The Christmas Box Project
As early as September, Christmas is already in the air here in the Philippines. Christmas is the longest season that we Filipinos are celebrating. And in the spirit of this season, the heart of giving is always overwhelming.

This coming Christmas, there may be a lot of presents with your name on them under the Christmas tree, but there are many kids around who have never received gifts because they are victims of poverty, disease, and natural disasters. Why don’t you send some Christmas cheer to some of these kids in need this holiday season by sending them a box full of gifts? Find out what the Christmas Box Project is all about!

The Christmas Box Project packs some Christmas spirit into boxes for kids in Mindanao. Boxes are filled with goodies like toys, games, books, stationery and clothes, and then sent to poor but deserving children in places such as South Cotabato and Lake Sebu.

Batang Bayani wants to start this revolution of giving by sending 300 boxes of gifts or more to be filled and delivered to the kids in Mindanao this Christmas! But this is only possible with your kind heart to share and be part of this fun cause. How to help and be part of this Christmas Box Project? Find it here at Christmas Box Project – A Little Box Goes a Long Way.

Love of own native land

On August 16, 2011, Apl.de.Ap went back to the Philippines to inaugurate his Apl.de.Ap Music Library and Studio in his alma mater Holy Angel University in Angeles City.  It contains a state-of-the-art music studio, said to be first in the Philippines, and various music CDs all over the world shipped directly from US.  He also extends help on his own barangay, Sapang Bato, Angeles City, by opening his first “computer laboratory program” at the Sapang Bato National High School.  All of these are manifestations of his gratitude to the land where he once belonged.  By improving the lives and contributing something for his kabalens, he can also shows his own “taya para sa bayan” which reflects his love for the Philippines.  (He is also looking forward to replicate this program in other provinces in the Philippines soon).

This is a great example of contributing for the development of ones’ own native land.  Looking back from where you came from, knowing the colorful culture and heartwarming history of your province, speaking your own mother-tongue (I’m referring to 170 languages and dialects in the Philippines), and boosting the morale of your fellow kabalens, kabagis, or kabanwa, that’s the essence of building our nation together.

To quote what the National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera said during his acceptance speech at the Juan D. Nepomuceno Cultural Awards of our institution Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University last Match 8, 2011:

“We give people wings and they fly away, never to return.  Roots bind us so that no matter where and how far you fly, roots will always bring us back to the land of our birth, our true homeland…”

This was an expression of a Kapampangan who feels incomplete as a Filipino if he doesn’t look back from where he was born, raised, hailed, and made who he is.

The problem of our country is not only concentrated in Manila but in our own native lands.  Heroism should start all over the country by campaigning it for a better Philippines.  This is how I’ll start my commendation to a unique demonstration of heroism manifested not by an Apl.de.Ap but by an Aethen “Nonito” Agana (hereon refer as Kuya Aethen hahahaha!  Historiographical research ba ito hahaha!) of Mindanao – his Batang Bayani Birthday Project.

A nagging virus

One day (maybe that was early part of July 2011), while I’m having my regular checking of my Facebook account, I’ve saw a link posted by my friend Kuya Aethen about this strange “Batang Bayani” site and Facebook Fan Page.  I didn’t pay much attention on it because I thought it was just like the other sites fostering nation-building (and there are lots of them now on the net).  (Note: This doesn’t mean I hate this kind of sites hehehehe.)

Days passed, Batang Bayani’s link continuously appearing on Facebook.  Kuya Aethen was, of course, the mastermind of this link as he posted it in various Facebook Fan Pages, including the “Rizal 150” and “Rizal 150 to 150” which I am administering.  Again, I didn’t bother to click on the link.

Then suddenly some of my Facebook friends (mostly from The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community or TOSPAC which I and Kuya Aethen are both alumni) were already receiving links to this Batang Bayani and of course I received status updates from them.  This was followed by several photos of some celebrities having placards with them which read “I support Batang Bayani.”

Curiosity dragged me (on July 11) to click on this nagging link appearing on my friends’ updates posted virally by the “virus carrier” Kuya Aethen.

“What is this link for?”  “What is Batang Bayani?”  “How is this?”  These were some of the questions played on my mind.

