Ateneo has an incredible three pronged program at the school that all the boys participate in. The first prong is the guidance program, that works with each boy and family and is focused on the development of that individual boy. The second prong is the Campus Ministry which works with the boys on spiritual development. The third is the CSIP or Christian Service Involvement Program. These three prongs are vertically and horizontally aligned and work in tandem with the academic classes and other focuses of the school. We have been meeting with many people involved in this program all week at school, including Father J Boy, all the guidance counselors and today, John from CSIP. The CSIP program has different facets for each grade, and all are involved in getting the students in to the community as much as possible. While day trips and projects happen the first two years, along with a school wide fundraising project, 11th grade students spend two nights living with a family in one of two villages where they become 'part of the family'. The school works with individuals and families that volunteer for this program. There is training with these people to help explain the intent of the program, but compensation in the monetary form is not given. At the end of the visit, students deliver a bag of groceries to the person as a way to compensate for the food they have given them.
We walked out of the main town and up to a small community called Camillus Ville where five of the 38 boys were housed. This tiny community is a result of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) flooding where these people previously lived. Fifteen families live in cinder block houses no more than 20ftx20ft. We were lucky to be shown around by the lady who was head of the parish and she talked at length about her goals in trying to create economic opportunity for the community that will allow them to bring in more money but create long term development. The residents have created an organic farm and vermicomposting which they use for their own food and waste disposal, but they are also growing medicinal herbs that they sell. We visited each of the homes where they were living and it was interesting to see the different reactions of the boys to their experiences - some had formed incredible relationships already, perhaps based on the individuals involved. For others, we could tell that this whole experience had been quite a personal challenge and that they were relieved that today was the day to go home.
Walking down the hill we were able to observe and learn more about life in the area. We passed rice paddies, farmers with carabao, and people roasting nuts and selling fruit and tofu from buckets around their neck. Then began breakfast #1 in the home of a lady called Nana L_______....macaroni in a pink soup with cabbage and sticky rice called Biko. Nana's house also served as a small store and tiny plastic packets filled with Knorr gravy broth and aspirins hung. Nana earns about 30 pesos a day from this -less than a dollar. Next we were off to mass at the church across the street, built during World War II. The pews were packed, a computer projected words and prayers on to a screen so everyone could see and voices sang joyously in filipino. It was sitting in here I began to understand and appreciate more how the Catholic Church has helped develop and enhance the Filipino culture.
Leaving the church we were surrounded by the boys and their surrogate families. Smiles were everywhere and while some were eager to get on the jeepneys, others were hugging their new mothers and not wanting to leave. Tears down one boy's cheek showed what had happened in just over 60 hours.
Waving the jeepneys goodbye we joined Nana again and had breakfast #2. This time it was a treat rarely eaten - pancit -which is a dish in every store in Manila....but not here. Upon asking I learned that the residents are asked not to cook dishes that are special, but to immerse the boys in the ordinary food of their lives -in this case, primarily vegetables and rice. Vegetables have been rarer in the city. Later in the car, I began to ponder about the dietary differences between rural and urban, and the ecological and health impacts on the Philippines, and the role that western culture has played in this.
Leaving the village we drove back down the mountain in to metro Manila. But the day was not done. Ritz and her husband Martin had planned a visit to a local spa and I enjoyed a unexpected and beautiful foot massage, steam bath and jacuzzi.
The generosity and good nature that we have experienced in the Philippines is widespread and infectious, independent of locale and economic status. A Filipino's commitment to the church seems to play a huge role in helping create these qualities and I am curious as to what other factors are involved. They are proud to share their culture with us, and yet not afraid to enter in to a discussion when I ask them what is the biggest issue the country is dealing with.......any guesses? (More on that answer later)....Also, the program that Ateneo has set up is so well thought out and planned and the genuine relationships that are inherent, both between teachers and students and students and community members are often long lasting. Sometimes the relationships lead to other things. One of the people now working part time with this program is an ex-student who chose to turn down a full time career in an arts industry so he could continue to support this experience. Another class at Ateneo, after their experience, saved money to send to one student in the community, so she could go to college. We met her father in the church who stated he is overwhelmed by the opportunity his daughter has been given. One student took half of his allowance for the whole year and contributed it to the large fundraising project that the school does, realizing he didn't need nearly as much. I learned that many of the boys learn that these families may not be rich economically, but are rich in terms of family...something that many of them may not have, as their parents work abroad, or work long hours away from home. The challenge is to increase the number of these long lived relationships and experiences as Ateneo students often become the politicians and community leaders that can help lead the Philippines in creating a stronger more economically stable country, while maintaining the culture of community. Also, how do I take aspects of this program back to my school?