Prove them WRONG!

Prove them WRONG.

written by Mong Ji

"YOU ARE THE CREME SECTION!" Siguro, simula pa tumungtong kami ng first year high school, halos yan na lagi ang dialouge ng mga teachers samin. We are the role models. We are the leaders. We are in the Star Section. We are. We are. Okay, so this is my opinion only and also my experiences I wanted to share to you. Masyado kasing mataas ang expectations ng mga teachers sa mga Star Section. Kapag na-disappoint sila, iko-compare kami sa last year nilang hinawakang Star Section. You know, we are all borned unique. We have differences, we have our own strengths and as well as our own weaknesses. Estudyante lang kami. Natural we're still being childish sometimes. We make mistakes. We failed. We have our own limitations. Naranasan nyo ba yung ma-pressure dahil section one ka? Yung kino-kompara sa iba? Masakit kasi samin yun. Though hindi kami showee towards sa real feelings namin, nasasaktan kami. We're only students. If you're in the creme section, naranasan nyo na bang ipahiya nung teacher sa mga ka-batchmates nyo and then binully right after? It was during our Earthquake Drill, then. Yes, we admit we'd committed a mistake. The scene was, napatawa kami sa pose nung kaklase namin. We laughed in a positive way. At alam din ng kaklase naming yun na biruan lang yun. But then, the teacher said, "Anong nakakatawa dun?" Yes, he was right. He had the point we can't argue with. Tama sya e. Ano nga ba talagang nakakatawa dun? "Kaklase nyo pinagtatawanan nyo, ANG LALAKI NYONG T*NGA!" And we were startled. "SECTION ONE, ANG TAT*NGA NYO! ANG BOBOBO NYO! AKALA NYO KUNG SINO KAYONG MATATALINO E ANG BOBOBO NYO NAMAN. SECTION ONE, I WARN YOU. HINDI PA PASADO ANG UGALI NYO SAKIN. TAT*NGA NYO." Of course, we were hurt. And those lower sections were like, "BOOM!" "YUUUN!" and others were laughing hilarious and clapping for much enjoyment. Oo, mali kami. Oo, nagkamali kami. Pero, kami lang ba? Aminin man nila or hindi, tumawa din sila. Niloloko nila ang sarili nila kung magmamalinis pa sila. We made a mistake. That was such a humiliation with us, the section one. Alam naming nagkamali kami, pero.. tama ba yung way na ginawa ng teacher namin? No. Yes, he had his point but no, maling-mali yung ginawa nya. Maling mali. He had judged us easily. Tao lang naman din kami. Hindi kami isang extraordinary na tao at hindi kami perpekto para di magkamali. Pilosopo kami, sutil, maingay, wala bang estudyanteng ganun? Bakit kelangan kaming ipahiya? Hindi lang naman kami ang tumawa ha. After the discussion, nagtanungan. And yes, puro lower sections lang ang mga sumagot. We didn't. We can't. We don't have the guts. Then after the drill orientation, "SECTION ONE BOYS, STAY!" We, girls, were too shocked. There they go teased again, the lower section specifically the section six. Sana nilahat na lang nya ang section one. Tutal sabi naman nya, kaming section one ang mga t*nga. At the room, we girls, were waiting for the arrival of the boys. Pag dating nila, their faces were too dimmed. Bagsak na daw sila sa subject na hawak ng teacher na yun samin. NO! He can't do that. Bakit ang mga lalake lang? Sana sinama nya na kami, because we are ONE. Everytime na may dadaan na kaklase ko sa mga lower section rooms, they were like "Palakpakan ang Section one!" "Ang bobobo nyo!" "T*nga! Section one!" OKAY NASASAKTAN DIN KAME! Aminado naman kami diba. At aminin din nila sa sarili nilang tumawa sila. Bakit ganun? Kapag ang lower sections ang napupunta sa gantong sitwasyon, We never dared to teased or laughed about them. WE RESPECT THEM. Pero bakit pag kami yung nalalagay sa sitwasyong yun, sobra sila manlait. Bakit lumaki na agad ang ulo nila? Perpekto ba sila?! Hindi ba sila nagkakamali?! HINDI KAMI MANHID PARA DI KAMI MASAKTAN! We don't deserve them bullying us. We don't deserve that word. HINDI KAMI PINAG-ARAL NG MGA MAGULANG NAMIN PARA SABIHAN LANG KAMI NG IBA NG T*NGA. AT WALANG GINAWA ANG DIYOS NA BOBO. We are hurt! We are damn hurt! Can't they see na nagsa-suffer din kami? Section kasi namin yun e. Kasalanan ba namin kung mataas ang expectations nila samin?! Definitely, NO. Others were like saying, "Section one ga ang mga are?" and then they'll answer, "Hindi, section two ang mga yan." Values-oriented? Formation of values? Love of learning? Nasaan? Paano? Kung mismo yung teacher, dinadown na kami. We controlled our tears and we stand behind those challenges. I hate it because that's our class adviser's birthday. Thankfully, she had her leave. Ayaw naming ma-disappoint sya samin. But how? It hurts too much. It feels like we were being trampled. Next day, move on. Smile. It feels like the normal days again. Ddeng! Ddeng! Signal for the flag ceremony. Pumunta kami and we were surprised to see na binura ang linya namin. Walang binigay na space sa section one. I don't know if that was accidental or sinadya pero nasaktan na naman kami. Aren't they too much? Happy? What was the feeling of bullying someone? Feels good? I hope they felt happy and what they did to us. Dinaan na lang namin sa tawa. Be strong. First period, Values Education. Our teacher there was our adviser. She was still oblivious about what had happened yesterday. "Kumusta ang kahapon nyo?" masaya nyang sabi samin. We sighed in unison, "M'am masakit po." we joked. But we were really hurt. Nung una, pigil lang ang luha. Pero nung nagsalita na yung kaklase ko about dun, he asked tons of questions, at dinig na dinig namin ang panginginig sa boses nya. He was crying. And I didn't realize, my tears were passing through my cheeks. I was crying. We, section one, were all crying. Pare-parehas kasi kami ng nararamdaman, yung bigat na dala ko, ramdam din nila. WE ARE ONE kasi e. And I felt glad, felt relieved, felt secured, when our adviser said, "Nasasaktan ako sa twing nasasaktan kayo. Para akong ina ninyo. Kapag nasasaktan kayo, mas nasasaktan ako. Kapag may naninira sa inyo, nasasaktan ako. Bakit? Dahil mahal na mahal ko kayo." You know we were expecting na papagalitan nya kami regarding this issue but no, she didn't. Instead, she comforted us, she guided us, and she will protect us, like a mother always do. We shed our tears. Peace comes. Hindi dapat kami magalit or mainis sa teacher na namahiya samin kahapon. Why? Because kung hindi dahil sa ginawa nya, hindi kami magiging matibay, magiging malakas, magkakaisa, magiging proud.

I'm proud I belong to this section, Star Section. Everything happens for a reason. Everything has its purpose. Hindi kagandahang sanhi, isang napakagandang bunga. We learned. We grow. Sabi nga ng teacher namin sa Computer, "Prove them wrong. Wag kayong papa-apekto sa kung anumang sabihin sa inyo. Stand still. If you know what is right, do it." Kinalimutan na namin yung about dun. Past is past. Pero kung pilit iuungkat ng iba yun, nandun pa din yung kirot. But I'm very much really greatful for that teacher, my adviser and my Computer teacher, and my classmates.

If you don't get hurt, you'll never learn from your mistakes. Keep calm and stay strong.

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M O N G J I