The Resiliency of a Filipino

by William G. Bacani

B : Filipino is resilient
G : Since time immemorial, we are tested by countless calamities; volcanic eruptions, devastating
earthquakes and lahar flows, super typhoons, flash floods and landslides.
B : Victoriously, we surmounted these ordeals and pains, beyond imagination of the human race
G : Instant death of our loved ones, claimed by transportation mishaps and natural disasters. Thousands
also die in hunger and malnutrition.
All : Including ambushes and endless wars in Mindanao. They trampled our basic human rights, such as
the right to live
G (solo) : I lost my loving husband, who didn't want to join Abu Sayyaf.
G (solo) : I lost my only son, who opted to become a military man.
G : We lost our innocent children and women, we lost our homes and properties.
B : Survivors are Filipinos. The wrath of nature and cruel destiny may steal everything from us.
B (solo) : Wealth, properties, and family
All : But the Filipinos never give up
B : For us we are continuously scourged by the test of time. The spirit to survive and to bounce back
remains undefeated
All : I'm as pliant as a bamboo for I'm a man of Earth
G : My hair may all be blown away by the winds
B : And my legs may be crippled by the smash of waves
All : But I will stand and pick up the shattered pieces of myself and continue to live
B : Resolute to survive, clothed with an inspiration to live, not only for my family but also for my beloved
country
All : Filipinos unite in the midst of crisis, regardless of socio-economic status, tradition and creed
G : The world has seen the magnanimous spirit of the Filipinos in crucial times.
All : The gap between the rich and the poor was narrowed
G (solo) : Envy was replaced by sympathy
G (solo) : Hatred was conquered by love
B (solo) : Selfishness was set aside
B : And saving one's live is the ultimate desire
All : History tells us that the Filipinos have captured innumerable foes, natural and not. And shall always
strive to champion in all odds. Because innate in the Filipino is the will to survive
B : We may be daunted by the horrible scenes around us. But certainly, we will be strengthened by our
unwavering faith in God.
G : We have been lotted by many nations in the world, for our resiliency during disasters, others die in
saving lives.
All : But only few realize, that we are able to survive, because our spirit to fight is deeply anchored from
faith, that God Almighty will never forsake us.
B (solo) : I believe that Filipinos, divided by varied doctrines and cultures, are capable to be on top of any
situation, if united
All : Together, we can face any challenge ahead of us.
B : We may stumble and fall
All : But we will bounce back, arms stronger with vision and faith, that after darkness, after pains and
sufferings, the Filipino survives, the Filipino is resilient.
 “MONEY VS. FAMILY”

Rama’s family is very big. Rama is a hard worker and he is the sole bread winner of the family. He has
three kids, two sons and a daughter. He lives along with father and mother. Rama used to work too hard
to feed his family.

He works for more than 16 hours a day. The kids cannot see him as he will leave home early in the
morning before they wake-up and reach home around midnight when kids would sleep every day. The
entire family eagerly wait to spend quality time with him and the kids miss him so much.
The children were too curious about Sundays as his father would spend the entire day with them.
Unfortunately, to meet the increasing household expenses and educational expenses, Rama took a
weekend job to work even on Sundays. The kids were very shattered and even Rama’s wife and parents
too!  
The typical routine continued for several weeks and year passed. All the hard work of Rama earned a lot
of benefits ad he was offered promotion with attractive increment.
The family moved to a new house, got better clothes and ate healthy foods. However, as usual, Rama
continues to earn more and more money. One day his wife asked him ‘why are you running for money?
We can be happy with what we have now.’
Rama replied, ‘I want to give the best available in the world to all of you and want you to stay happy
always.’
Two years passed and Rama hardly spent time with his family. The children yearned to have their father
at home. Meanwhile, the sincere efforts of Rama reaped him a fortune. He was offered partnership and
share in profits. He continued to earn more and more wealth.
Now, Rama’s family is one of the richest families in the city. They have all the facilities and luxuries.
Still, Rama’s children strove to meet their father as he was hardly seen at home.
His children turned teens and they are no more kids. Now, Rama earned enough wealth to provide a
luxurious life to his next five generations.
Rama’s family went to their beach house to spend their vacation. His daughter asked, ‘Dad will you
please spend one day at home and stay with us here?’
Rama replied, ‘Yes darling, tomorrow for sure, I will join you for the lunch and be with you all for next
few days. I’m tired of work and need refreshment!’
The entire family became very happy.
Unfortunately, the next day, none in Rama’s family were alive as they were washed out in Tsunami!
Rama was too busy even to hear the news about Tsunami. When he tried to reach his beach house, he saw
sea and water everywhere and screamed for his family, He could not even find the dead bodies of his
family.
He can never have them again, cannot even see them and even by paying millions he cannot get them
back to life!
He remembered his wife’s words, ‘Why are you running for money? We can be happy with what we have
now.’
DepEd: K to 12 is for the triumph of Filipino learners
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January 13, 2017

PASIG CITY, January 13, 2017 –  Education Secretary Leonor Briones affirmed that the K to 12
education program is primarily geared to benefit Filipino learners and the country.
 
“I always insist that K to 12 is not only for our regional friends or for our international neighbor
or for the global community, we are doing this for ourselves,” Briones said during the
2nd National K to 12 Conference held at PICC on January 10-11, 2017.
 
Briones maintained that the implementation of K to 12 is not propelled only on the advice of
the international community nor as required by the ASEAN, but because the Filipinos should
realize the rich advantage of the new curriculum in making the youth more productive and
competitive, not only overseas but more so in their country.
 
She added, “We are doing K to 12 for ourselves and for the Philippine education. We are doing
this to be able to compete in our own country so that we can equip our learners with
appropriate skills, creativity, and intelligence to cope with the changing world.”
 
The K to 12 is the innovative curriculum of DepEd which covers Kindergarten and 12 years of
basic education. The program aims to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills,
develop life-long learners and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills
development, employment, and entrepreneurship.
 
Briones said that when she assumed the stewardship of DepEd, it was her vision that beyond
quality, the constitutional provision is making education accessible, relevant, and liberating.
 
“We want quality education to be liberating from intellectual, social and even material poverty,”
she emphasized.
 
The Education Chief recalled that when President Rodrigo Duterte solicited her opinion in the
implementation of the new curriculum, especially the Senior High School (SHS) program, her
answer was to follow the mandate of the law.
 
The K to 12 Program is mandated by Republic Act 10533, otherwise known as “Basic Education
Act of 2013.” The DepEd began the new learning program in its efforts to make a change
towards a better Philippines as early as 2011.
 
K to 12 education reform is the boldest move made by the government in the history of the
Philippine educational system. It requires courage, determination, and political will of
revolutionizing the Philippine educational system amid challenges in more than 70 years.

SOURCE: http://www.deped.gov.ph/press-releases/deped-k-12-triumph-filipino-learners