29th Heartbeat

TO CATCH THE FISH, YOU HAVE TO DIG THE BAIT!

Ma’am Rose Piamonte and I went to different public schools this week. We wanted to make sure that there would be allotted slots for Catechism Classes in every grade or year for both elementary and secondary levels so that the Parish Catechetical Ministry will be of service to children and teen-agers, particularly in their growth in Catholic doctrine, morals, and worship. Good thing the principals were gracious enough to receive us although there were still some conflicts in terms of scheduling and we plan to iron things out by next week in order that our nine full time Catechists will start their mission smoothly and efficiently.

When we went around each campus, I’ve noticed that there were still problems as to the general set-up, repairs, and supplies (arm chairs, tables, shelves, and books) of some classrooms. There were even certain parts of the school building that were dilapidated but the teachers had no other choice but to use them because of the increasing number of students that they have to accommodate when the actual classes begin. Everyone indeed deserves an education but forcing one’s self into an undersized space with insufficient materials, with bits and pieces falling apart will cause so much discomfort that will eventually impede learning. I have only watched these situations on the television at the start of the school year with teachers complaining that their students don’t get what they actually deserve but now, I have been a witness to this recurring problem in our country. Perhaps in the past, I confined myself in my apathy because I am fortunate enough to have studied in a bigger classroom, with enough facilities for learning and with very limited number of students. But right now, I am all the more bothered because these poor children are also worthy of these privileges I had before. It is depressing to note that the sad plight of Filipino students are not given concrete solutions by the government and the inept educational system here in the Philippines turned out to be an enduring conundrum that has to be deciphered and resolved. It was ironic to see those individuals aiming for national or local leadership, swearing to the eager public their specific platforms if ever they will be elected but have not kept their promises later on because they were too “occupied” with their “self-serving” concerns. From their seemingly endless mumbling, the word “education” appeared to have a relevance to everybody because most would agree to that affirmation that educating the masses, particularly the young, could be the primary answer to poverty, and yet, up until now, this remains an elusive dream unless something real and substantial has to be done. In the end, all knows a donkey, which does not only subsist on hay, but on the constant yearning to learn despite the illiteracy and the persistent desire to have a better opportunity in life.

Few months ago, I was able to see a documentary that exposed the real classroom situation here in the Philippines, especially the school’s own way of coping with the global trend. There was an initiative made by the government to provide personal computers to schools in remote areas so that the children will familiarize themselves with the parts and mechanisms of the said devices. But the sad thing is, most of these computers are not working properly and if ever they are really working, there is no teacher competent enough to teach the students how to use them. It is unfortunate to think that this presumed ingenuity is more of a baloney, and computers are no longer tools that will bring the outdated into the future, but a pretence that will remind our poor brothers and sisters how ignorant they are in terms of technology and in the long run, will affect the way they see themselves and the way they see the world. In order to help people muddle through the evolution of learning, it is not sufficient to provide them with the existing materials, but to provide them with better opportunities. It is also important to instil in their minds that just like anybody else on this planet, they are capable to make a difference in their seemingly helpless situation. The real essence of providing assistance is not just to give something out of charity, but to help those who are underprivileged how to help themselves. Our problem has always been systemic and it is essential that we, Filipinos must realize that there should be concrete measures that have to be carried out in order that our lives will be a lot better and meaningful.

To end this, I’d like to go back to what Jesus taught his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. We are truly aware that in order to give emphasis to his teachings, Jesus at times uses parables, and one of these is the Parable of Talents. I believe that it is not just a story that imparts wisdom but it is also a wakeup call for those who wanted to do something sensible and productive in their lives, especially for our leaders who have the responsibility of providing education to the masses.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone.He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another and one bag of gold to the last–dividing it in proportion to their abilities–and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it.The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money.But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money for safekeeping.After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, `Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount!’ The master was full of praise. `Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’“Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, `Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.’ The master said, `Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, `Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.’“But the master replied, `you wicked and lazy servant! You think I’m a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn’t plant and gathering crops I didn’t cultivate?Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold.To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away.^”

We can come up with a lot of interpretations when we ponder deeply on the message of the Gospel but there is one compelling implication that continuously affect and challenge me personally: “There are plenty of fishes in the sea but TO CATCH THE FISH, YOU HAVE TO DIG THE BAIT!”

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