To learn and thrive

Gianna Isabella Villavicencio 

As an old proverb states, it takes a village to raise a child. After my experience with Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation, Inc., I think I got to better understand what that saying means. For a child to grow into a responsible and productive adult, many factors are involved. But among these, proper schooling can be seen as one of the most relevant.

I started my time with ERDA on May 12, 2014. The first person I met from there was Joana Ramos, a technical assistant for the non-government organization (NGO). She gave me an overview of ERDA and its programs. After going through some brochures and a video, I learned about the NGO’s goals and achievements so far.

Fr. Pierre Tritz, ERDA’s founder, was also present on my first day of work. As he was soft-spoken and already hard of hearing, I had to adjust to the situation when I interviewed him. It’s no secret that talking to the elderly often demands patience. My people skills were then tested, and in the end I was able to get some decent quotes. Despite the communication barriers, I’m glad to have met Fr. Tritz, as I believe that his cause is one of huge worth. Moreover, it was nice to hear about his affection for our country. He even sang Lupang Hinirang for me! If a foreigner can display so much love for the Philippines, then what excuse do locals have to not be the same?

The next morning, I visited ERDA SaBaNa (Sanayan ng mga Batang Nanambakan), one of the NGO’s centers in Tondo, Manila. Though the place looked quite simple, I made my way around its rooms with childlike wonder and soon sat down to meet student beneficiaries and parents. I heard many stories about their hardships and fears, and was amused by their willingness to share. At first, I was actually worried that they’d be hesitant, but that was not the case.

Then, Edlyn Burgonio, ERDA Communication and Social Media Officer, ordered lunch for the interviewees and us. We had home-cooked food that was tightly packed in plastic bags and from a karinderya (food stall by the street). Everyone helped one another as chairs were arranged in a corner of the building’s first floor, which was an activity room for the ERDA kids’ parent volunteers, known as parent-leaders. Plastic utensils, cups, and plates were passed from left to right, along with jokes and thoughts about current events.

I’m thankful that the people of SaBaNa who welcomed me into their little community. I did not feel out of place at all, even though most of the interviewees were middle-aged mothers. As I ate beside Nanay Gloria Reyta, one of the parent-leaders, we exchanged tales about our respective provinces. Afterwards, I went with her to smoothen out strips of muslin cloth by hand, as these were to be sewn into beach bags as their handles. Nobody asked me to do it but I wanted to try the kind of daily work Nanay Gloria does. While this was going on, I remembered that in some instances, even menial tasks are vital to the big picture.

My scheduled trips for the following day were to ERDA TuKLASan (Tuklas, Kalinga, Laruan, Aralan, at Sanayan) Center in San Juan, and to the Quezon City home of Allan* – a beneficiary from BK-RESToRe (Buhay Kalikasan – Revitalizing and Expanding Services Towards Rehabilitation and Reintegration), ERDA’s other building in Tondo. Both TuKLASan and BK-RESToRe are temporary homes for former street children and children in conflict with the law, respectively. It was upsetting to know that some kids face such awful situations at an early point in life. Fortunately, ERDA can offer them support and guidance.

Out of all the sites I went to, TuKLASan was my favorite. I was introduced to 11 boys from ages 8-23. Each seemed kind and accommodating. In their modest shelter, I observed that they were content with what they had.

One boy named Chris* acted shy when I arrived, but when I began to take photos of the area, he would cheerfully pose and ask me to keep shooting. By the time I had to leave, he followed the car up to the gate as he waved goodbye and said to take care. I realized that common interests like being in front of the camera make for an effective icebreaker. 

There, another boy I met was Jayson*, a 23-year-old who will soon graduate with a degree in education from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. After being abandoned by his mother and abused by his stepmother, Jayson cut ties from home. He is only almost as old as me, but has already gone through immense pain and suffering. But now, he lives in a safe place with loving people. Hopefully, the issues with biological family can be sorted out and someday he can reunite with them. For now, I’m happy that in spite of his troubles, Jayson has people to turn to. I’m also excited for what will become of him after graduation.

Jess*, meanwhile, used to be a drug abuser. Eventually, his case was sorted out and through ERDA he got to take vocational courses in cooking and baking. He is now a service crew member at a Chowking branch, and while he isn’t a cook or baker, at least he has some valuable skills to show.

I also went to BK-Restore for my fourth day with ERDA, and the NGO’s preschool center in Bagong Silang, Caloocan for the last day. I listened to more people talk about how their lives were changed due to what Fr. Tritz started. The resounding thought was that education has powerful effects on those who strive for it. With knowledge the poor can become richer, if not financially, then in self-confidence and dignity.

The entire week was a worthwhile journey. Not only did I pick up eye-opening stories, but I also learned more about myself as I dealt with others. All in all, I felt the ERDA coordinators were able to brief and debrief me well enough about the site visits. Like everyone else I met, they too were friendly and easy to talk to. Hence, being a volunteer with their NGO is something I’ll never forget and given the chance, I would love to do it again. As a final note, I’m confident that with groups like ERDA and their supporters, more kids can have that so-called village to bring them to better days ahead.

*These are not their actual names to protect their real identities and genuine rights.

Gianna Isabella Villavicencio graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Ateneo de Manila University. She’s fond of reading, writing, travelling, mountain climbing, surfing, attending events and meeting new people.