A teacher from Hinaplanon National High School built a “community” in social media that aims to help struggling students.
Teacher Melanie Reyes Figueroa has been teaching for 27 years now. She already encountered several students struggling financially.
“’Bakit hindi ko sila matulungan? Bakit hindi ko ito ipost? Gamitin ko ang social media’ kasi alam ko ang social media talagang napakalakas na power niya. Magmula po nun, tuloy-tuloy na hanggang ngayon parang nakakataba po talaga ng puso na may matulungan po tayo kahit papano in my [own] way. Napakaliit na paraan lamang po pero pag nakikita mo silang masaya, nakikita mo silang grateful, at nagpapasalamat, tsaka nakikita mo ‘yung binibigay mo sa kanila, nakakatuwa po,” Teacher Melanie told The Philippine STAR.
“Kahit naman po maliit ‘yung sahod namin, kahit po ganito lang ‘yung sitwasyon namin bilang teacher, maswerte pa rin po kami kasi may trabaho kami, may sweldo kami, gusto ko rin po maranasan ng iba ‘yung hindi nila, since birth, hindi nila nararanasan,” she added.
During the height of the pandemic, Teacher Melanie provided free laptops to students who were conducting online classes.
Recently, Teacher Melanie extended help to a student upon learning that his mother died after giving birth to his twin siblings.
“Sinabi kasi sa ‘kin ng adviser na si Mike daw madalas mag-absent dahil napag-alaman niya, tinutulungan pala niya ‘yung tatay niya. Madalas daw din po, ‘yung pera niyang baon, hindi niya ginagastos kasi binibili niya ng sabong panlaba. Para makapag-uniform siya araw-araw. Nilalabhan niya kasi isang pair lang po ‘yung uniform niya,” she shared.
Teacher Melanie initially planned to surprise Mike with a brand-new uniform. But upon talking to him, she was touched and moved by the kid’s dedication to go to school despite financial problems.
“Minsan nga po si Mike, nag-aabsent kasi naglalako po siya ng mga gulay nila. Ang ginagawa ni Mike ngayon, para mas makapagbaon niya, nag-iigib daw po siya ng tubig,” Teacher Melanie said.
Teacher Melanie shared Mike’s story on social media hoping that kind-hearted individuals would donate for Mike’s family.
“Kakaiba po kasi ‘yung story ni Mike kaya nga po naipost ko ‘yung kanyang story kasi parang hindi ito kagaya ng iba, kasi ‘yung ‘yung natutulungan ko kumpleto po ‘yung pamilya, kumpleto ‘yung mga magulan,” she noted.
“Mga 15 minutes or 20 minutes, nakakakuha na agad ako ng mga pera. Pinapadala agad ng mga kaibigan ko sa Facebook,” she added.
Teacher Melanie was able to receive donations amounting to P14,500. She then went to a supermarket to buy grocery items for Mike’s family and baby essentials for the twin siblings of Mike.
“Natuwa po ‘yung tatay niya, nakita ko ‘yung sa mukha niya. Grateful po ‘yung tatay niya tsaka ‘yung kapatid niyang babae. Speechless siya parang hindi niya na-express talaga pero kitang-kita mo sa mukha niya ‘yung tuwa,” she recalled.
According to Teacher Melanie, she is willing to help students who are in need as long as she has the capacity to lend a hand.
“Meron at meron po talagang tao na tutulong, hindi pepwedeng wala kasi dito po sa mundo natin, parang marami pa po ang mga taong may malaking kalooban na handang-handa po magbigay ng sa makakaya nila. Just go on, magcontinue sa journey nila, ‘wag mawawalan ng pag-asa kasi balang araw talang mayroong taong ihahatid para sa kanila,” Teacher Melanie stressed when asked about her message to struggling students.
