From The Bottom of My Hypothalamus

Today, we had to leave our university and visit an elementary school just 15 minutes away. Ngayon ang simula ng literacy training service namin for our NSTP subject, kaya't kailangan naming magturo sa mga bata.

When we interviewed the class adviser of the second graders, she told us that most of the students still have a problem when it comes to both reading and writing, that's why our group wanted to focus more on reading and writing skills— including vocabulary skills.

As soon as we arrived inside the classroom, the students greeted us with so much warmth. They were endlessly waving their hands, flashing their sweet smiles at us.

A young girl, surprisingly, went up to me. She gave me a hug while looking up at me. Nakangiti lang siya sa akin, and I smiled back at her.

Napansin ko naman na nagtawanan ang mga kaklase niya, kaya't napatingin ako sa kanila.

"Sipsip!"

To say that I was shocked to hear that is an understatement. Almost everyone laughed at that. These are second graders, probably barely even 8-year olds, yet they already know what negative words mean.

"Mika, sipsip! Mika, sipsip!" They all chanted.

I glanced at my other group mates who were as shocked as I was. Thankfully, Trina managed to take control of the situation, napatahimik niya kaagad ang mga bata.

Habang mahinahong kinakausap ni Trina ang mga bata tungkol sa nangyari, at habang sinasabi niya na hindi maganda 'yung ginawa nila, patuloy pa ring nakayakap sa akin si Mika habang umiiyak.

I squatted down to level my body with hers.

"Huwag kang makikinig sa kanila, ha?" Pinunasan ko ang mga luha niya.

"Sorry po..." She sobbed.

"Ayos lang, okay? Ayos lang kay Ate. Pwede mong yakapin lagi si Ate. Basta magiging mabait ka lang palagi, ha?"

Pinunasan ko ulit ang luha niya, and her lips started to form a small smile.

"Salamat po, Ate."

Mika went back to her seat, and not long after, sinimulan na rin namin ang unang session namin para sa LTS.

Fortunately, and surprisingly, it went smoothly. The students were very active and participative. Lahat ng tanong namin ay nasasagot nila. Kapag may pinapabasa kami ay binabasa rin nila nang ayos.

We also gave them practice exercises para mas mahasa nila ang kanilang pagsusulat at pagbababasa. Some of them are still struggling, pero simula pa lang naman ito at marami pang ibang sessions na aming pagdadaanan.

After the first session, we bid our farewell to the students. Malungkot sila na aalis na kami, at kapansin-pansin ang labis na kalungkutan ni Mika.

Babalik kami.

"I'll look for their adviser and talk to her. Who wants to come?" Tanong ni Trina sa amin.

Without hesitations, I volunteered and raised my hand.

"Okay! Tara."

I followed Trina's lead, and eventually, nahanap na rin namin ang adviser ng aming handle kanina. Papunta na sana ang guro sa classroom pero bigla naman kaming dumating.

After learning that we want to talk to her, niyaya niya kami sa faculty room nila at pinaupo kami sa harapan niya.

"Should I start? Or gusto mo ikaw?" Trina asked, almost whispering.

I mouthed "ako na" to her, at tumango naman siya sa akin.

I cleared my throat, "Ma'am De Castro," tawag ko. "May nangyari lang po kanina." I started off.