Fall For Yuu

Author's Note

Hello, dearest readers! Salamat at nakaabot ka sa parteng ito so I assume na nabasa mo na ang buong nobela. This novel is dear to me since it centers in a life of sweet lady who loves too much and a teacher who wants to be loved. I am a person who loves too much and I also want to be loved, charot!

Although medyo natagalan, masasabi kong naging maayos ang pagsusulat ko ng kwentong ito dahil sa maraming dahilan. Una, halos lahat ng ginamit kong pangalan ay pangalan ng mga tao na malalapit sa akin sa tunay na buhay. Ikalawa, I, too, is a teacher although hindi ako licensed. I took Elementary Education Major in Pre-Elementary when I was in college pero later on, I realized na hindi para sa akin ang full-time teaching dahil as much as I like kids, hindi ko kaya ang pressure ng pagtuturo lalo na sa public schools. In the end at ang ikatlong dahilan, I choose to work in the sponsorship program of our church that assists special children in their education and medical needs and my work is almost the same as being a social worker. I do counselling, listen to the children as well as their parents and guardians at isa akong takbuhan ng bayan kapag may problema ang mga batang ito, almost the same sa trabaho ng ate ni Dawn na si Danica. Since I work with special children, I have to learn sign language too at kung itatanong mo kung marunong ako, well, yes. I can talk and understand deaf people using my hands!

Ikaapat na dahilan (mga one hundred reasons ‘to, lol!), I have similar experiences with the main characters especially Yuu. Sa kanya ako sobrang nakaka-relate. I, also, am a middle child at masasabi kong hindi ako ang madalas na priority ng mga magulang ko and I also struggle to get their attention before until such time that I gave up. Alam kong mahal nila ako pero nakita ko kung paano nila mas paboran ang kuya ko at ang over attentiveness na pinapakita nila sa mga mas nakababata. I share the same feeling with my younger sister na sumunod sa akin sa bilang who, by the way, is a licensed teacher. Kaming dalawa ang masasabing middle children at kinulang sa pag-aalaga pero lumaking matatatag dahil wala kaming choice kundi ilaban ang mga sarili namin. Remember Yuu’s experience during his high school graduation? It’s actually my experience, too with some twist. I went to my graduation alone, took a photograph alone and bought a corsage and put it on my toga alone. Dumating ang mama ko in the middle of the rite but she went home immediately dahil may kailangan pa siyang gawin. ‘Di rin naka-attend ang papa ko dahil meron siyang trabaho and not-so-fun fact: never um-attend ang papa namin ng kahit na ano’ng graduation rite ng lahat ng mga anak niya dahil busy siya sa trabaho and according to him, masaya na siya kahit wala siya roon dahil alam niyang grumadweyt kami. So in the end, I went home alone after returning my toga and dahil mahirap kami, walang handaang naganap. I thought nakalimutan ko na ang part na iyon ng buhay ko pero nang isinusulat ko ang narration ni Yuu ay naiyak ako dahil kahit pala matagal na ‘yon ay hindi pa rin pala masasabing naghilom na ang mga sugat.

Ikalimang dahilan at ang panghuli (probably). I wrote this as a warning and advice to people. Nag-survive si Yuu dahil sa tulong ng teacher niya pero hindi lahat ay may ganoong karanasan. As a parent or future parent, nasa mga kamay mo ang kinabukasan ng anak mo. Sinasabi nila na ang mga kabataang ang pag-asa ng bayan but I beg to disagree. Nasa kamay ng mga magulang at guro ang pag-asa ng bayan dahil sila, tayong mga adults ang lumilinang sa susunod na henerasyon at kapag pumalpak o nabigo tayo na ituro sa mga bata ang mga kailangan nilang matutunan sa buhay, malaki ang posibilidad na malihis sila ng landas. At huwag iasa sa teacher ang lahat ng dapat matutunan ng mga bata dahil ang magulang ang unang mga guro nila.
Panglima at panghuli (last na talaga ‘to), each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. May tinatawag tayong multiple intelligence so kung hindi magaling academically ang bata, hindi ibig sabihin ay bobo na siya. Posible na sa ibang field siya mag-excel. I encountered many children who are weak in language but strong in mathematics. I also met children who are academically poor but excels in arts and are really creative. Hindi rin lahat ng bata ay pareho ng growth. May ibang late bloomer just like the case of my elementary classmate na mahina sa klase pero nang mag-high school ay nagulat ako dahil ang galing niya pala sa Math! Even special children have their own intellect and skills na hindi kaya ng iba. My brother is a person with autism and his memory is sharp. He can remember old songs, kailan iyon na-release and kung sino ang nag-revive o kung sino ang original singer. In short, let the child grow in his or her own pace and support his or her passion.

I remember one of my professors said when I was in college. He told us that teaching is both profession and vocation. I salute all the teachers who is doing their best in their chosen field and who give all their heart in teaching kahit maliit ang mga sweldo nila. You have my respect. At para sa mga teacher ko noon, heto na po ako, hindi gaanong successful pero hindi rin naman napariwara (ahahahaha!). Hindi po kayo nag-aksaya ng panahon sa pagturo sa akin noon dahil naging matino po ako (ng slight, lol). Salamat sa inspirasyon. Mabuhay po kayo.


Fearfully and wonderfully made,
Fleur de Liz