On Tuesday morning, July 16, a teacher was seen carrying a student while their school classroom was flooding in Iloilo City.
Jessica Jayloni, who taught high school students for eight years and preschool students for 15 years, is a teacher of Iloilo City National High School in the district of Molo, Iloilo City.
Apparently, when the school including her classroom was flooding, her student came up to her and said that she had an open wound. With this, Jayloni did what any good person would do: she carried the kid on her back so that the wound would not be infected.
When asked why she chose to carry her student, teacher Jayloni shared with wheninmanila.com: “Kaka lecture ko lang sa kanila tungkol sa maaaring mangyari kung lumusong tayo sa tubig baha. Nang pinasok na ng tubig ang classroom namin pinalabas ko na sila ng classroom. Sinabi ng studyante ko na may sugat sia sa paa so naisipan kong kaagad na kargahin siya.”
(Rough translation: I just finished giving a lecture to them about what may happen if they were to go into the flood. When the water rushed into classroom, I asked them to leave. One of my students mentioned having a would and I immediately thought I should carry her.)
As a teacher to 12 to 13-year-olds currently, Jayloni also shared her sentiments for all teachers: “Sa lahat ng mga gurong Pilipino ibigin at intindihin natin ang ating propesyon. Isipin natin palagi kung ano ang maari nating gawin para sa kapakanan nang ating estudyante na maging ligtas sila at tayo sa ano mang sitwasyon na dumarating. Maging handa lang dapat tayo palagi sa puso, sa isip at sa gawa.”
(Rough translation: To all Filipino teachers, let us love and understand our profession. Let us always think about what may happen and what we can do for the welfare of our students so we may be safe in any situation that comes our way. We must always be ready through our hearts, minds and actions.)
Teacher Jayloni’s words and actions are truly inspirational to teachers everywhere.
Photos courtesy of Ms. Regina S. Escueta.
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