MARCO

Submitted
By:
Rolly Mendoza Jr.
Sophia Grace
Roncal
Jana Ligad
Sheena Cabico
Lawrence
Palpalatoc
The morning light, dappled through the mango tree outside, danced across the room, tickling ten-year-
old Marco's nose. He scrunched his face up, a smile tugging at his lips. It was a perfect day for patintero,
the Filipino hopscotch his barkada (group of friends) loved to play on the dusty street. He could almost
hear their excited shouts already.

Marco bolted out of bed, a whirlwind of brown limbs and messy hair. He reached for his t-shirt, a faded
one with a cartoon carabao, and paired it with his favorite red shorts. But just as he was about to slip on
his battered tsinelas (flip-flops), his mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Marco! Don't go outside yet," Nanay called. "The sun is too strong. You'll get dark."

Marco sighed. Nanay always worried about him getting too dark. In their small town of Sariaya, Quezon,
some people believed lighter skin was prettier. But Marco didn't care about being light; he just wanted
to play.

Nanay entered the room, a steaming plate of pandesal (bread rolls) in one hand and his tablet in the
other. "Here," she said, placing them on his desk. "Eat your breakfast and play your new educational
games. They'll teach you so much."

Marco poked at the fluffy bread, his stomach grumbling. He loved Nanay's pandesal, but the tablet left
him cold. Sure, the virtual animals were cool, but they didn't compare to the thrill of chasing lizards with
his friends or the laughter that echoed during their tag games.

He gobbled up his breakfast, the tablet forgotten. He peeked out the window again. The sun was higher
now, casting long shadows. But the heat didn't deter his friends. They were setting up the patintero grid
with chalk, their voices like cheerful birdsong.

"Nanay, please," Marco pleaded. "Can I just play for a little while? I promise I'll put on sunblock and a
hat."

Nanay frowned. "But that harsh sun…"

"I'll be careful, I promise!" Marco insisted. "Just a little while. Please?"

Nanay hesitated, seeing the pleading in his eyes. Finally, she sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright. But only
for an hour. And come back inside when you feel hot."

Marco beamed. "Thank you, Nanay! You're the best!"

He dashed outside, his bare feet slapping against the hot pavement. His friends cheered his arrival.
Soon, they were immersed in a game of patintero, their laughter echoing through the street. Marco,
nimble and quick, kept dodging their outstretched legs, his heart pounding with a healthy mix of
exertion and joy.

As the sun climbed higher, the heat intensified. Sweat beaded on Marco's forehead, but he ignored it,
caught up in the game's energy. Then, he heard a worried voice. It was Aling Rosa, a kind neighbor,
holding a glass of halo-halo (a shaved ice dessert) and a handkerchief.

"Marco," she said, wiping his brow. "Here, have some halo-halo and this cool cloth. You look like you're
about to melt!"

Marco grinned, taking the refreshing treat gratefully. "Thank you, Aling Rosa! It's really hot, but we're
having so much fun."

Aling Rosa chuckled. "I remember when I was your age, we played outside all day. But remember, it's
good to listen to your Nanay sometimes. The sun can be dangerous."

Marco nodded, taking a big gulp of halo-halo. He realized Aling Rosa was right. He thanked her again and
rejoined his friends, though with less enthusiasm. The heat finally caught up to him, sapping his energy.

By the time the hour was up, Marco was ready to head home. He walked back slowly, his skin flushed
and slightly tender. As he entered the house, Nanay rushed to him, her face etched with worry.

"Marco! You're burning up! Look at you!"

Marco managed a weak smile. "It's okay, Nanay. I just need some water."
Nanay fussed over him, giving him a cold compress and making him drink glasses of water. As he lay on
his bed, feeling cool sheets against his warm skin, a pang of guilt washed over him. He might have
overdone it, ignoring the heat in his eagerness to play.

Nanay sat beside him, stroking his hair. "See, Marco," she said gently. "There's a time for playing outside
and a time to be careful. Today, the sun was too strong."

Marco nodded. "I know, Nanay. I'm sorry."

Nanay smiled. "Apologize to yourself too, for pushing yourself too hard. But don't worry, you'll learn.
Now, how about we play a game together on your tablet? We can learn about different kinds of plants,
and maybe we can even plant some real ones in our garden!"

Marco's eyes lit up. The idea of learning about plants AND getting his hands dirty in the soil was exciting.
They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the educational games together, giggling over some of
the silly animations.

Later that week, Marco and Nanay went to the nearby sari-sari store (convenience store) and bought
pots, soil, and seeds for gumamela (hibiscus) flowers. In their small backyard, Marco helped Nanay dig
small holes, his laughter echoing as he got mud on his clothes, something Nanay only chuckled at this
time.

As they planted the seeds and watered the soil, Marco learned about the importance of sunlight for
plants, something he wouldn't have understood if he hadn't experienced the harshness of the sun
himself. He promised to take good care of the gumamela, watching with anticipation for the first tiny
green shoots to break through the earth.

Days turned into weeks, and the gumamela seedlings sprouted. Marco felt a sense of accomplishment
each morning as he watered them, feeling a connection to nature he hadn't known before. He even
convinced Nanay to let him play outside for short bursts every day, this time making sure to wear
sunscreen and a hat. He still played with his friends, but now their games revolved around exploring the
vacant lot near their houses, creating forts out of branches and leaves, all the while keeping an eye out
for interesting insects and plants.
One sunny afternoon, Marco and his friends were engrossed in building a fort when they spotted a
group of younger children huddled under a tree, looking scared.

"What's wrong?" Marco asked, approaching them cautiously.

A little girl with big, worried eyes sniffled. "My kitten, Luna, climbed the mango tree and can't get
down!"

Marco looked up. A tiny orange kitten perched precariously on a high branch, its meows filled with fear.
His first instinct was to climb the tree, something he'd done many times before. But then he
remembered the sunburn and the worry it caused Nanay.

He thought for a moment, then turned to his friends, "Let's work together!" They gathered some old
boards and planks lying around the vacant lot, building a makeshift ladder under the tree. Carefully,
Marco climbed it, remembering the times he'd climbed real trees, using that knowledge to navigate the
wooden ladder safely.

He reached the scared kitten, gently coaxing it into his arms. Descending slowly, Luna purring
contentedly in his grasp, he received a chorus of cheers from his friends and the grateful little girl.

That evening, Nanay was surprised to hear the story of how Marco had used his past experiences to save
the kitten. A proud smile bloomed on her face. "You see, Marco," she said, "everything you learn, even
the lessons you don't like, can be used in unexpected ways."

Marco looked out the window at their budding gumamela plants, a symbol of his newfound appreciation
for nature. He understood now. There was a balance to be struck – between playing outside and
enjoying the sun, and respecting its power. He knew he could still have adventures, but with a newfound
caution and a deeper connection to the world around him.

The moral of the story? While technology and staying safe are important, there's a whole world waiting
to be explored outside. Learning to balance screen time with outdoor play, understanding the
importance of nature, and listening to your parents' concerns are all valuable lessons. And sometimes,
even a sunburn can lead to an unexpected act of bravery and a deeper understanding of the world
around you.