Speechless: this how I described my feeling when I followed the link.  Although it’s not a new kind of fostering volunteerism and care giving to a community, it’s still a clever “birthday” party!  He chooses to look back where he came and is trying to contribute change and to boost morale to his young kababayans in Mindanao.  This project quite stirred me because among the institutions in our society, he chooses to bring smile to school children in various government schools.  (I preferred to use “government schools” than “public schools” because I’m a little bit sensitive on the latter term.  But still I am a proud product of public schooling from pre-elementary, elementary, secondary, and undergraduate and now continuing my Masters at the University of the Philippines Diliman [yabbaaaannnggg!].  In addition to this, I am an educator and working in an academic research.)

Sali ako!

The said project indeed moved me and enticed me to support him.  So, I immediately post a comment on the Batang Bayani Facebok Fan Page commending Kuya Aethen, a. k. a. “Batang Bayani,” for his “taya para sa bayan.”  Then afterwards, I messaged him that I will contribute on his birthday party on August 8.

I choose to donate some notebooks and pencils because these were what I can afford.  Well, as a Kapampangan who always exaggerate and shows flamboyance (which leads to braggartism hahaha), I felt diffident for I can only contribute 30 notebooks and 3 boxes of Mongol pencils.  And to make it more special (again, kayabangan na naman ‘to hahahah), I bought what is now rare edition of Filipino-inspired pop culture signature notebooks (i. e. an Igorot from Ifugao riding a big bike, a colorful “konyo” jeepney, the logo of Yahoo! as Tahoo!) exclusively distributed by Pandayan Bookshop.  My agenda here is to inculcate sense of nationhood to Mindanao students by showing them ideas about simple symbols of being a citizen of one proud nation: like introducing to them how Igorots are and the symbols of our national characters such as taho, balot, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, jeepney, and halu-halo.  Although my contribution will be just a small part to the towering contribution sent to him.

Maiinggit sa isang Bayani

Even though I first questioned the credibility of Kuya Aethen on using “Batang Bayani” to refer for himself, uso naman ang self declaration ngayon hahahaha!  Well, Kuya Aethen is doing a lot of things for his community – whether he is in Manila or in his home Mindanao, and that makes him a simple “bayani” in his capacity and resources.  He has already established networks and linkages from various individuals and institutions that he can deal with or ask support for his humble and great aspirations.  And I am pretty much sure that he can sustain this remarkable project he initiated.

Maybe I feel a little bit envious of him because he can do such clever nationalistic project for Mindanao.  But how can I spearhead such program here in Pampanga or in Bulacan or Camarines Sur (where my roots are) if I don’t have that fervor and dedication like Kuya Aethen.  So I asked Kuya Aethen that through him, I can channel my long desire dream to help Mindanao, too, and to share what I have to share for my kababayan.  I am confident that Kuya Aethen will do this project every year during his birthday.  (Sana naman walang natira at wala kang hinord [hoarded] hahahah! Ang sama kong tao hihihihi.)

A bayani in each and every one of us

Rizal himself saw a better future of our country by having a well educated people who will constitute and run the nation.  When that time comes, we are worthy for independence.  This thought was actually based on Epictetus’ philosophy that “only the educated are free…”  And to those who want to help our country with their own ways, let this be your guide: “Filipinos could serve the country more if they were in the Philippines.  To serve our country, there is nothing like staying in it.”  (An excerpt in his letter to Jose Ma. Basa, January 1889.)

To those who are still confuse on what and how to be patriotic (makabayan) and nationalistic (makabansa), let’s ask our history by using the teachings of Katipunan: he who loves his countrymen and God above all is the same thing as loving ones native land (bayan).  Bayan and bansa became synonymous because of our struggle toward nationhood.  And those who are ready to sacrifice part of their life are called bayani – a concept which originally meant “the defenders of bayan,” an honorific title only given to those who bravely defended and ready to defend for the cause of their bayan.  We are already done in the phase when Inang Bayan was in danger and called her “anak ng bayan” to become “bayani.”  We are on the phase which Inang Bayan calling all her “anak ng bayan” to unleash the “bayani” in them – to act as one nation, “to love our nation and our conscience dictates that we do everything that our duty calls for,” quoting again Rizal.

