PASAN is one of the short Filipino films recently produced by the Knight Vision Multimedia

Entertainment directed by John Dabuet and Tonz Llander Are. I chose this film because it
depicts reality about how education is sometimes forced to be tossed aside, especially with
people living in rural, mountainous and remote areas who struggle to provide for their daily
needs. As a student experiencing poverty, I can somehow relate with the movie, as I am aware
how important education is to every individual. No matter how many responsibilities we carry on
our shoulders, there should always be a space and time for education because it may be a life
changing factor in one's life. It goes like how dedicated teachers endure their struggles in order
to teach and fulfill the desire of their students to learn.

The films started out with people walking across forested lands and rivers while they carry their
things on top of their heads, shoulders, and back. There was teacher Nora with her daughter
Elsa and teacher Cris who went into a 'barrio' to teach but teacher Nora was curious as some of
her students were not attending her class. After teaching, they decided to visit their house.
Teacher Nora went to Duday's house and Duday's father reasoned that no one will take care of
her daughter because he is at work. He has accepted the fact that knowing only how to read
and count is enough, still, teacher Nora pursues him. Meanwhile, teacher Cris learned that
Daniel and Noel, two grown male siblings, were forced to put up a job due to the need to
provide for food and for their mother's medication but teacher Cris proposed that they can work
and attend class alternately in which Noel happily agreed but Daniel was still conflicted. Teacher
Nora and Cris made a way to pursue them, teacher Cris helped in selling charcoal for Daniel
and Noel, and encouraged them to agree with his proposal, while teacher Nora and her
students went to Duday's house to where the class will be held in order for Duday to attend
class while her father is working.

Education can be a solution to poverty and that is why it must be a top priority. It equips people
with knowledge and skills to escape poverty. With basic education, guardians or parents will
learn more about how to take care of their family and how to improve their lives, which in turn
leads their children towards a healthier lifestyle and brighter children. In the situation of Duday
since her father grew up from poverty, it seems like he loses hope even for his daughter.
Parents are the primary role model of children, and what they instill in them can affect their
perception of acquiring education or their education itself. For Noel and Daniel, they were forced
to make their responsibilities and obligations as their priority and no one can argue with this
because they are grown up men and although they have strong desire for education, they do
not really have a choice. But as the saying goes, "If you really want to do something, you will
find a way….".

Education must be a top priority because it brings people hope. I may not be experiencing the
difficulties of being a teacher but I can observe teachers who do not only treat their jobs as a
source of income but instead they pour their hearts into it. These kinds of people should
continue to grow in numbers in order to improve the education of people. There are still a lot of
people, adults or children, who until now do not have the capacity or the resources to obtain
education, not only in rural, mountainous, and remote areas but also in urbanized regions. So,
people should be one in spreading education, which can be in many ways that does not require
people to spend or spend so much.