Grade school student Aiden Paulo Brutas of Malabon City in Metro Manila offered his unused school supplies to needy schoolmates just before the Philippine education sector went back to school early this week.
The Grade 3 student from Concepcion Elementary School sent a note to his former kindergarten teacher, Joan Pascual, expressing his desire to contribute his accumulated unused notebooks, writing pads, and pens to the school donation drive so that other students can use them.
The grade school student wrote in the letter dated August 17, 2022: “To Mam Joan, Si Aiden po ito bigay ko po ito kasi po ‘di ko po na magagamit. Para po magamit po ng iba. Salamat po. Love Aiden Paulo F. Brutas.”
(To Mam Joan, this is Aiden. I am giving these away because I can no longer use them. I hope they can be used by others. Thank you. Love Aiden Paulo F. Brutas)
In an interview with Good News Pilipinas, Teacher Joan Pascual shared that as part of the Brigada Eskwela pre-school opening preparations, she had asked for parents to donate old school uniforms that no longer fit their children. She intended to give the donated clothes to students still without uniforms. The teacher said this project inspired Brutas to donate his unused school supplies.
Teacher Joan said she was delighted upon receiving the letter from Aiden. “Sobrang saya ko po after ko po mabasa yung letter dahil sa simpleng paraan ay ipinakita po ni Aiden ang pagmamalasakit sa kapwa nya bata (I was so happy after reading the letter. Aiden has shown concern for his fellow students in such a simple way),” the kindergarten teacher said.
Pascual also expressed satisfaction with the kind student. “Masarap sa pakiramdam po na bilang guro ni Aiden sa kinder ay natanim sa puso nya ang mga payo ko sa kanya (I feel good as Aiden’s former kindergarten teacher, that my advice to him remained instilled in his heart),” Pascual told this writer.
“Ipinapakita po nito [ni aiden] na ang pagtulong sa kapwa ay walang pinipiling edad o estado sa buhay (Aiden has shown that helping others is not limited by age or status in life),” Teacher Joan said.
The kindergarten teacher looks at Aiden as an inspiring person. “Si Aiden po ay magiging inspirasyon hindi lang ng kapwa niya bata kundi maging sa mga nasa hustong gulang na. Nagkakaroon ng malalim na pang unawa ang mga tao na ang pagtulong ay walang katumbas na halaga. Ang mahalaga ay bukal sa kalooban ang pagbibigay.”
(Aiden will be an inspiration not only to his fellow children but also to adults. People develop a deep understanding that helping others is priceless. What is important is that giving comes from free will.)
“Bilang guro, mas naramdaman ko ang kahalagahan ng papel ginagampanan namin bilang pangalawang magulang (As a teacher, I feel more about the importance of the role we play as second parents of the student.)”
Teacher Joan advised all her fellow teachers to set a good example for their students. “Let us demonstrate that we, as teachers, are willing to support and help in any way we can.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, Filipino children sent handcrafted get-well greeting cards to patients, while students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) launched the Streets to Schools donation drive for gadgets to help students in the distance learning mode.
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