Using the words of Ate Pamela Asis-Layugan, the founding and current chair of TOSPAC “there’s always a hero in each and every one of us…”  To quote the great educator and historian Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz “Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation…”  And most of all, from Batang Bayani himself I quote “Note every one of us is given the chance to die as a hero, but everyday, we are given the opportunity to live as a hero…”

Well, enough for these obsequious, flattering words (ahahahaha).  Nevertheless, I am proud of being a friend of such Aethen Agana.  Sana mayaman lang tayo para magawa natin ang lahat ng gusto nating ibahagi sa bayan… but if we could already do something right now, let’s make it possible.

I am ending this composition by quoting Rizal’s words in his letter to Marcelo H. del Pilar in 1889: I shall not stop working for my country.

by:

IAN CHRISTOPHER BERMUDO ALFONSO
Resident Researcher, History and Culture
The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies

His freshman year at university was the turning point in his life. “On my freshman year, I thought to start volunteering to teach young students.” This experience would eventually prompt him to start his own organization, aimed at catering to the needs of underprivileged public high school students in South Cotabato, by providing them with access to a college education. Along with four co-volunteer university friends, they set up the T’nalak Youth Group (Tinalak) in 2004. That same year, Pathways to Higher Education, a program of the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) also aimed at providing opportunities to public high school students, commissioned their group to implement its social involvement program. Batang Bayani says excitedly, “Since 2004, Tinalak has bridged more than 300 public high school students to college. 74% of them are recipients of public and private scholarship grants. We are on our way to making quality higher education accessible to underprivileged high school students.”

Now a marketing assistant for PR and Youth of Bayan-Anihan Foundation Incorporated, Batang Bayani still finds time to continue the work of Tinalak. He says, “It’s my way of expressing my gratitude to Him (God). I believe we are given the chance to enjoy a college education, and it’s imperative that we empower others with what we have learned.” Like any other person, Batang Bayani is not exempt from experiencing hardships. “I face personal financial challenges, but I don’t allow that to weaken my resolve. I love what I do, helping others by volunteering. I have learned to ignore difficulties when I see someone given hope to pursue his or her dream.”

With much wisdom, and an assurance in the God he serves, Batang Bayani says, “Happiness is not in material things. It is seeing the students I’ve helped smile and be joyful because they’ve been given the chance to fulfill their dreams. It is also in helping them that I can relay my own life and struggles to them. We are here to care and love others just as Jesus cares and loves for each one of us.” True service and volunteerism are at the forefront of Batang Bayani’s heart, and beyond doubt, there is nothing ‘average’ or ‘ordinary’ about that.

The butterfly effect states that even a small act, such as the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings, can bring about a tornado somewhere in the world. In the same way then, a random act of kindness can make an impact in the lives of many people.

This is the guiding adage of Mark Aethen Agana, co-founding member of the T’nalak Youth Group (TYG) – an organization composed of college students from the Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) in South Cotabato. TYG has devoted itself to help graduating students from public schools make it to college through a specialized tutorial program run by students of NDMU themselves.

While most young people would usually spend their Saturdays hanging out in the mall or spending time with family and friends Mark chose to dedicate his weekends volunteering as a tutor for the Pathways to Higher Education program (PHE), where he taught English, Science, and Mathematics. Due to his involvement in Pathways, he was chosen to represent the school in the Pathways Youth Conference (PYC), a national congress of student leaders aimed to inspire them to identify problems that affect the youth in their area and urged them to think of concrete ways to address these.

He started volunteering for the Pathways initiative in South Cotabato in 2004, on his freshman year at college, where he was a scholar majoring in Computer Science. As he continued to teach young students and the more he got involved, he realized that he was privileged to be enjoying a college scholarship at a very good university no less, but now, he wanted to share the blessing of quality college education with other talented students like himself.

The seeds planted in him at the PYC encouraged him to do more for South Cotabato. Because of this, he, along with four other volunteers also from NDMU started the T’nalak Youth Group. Their aim was to help academically gifted but economically distressed youth of the country access quality college education in order for them to have better futures.

