‘Education is your key to a better future.”
We’ve shared heaps of inspiring and touching stories about education with you. But, this story is beyond touching. It’s about a young student’s determination to finish his studies despite life’s uncertainties. The story and photo was originally shared by a Butuan City-based public school teacher Niel Arado. What Neil shared online has gone viral.
Photo credit : Neil Arado
As narrated by Neil, he was checking papers during lunch break when he noticed one of his students stayed in the classroom. He watched the young student take out his packed lunch. He then asked him what he was having for lunch, the answer broke his heart. “Sir ASIN na maay OIL ang ulam ko sir,” the young student responded.
Here’s the verbatim caption to the photo:
11:40 lunch break gaina
While nag check sa mga activities naay isa ka bata nga nagpabilin sa room.. Padayun lang ko sa pag check sa mga papel nya nag tan aw tan aw sya sa iyang bag then nagkuha ug cellophane nga naay sulod nga baonan then iyang gi abrihan ang baonan sabay pangagho ….. Akong gi tan aw cya ug giduol…
“Ra**** naunsa man ka? Kaon na kay ting pani udto na…. Unsa diay imong sud an?Gitan aw ko nya ug ni SMILE 🙂 ug nisulti……..
“Sir ASIN ug luto nga naai OIL ang akong sud an sir 🙂”
Murag gikumot akong kasingkasing sa iyang gisulti
Naluoy ko kaayu kay bisan asin ug luto nga naay oil ang iya gikaon .. Naningkamot gihapon cya ug eskwela bisan 2kilometers iyang baktasun paramaka abot sa skwelahan… Walay lipud2 gikuha nako akong baon ug gi share nako ang akong sud an bisan gamay ra gitungaan nako cya kay kabalo ko makakaon pako ani kapila pero sila or sya panagsa ra …. Ako na lang cya gisabayan ug kaon pud 🙂tana ani ang mga bata no dasig my skwela bisan sa kalisod sa kinabuhe 😉
I am not knowledgeable in speaking Visayan, so I asked my sister to translate it for me:
Tagalog translation:
Kanina lunch break 11:40. While checking some activities, Mayroo aking napansin na isang bata nagpaiwan sa classroom, derecho pa din ako sa pag check ng papers, tapos meron syang kuniihang cellophane sa kanyang bag na may lamang baonan.then binuksan nya. Tinignan ko ng malapitan. (While checking some activities, I noticed a student who stayed in the room. I continued checking papers then I noticed he opened a plastic bag of packed lunch. I looked closely.
Ra………, (child’s name), naano ka dyan?. Kumain ka na kasi lunch time na. Ano pala ulam mo? Tinignan lang nya ako at ngumiti. sabay sabi.. “Sir ASIN na maay OIL ang ulam ko sir. (What are you doing? It’s already lunch time. What’s your viand? The kid smiled and said: Salt and oil is my viand, sir).
Parang nawasak ang puso ko sa sagot ng bata.. Naawa ako kasi kahit yun lang ang ulam nya nagtyatyaga syang pumasok sa eskwela at naglalakad ng 2 kilometers. Walang pag aalinlangan kinuha ko ang aking baonan at share ko ang aking baon sa kanya. (It broke my heart upon hearing his response. I feel bad because even though his viand is just like that he is determined to go to school despite walking 2 kilometers. Without hesitation, I took out my packed lunch too and shared my viand with him)
Evidently, we need to be reminded sometimes. We need to read other stories to inspire us. To encourage us. To motivate us to become a better person. To you little kid, continue what you’re doing. Know that you are on the right path. Soon, your desires will be heard.
This story left me without words. Except to say that this kid is resilient. God Bless You.
Have you got any inspiring stories to share? Leave a comment in the box below.
