AH1N1 Ewan: Rehashed note on teaching

The unexpected respite will soon be over. The scare will have to be toned down given the need to let life go on. The AH1N1 scare has only shown us how lacking in science learning and education our students and people are. Hyped by constant and exaggerated reporting on official statements on the issue, the swine flu, of which no one in the Philippines has died, has become more fearsome than Tuberculosis. Now, to the Filipino public mind’s eye, swine flu is death. This despite the fact that it is, for instance, TB that kills 75 Filipinos each day and is almost as infectious as this “Trangkaso.” Fortunately, like TB, swine flu is curable.

Incidents like this remind me of the importance of teaching and education. The swine flu issue is an exemplar on how knowledge, values and decision making intertwine — on how even the supposedly learned layers of society can get it so wrong. Why I teach...

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Why teach if students can learn things on their own especially with things like the Internet? Well, teaching provides direction… and, more importantly, “direction” — values appreciation and personality development. Teaching directs the process of learning. Note that learning can happen with or without a teacher since learning is merely the acquisition of knowledge, skills and values. Education however goes beyond mere learning for education is all about learning things that are productive for not only the individual learner but his community as well. Education is learning plus. Education is learning things in and for society. Education, I believe, requires teaching.

There lies the reason for why I teach. I’m dreaming of a better the world. I want to change the world but I cannot do it alone. I have to have others to breach the limits of the possible in society, to be able to push aside the barriers to a better quality of life for the Filipino in the global community. Teaching is providing education and not merely knowledge. Teaching is not merely about satiating the thirst for knowledge, it is about satiating the thirst for truth and meaning in life. And the meaning is out there — in society. As one line I learned from one of my many organizations in college asked: “Iskolar ng Bayan, sa iyong langit-langitan, sino ang iyong pinagsisilbihan?”

A scholars’ organization (UPGSA), a volunteer’s group (PSC), a fraternity (Pi Sigma), a student political party-alliance (UP-SAMASA), and three NGOs (Bayan-EF-ACT) provided the answers for me. As my frat’s Constitution proudly declares (pertaining to experiences in the struggle for societal change): “Ang sakit ay walang anuman… dadalhin ka nito sa isang antas na mas mataas kaysa sa karaniwan, hindi makasarili ngunit para sa nakararami.”

And so I learned that learning is not enough, really. To be educated truly is to dream of a better community, a better state for one’s country. I learned from Mababang Paaralan ng Rafael Palma, Manila Science High School and the UP in Diliman, but I was educated by my community.
My dear students, be a Iskolar ng Bayan — even if you’re not from UP. It’s all about being of service to others. Serve the people. Serve your country well… and be truly educated.

My school now, De La Salle, puts it this way: it’s all about teaching minds, touching hearts, AND TRANSFORMING LIVES.

To borrow from that mushy tiny tome The Purpose Driven Life: IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU.
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My dear Lasallian students, see you all again on June 15. And please stop fearing the swine flu. Just read and learn more about it. We should fear CONASS more... come to think of it, this country needs a GMAectomy, soon.

2OM: Current Market Price of Souls?

Last Saturday, 2 days before the now historic session at the House of RepresentaTHIEVES, or what the Explainer Manolo Quezon prefers to call the BASTUSANG PAMBANSA, I got a text message about pro-CHA-CHA/pro-GMA members of Congress being offered 20M pesos to sell their souls and the Constitution of this country.

If indeed 20M pesos per Chacha Tongressman was distributed (not just as additional pork barrel), there should be a trail somewhere... can a little bird please chirp and tell us something... where to look at least? Seriously, please chirp and help save this nation more wasted monies. Text me for leads... 0905-328-8939.

Now, even if the 20M is just a figment of imagination (or is a "mere" pork barrel and not a "cash gift" like what Gov. Among Panlilio exposed before), why have these supposedly sentient creatures in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATHIEVES done overtime work just to pass a resolution for virtually nothing but to taunt a Supreme Court laden with GMA-appointees? What a show of collective power! What show of collective wisdom. What arrogance. What attendance. When normally these power-trippers can't complete a quorum for important matters of real legislation, now they're all up and awake! Coffee is a poor substitute to 20M.

Let's show these members of Congress thet they should be representing us, the people, and not Malaki-ang-kanyang (ego!). Let us express our disgust in various forms -- Join the various anti-CONASS initiatives.

Erap has just declared that he is willing to personally lead rallies against this CONASS thing. Binay has convened a broad opposition front. Mar has donned Garlic leis against what he calls CONASSWANG. Noli has said no to CONASS. Chizwiz is speaking in overdesigned tagalog again to hit CONASS. Villar, like the rest of the Senate, is wincing at the Joke that is the HOR.

As for Te-ODOR-o, well, 1% lang naman ang hakot niya sa latest surveys. Lahat yata yun nasa gobyerno, kaya di na counted sa rally roster yun.

Let's all go out then. JUNE 10! Let's dance the Anti-CHACHA! Be in your most fashionable attire! See you all on the dance floor -- the PARLIAMENT OF THE STREETS!

San na ba 'yun sandals ko... Wait, phone message, might be about the 20M... wooo....