“We have been given the chance to enjoy a good college education and it is imperative that we use what we have learned to empower others,” Mark says. “It is one way of giving thanks to Him who has blessed us,” he adds.

To raise funds for the young organization, the group would do all sorts of activities, such as sponsor marriage booths for couples, haranas (or serenades) and all sorts of gimmicks hoping to raise funds from their classmates and school mates. The main Pathways office based in Ateneo de Manila also offered a small grants competition to young leaders who would be able to craft creative projects addressing the education challenges in their respective provinces. TYG was one of only 13 youth groups that was awarded a grant that proviced the seed money that enabled Mark and the other TYG volunteers to give tutorials to graduating public high school students in Marbel and nearby areas like Polomok, Sto. Niño, Banga, and Surallah in South Cotabato. Together, they prepared public school graduating students for college entrance exams, so that they can get a better chance for having scholarships.

Like all TYG volunteers, Mark does not receive financial remuneration for his services. Instead, he finds joy in seeing his students smile just because they were able to understand a simple math problem. “Or, hear them say ‘thank you’ for teaching them how to click a mouse,” he says. These are what he considers as the ultimate reward for volunteering. Aside from that, the organization has also been an excellent vehicle for him to make friends with people inside the school as well as outside. His work in TYG has taught him how to present and work with their barangays, local Department of Education and the local provincial government. Together, they were able to synergize efforts to create a bigger and more effective impact on their young wards. All these further honed his interpersonal as well as time management skills, preparing him for the future once he steps out of the university walls..

Four years since its inception, TYG has already helped almost 300 students get accepted into college, most of the participants have also been awarded scholarships too!). TYG continues to conduct tutorials in English, Science and Mathematics as well as a Computer Literacy Program every Saturday within the school year. Once a month, TYG also conducts Self-Enhancement Workshops that develop confidence and presentation skills of the senior high school students from Polomok, Sto. Niño, Banga, and Surallah in South Cotabato.

It has been two years since Mark graduated from NDMU and TYG. However, Mark remains committed to TYG and its programs despite the demands of his post-graduate studies and other involvements.

Recently, Mark as well as the group he helped establish – T’nalak Youth Group was featured in a documentary/tribute in EB Heroes, a segment in GMA-7’s show, Eat Bulaga, where ordinary individuals are recognized for their extraordinary deeds. Eat Bulaga believes that by showing the actions of ordinary heroes, they hope to influence positively the lives on millions of viewers.

For Mark, the greatest blessing given to him because of TYG is the chance to influence other people. John Yrick Era, a TYG volunteer attests to this. “Without Kuya Mark and all of the other volunteers of the program, I might not overcome the anxieties of going to college. It made me more confident and strong, so that I could face the academic difficulties and worries in college.”

John Yrick also happens to be one of the very first participants of TYG who has since moved on to take up Accounting at NDMU. He is already in his senior year, consistently landing on the dean’s list, while actively participating in extra-curricular activities. While he used to be the “tutee”, he has now become the tutor, assuming the position of “Math Department Chairperson” in TYG. He is also active leader in the student council. While Mark has served as inspiration to John Yrick, he too is now a role model to more talented TYG public school students to take the same path he and Mark have taken.

By empowering others, and by encouraging more people to continue the legacy, Mark has proven that indeed, simple acts can create huge and lasting positive change. It is not a wonder why this young man was chosen as an EB Hero. “Not every one of us is given the chance to die as a hero, but everyday, we are given the opportunity to live as a hero.”

Batang Bayani hopes to help more kids in Mindanao by reaching out to them through these simple things that will make them smile and happy.

]]> http://batangbayani.com/note/batang-bayani-donated-books-and-school-supplies-to-tnalak-youth-group/feed/ 0 http://batangbayani.com/video/eb-hero-vide/ http://batangbayani.com/video/eb-hero-vide/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:37:54 +0000 Batang Bayani http://batangbayani.com/?post_type=video&p=164 EB Heroes
Mark Agana
Community volunteer tutor
November 14, 2009

Source: http://www.eatbulaga.tv/ebheroes/ebheroes-111409-high.htm