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Tuesday, May 23, 2006
'Busolmates' record work in watershed
MOST expected office work, but only one backed out when 30 students -- mostly high school graduates -- were told they had cut grass and prop up seedlings at the Busol Watershed.
If they were dismayed, as they later on admitted, they did not show it at first. Some nodded and while other smiled or put up poker faces. They knew they had no choice if they had to earn their school fees under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) offered by the City Government.
"Why me, why here? These were the questions running through my mind that time," Daphne Raymundo wrote last week at the end of what she first thought would be an ordeal. "Just like the Pinoy Big Brother, Teen Edition," offered Noel Ryan Castillo.
"What a life!" exclaimed Elizabeth Dangadang. "Why there?" asked Cristina Yra. Swanie Sad-ang, Daisy Marie Mana-a, Marietta Lucas, Karina Mozo and Erwin Seribo had a common word for it -- boring.
Mary Grace Binay-an turned poetic: My first day to work is like a dare/ All my workmates here and there say unfair/ Because our work is manual/ And for others are very casual.
Only Roshin Aguilar disagreed, glad she got the only slot given up. "Actually I really wanted to be assigned here in Busol coz I heard from my friends who worked here before that they enjoyed (the experience)," she said.
Her thick glasses revealed impaired vision, but city SPES officer Romelda Frances Escano was reassuring: "She's the right attitude and very determined to do manual work."
So did Jasmin Martin. "My workmates said it was hard but not for me, as we have been doing that kind of work with my family in the province".
"I just pulled weeds in those mountains and cleared fire lanes. These did not make sense to me at that time," Roda Lucenio admitted. "All I (could do then) was to accept and enjoy it," Judith Mendoza recalled.
"Pulling grasses under the sun for 30 days is really hard, while encoding, arranging files and cleaning is what they do (in the office)," compared Novelyn Aguilar.
"I expected to have "kalyu" and sunburn all over my face, hands and neck," May-ann Estepa said. "And most of all, I expected to get my salary, just after the 30 days work."
Gemenia de los Reyes realized she did not know how to work with rakes, bolos and scythes. "Most of our companions were using the scythe as a bolo, which is not supposed to be, reason why some tools were destroyed," Jessie Pablo reported.
Still, the harder the experience, the more memorable it becomes.
"We learned something, to sacrifice to cut thousands of grasses and to make a fire lane, too," wrote Ana Marie dela Cruz. "I enjoyed making the fire lane, even though I have many wounds, because I know it can prevent fire from spreading," Bonifacio Burgos Jr. added.
"Working (in the forest) made me realize how hard it is to earn money for a living," Kimberly Puddunan said. "I realized the patience that my parents were always saying," Joyce Pocdihon agreed.
Monaliza Tulipa was uncomfortable "because it was my first time to meet and work with them. As the days went on, we finally knew each and became friends."
"One thing I'll never forget is knowing wonderful friends who gave me reason to really enjoy this summer job," wrote Anne Madla-ay. "I can't forget my encounter with a snake that turned out to be harmless," Randy Calica said. "It's a job that you can not forget," Jereco Arciaga agreed.
"I put some tree guards, cleaned up the fire lane, pulled grasses and even sometimes talked to the trees and breathe the fresh air," recalled Mary Jane Andrada.
"We've finished 997 meters (long) and four meters wide of fire lanes and that showed our camaraderie and cooperation," reported Cherry Minas.
"One pine tree is very important to our ecosystem," Benny Fowaya wrote. He then shifted to wondering whether the Baguio Water District, which benefits from his team's work, would refund their daily round trip jeepney fare from town to Busol and back.
City Administrator Peter Fianza, who treated the young crew to a picnic at the start and end of their work, shares their hope that the BWD would respond, as it did last year.
"Unlike those assigned to the offices at the City Hall, they had to take two rides to and from Busol," Fianza said.
Last Wednesday, the crew shared a common fare of grilled fish and eggplant laced with tomatoes and bagoong, stewed pig snout and string beans.
Before the meal, they made a final ascent to the watershed promontory for what they believed was the right thing to do. In silence, they laid an offering - bread and a bottle of water - on the fire lane, praying for the forest spirits to heal one of them - Ana Marie Yamagata. The girl developed skin allergy as a result of her manual labor.
The 30 teenagers - 23 girls and seven boys - now call each other Busol-mates. They'll repair back on June 11 to plant a seedling each.
The last stanza of Mary Grace Binay-an's poem somehow expressed their common feeling at the end of their days in Busol: What an experience! And now it will end/Happy and sad feelings that mend/I have learned an important lesson/ We should not stick to our first impression! (RD)
(May 23, 2006 issue)
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