastering the art of this expertise, he hoped that he could still achieve his childhood dream even though he took a different path.

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Today, he currently takes units for Masters in Communication in PUP so that he could chase his teaching career. Dr. Hemmady Mora, chairperson of the Department of Journalism, offered him part time teaching loads. He lectured Media and Information Literacy in PUP Senior High School for a semester, and after that, he acquired work fills in the college.

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Known as “Sir Jomar” in the strut of the PUP - College of Communication, Sir Jomar was driven to stretch his efforts in providing quality education because for him, it was his own way to give back to Sintang Paaralan as he graduated as a scholar from the university.

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However, in the height of his fulfillment, he faced the greatest adversity in his journey of becoming an educator. With the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, he never imagined that he will withhold his enduring hopes of enlightening the youth – a dream of him since he was a child; a dream deep rooted in his heart and soul. 

 

ON THE COURSE OF THE CATASTROPHE

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“Isang malaking struggle sa’kin yung pagshi-shift dito [online class], sa teaching strategy na kailangan mong maging matalino pagdating sa paggamit ng technological devices.”

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As the sudden change brought by the COVID pandemic, Sir Jomar said that there are various setbacks that the members of the faculty are coping with – adjusting with the virtual world is the top of these difficulties. 

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Everything is done virtually and the members of the academe are forced to get by to these changes, some are learning more technical skills and some are teaching themselves about software applications. Sir Jomar himself is one of those instructors who are having a hard time creating presentations, documents, and setting a creative learning environment in an e-classroom.

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In terms of the work environment, Sir Jomar describes how hard it is to separate his responsibilities to his craft as an educator and his role for his family. He said that the environment is very crucial to effectively execute the information that his students needed to absorb. Sir Jomar finds difficulties in identifying himself where to stand in between working in these different spaces.

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Sir Jomar expressed that he knows what his students feel as he once was a student. He believes that the quality of learning is being compromised since there are lots of interruptions in the learning process of the student when it comes to online classes. The smallest details in the physical classroom like the whispers of seatmates, horns of tricycles, and background noises of the college, helps students to nurture knowledge, touching the actuality of reality.

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“You have to really do what you can do for these students. Siguro, pagmamahal na lang yung ginamit ko para maka-cope up sa hurdles nitong pandemic sa educational field and budget wise.”

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Going the extra mile when it comes to his field, Sir Jomar weekly chats his classes through chat groups to ask what did they learn and how the discussions work – a way for him to ‘touch’ his student even beyond the screen. This extra mile encompasses through his personal Facebook account. As a Media Information Literacy professor, he has an advocacy to teach his students online about the proper utilization of information, and fact checking of facts through the age of mis-and-dis information.

 

HOPES BEHIND CRISIS

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“Alam n’yo na mahal na mahal ko ang PUP, sobrang dine-dedicate ko yung everyday life ko rito para sa pagtuturo sa University pero kinailangan ko siyang iwanan pansamantala kasi sobrang walang-wala eh.”

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Sir Jomar is currently in his fourth year in teaching as a part time instructor. With the pandemic, he has faced trials that challenged his work capacity. 

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“April, May, June, July, apat na buwan ‘yung expected ko na wala talaga kaming sahod kasi August dapat magsisimula yung klase. But nag-extend pa yung pasukan natin ng October. Mas lalong nawalan ng opportunity ‘yung part timers.”  

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Sir Jomar said that his family serves as his motivation to continue his teaching career; his achievements act as a big milestone for their family as he is the first one to complete and earn a degree. 

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There is a great need for education here in our country, he claims. For this cause urged him to teach the younger generation the lessons beyond the four corners of the classroom, and those learnings can be one’s strongest weapon as they take the responsibility for nation building.

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In the end, Sir Jomar has no choice but to accept a few teaching loads and go to online selling, and even sell ice creams for his family’s living expenses. He even accepts paperwork from some clients such as writing essays and checking master papers. These challenges are events to hold to his rope tighter than ever.

 

“Pero next year since may offer na rin talaga sa’kin yung PUP ng full time position, naudlot lang yon dahil biglang nagkaroon ng pandemic pero ito na, willing ako sumuong sa ganitong klaseng krisis kasi ito na yung nangyayari sa paligid natin.” 

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That hope lives on his heart as he continues to strive, live and teach. A man who will take the uncertainty.

 

An educator who became an inspiration to those who persist to fight – whom hopes endure because in his faith he believes: even though he was tested by this crisis, his dreams remain settled deep and he knows tomorrow they will live.