A couple of hours before the oral competition for Radio Broadcasting event in the Division Elementary Schools Press Conference, the English and Filipino teams have been confident that they have a fat chance of making it to the Regionals backed up by months and even years of preparation through tedious practice and training.
They were properly oriented and true enough they know what they would be doing to win the contest. Each member of the team had their roles to play and tasks to perform. They came from three grade levels and therefore their minds and ideas are not that parallel with one another. Only one thing is in common, they came from a group of chosen few intellectuals in each grade level. Whether the teams could grab the top place or not was uncertain... but they were adamant.
Looking back, it was harder than one could imagine for grade schoolers of different age and behaviour to be grouped together and be aimed at one single purpose and that is to win the radio broadcasting event and represent the Iriga City Division in the Regionals, which for the last five years we have not won.
It was difficult to form a group that is composed of children who are both intelligent and extroverts, when almost all smart kids are already involved in what they think as more challenging and winnable contests. The journalism group of teachers have to make the most of the time available and what is more challenging, is to run after the children who at times choose not to report for practice, and their availability which is left of us by already scheduled dates and times of other subject contests.
The children have accepted their roles in the team without complaint and took their parts wholeheartedly. They have not competed for the roles given to them for they know their individual abilities to which I have explained to them. I told them that in this world we have our own places, and we have our' strength and weaknesses. It is the strength that we should master and the weaknesses that we should hone. If you are given a task different from the others – regardless of difficulty – it is because you can do be better at it, not because you are inferior from the rest.
News writers were assigned to write the scripts, technical people were assigned to take charge of the background music, reporters had to be composed and controlled, and an infomercial had to be performed at heart. Each had to check on each other's performance and try to encourage one after the other to do better the next time. They know their routine for they do not have to be told when to start and do it all over again when at fault and the performance was not satisfactory. A leader was not assigned nor below them was identified. They just took their part as members, each one of them.
They were positive. They did not compete with one another. They competed with themselves. They were open to suggestions aside from a few events where one or a few members would complain of getting tired and eventually cry. But nothing was inconsolable. A few smiles and a little laugh would break the barrier, and of course a lot of singing in the end. They could even form a chorale, only with a little out of tune on the side ( you know who...). It was fun!
COOPERATION was not an issue for each is a sister and a brother. One in the common goal of proving that they should have won a long time ago, with the thought that they will charge on and compete their hardest and bravest. They were ONE.
The competition took place and ended satisfactorily. But a contest is still a contest. Even before that I have told them that nothing is for certain. In life NOTHING IS CERTAIN. You may have prepared for the deadliest battle there is but there shall always be DEFEAT AND TRIUMPH. How prepared you might be or how strongest you may have been but the world shall judge and FATE shall prevail.
On that night, the angels bowed and the heavens cried. It poured so much that no words of comfort could appease the painful heart. I stood there looking... as each one exchanged hugs and congratulations in between sobs and cheers. Long before I always tell them not to cry after the verdict for it is not the end of the world. Only some parts of their chances closed but other parts and more shall be opened, for there are always these CHANCES, OPPORTUNITIES, and COMPETITIONS. Crying over LOSING signifies unworthiness of the efforts and hardships done, but rather be braver for there are more failures to come.
ON THAT FATEFUL DAY I let them cry...
Others may never understand but I DO.
