[FEATURE] A Penny for your Future
Written by Maria Johanna Alexandrea Nietes
Dreaming has been a part of every individual’s life since the moment they shared their first cry.
It serves as an alternate universe by designing a theme for the world they want to live in someday. A world is brimming with hope, light, and power. It is where the power of will and perseverance manifests itself; it is where you can live your life to the fullest. Life, on the other hand, is a roller coaster ride. No one stays at the top nor the bottom because both may introduce your life to a path you might not want to take if your goals have not yet been put into action. Hindrances and obstacles are typical as you go through the rails, but the never-ending cacophony of people’s voices will eventually turn the crowd’s heads and leave them in awe of their tenacity.
COVID-19 erupted in the Philippines in February of 2020. It affected many families and made it more difficult for people to survive. Malls, stores, restaurants, and even schools were closed to prevent the virus from spreading further. However, even with the entire country under lockdown, more and more cases continue to pile up on the charts. Day by day, records have surpassed their own highest recorded case, making it impossible to reopen the schools immediately. It took away people’s livelihoods because even the companies they worked for were forced to follow the palace’s rules.
READ: U.S. Provides PHP 126 Million to Support Filipino Children’s Education During Pandemic | USAID
With the assistance of the U.S. government via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the implementation of distance learning was carried out in the Philippines. Despite the obstacles posed by the situation, USAID collaborated with the Department of Education (DepEd) to further improve the children’s skills. They contributed a total of PHP 126 million in 2020 to the children’s education and donated over 371 laptops and computers worth more than PHP 16 million in 2021. The funds and gadgets were given to secure the future of the next generation. Teachers were shown and taught strategies for keeping the fuel of determination flowing in each child in terms of taking baby steps toward their dreams.
One of a child’s fundamental rights is the right to an education. It should not be taken away from them because it is the basis of their abilities. It is capable of guiding them through the depths of their imagination and gathering knowledge in everything they may come across. The funds provided by the United States government provided another stepping stone for Filipino children to pursue their dreams. It provided new hope for a better future and motivation to strive and persevere in pursuit of the gold that can be worn when the time comes.
Because of the pandemic, the dreams of 27.7 million Filipino children were about to be dashed. COVID-19 appeared out of nowhere, making it difficult for professionals to find an immediate cure and endangering people’s lives. As a result of the lack of resources, gadgets, and inconsistent internet connection stability in the Philippines, students have become increasingly despondent about furthering their education.
OPINION
Education enables us to explore another dimension of the world in which we currently live. It opens a new window of opportunity for the world we want to live in in the future. “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,” as Dr. Jose Rizal put it. The knowledge that today’s youth can amass will be useful in dealing with and combating issues that we may face in the future. A well-cultivated mind with values and moral principles is already a weapon; what more if they think collectively?
THE AUTHOR
Hello! My name is Maria Johanna Alexandrea Nietes, and I am a feature writer in UST Angelicum Tigercubs. I am fascinated by astronomy and a huge fan of K-POP. In my spare time, I like to watch movies or series, read books, Twitter fictions and play musical instruments.
Since then, writing has been my form of escape; it is where I can express myself and be heard, and Tigercubs is there to guide me and help me improve in pouring my soul into the words I write.
