Published by: Lloyd Agbulos
Date published: November 03, 2022
Time published: 11:40 AM
As floodwater drowns their feet; as the match’s flickering fire reaches the candle's wick, students' minds dwell on their assignments' due dates.
In the span of days, Tropical Storm Paeng's wrath has left thousands of Filipinos displaced while taking innocent lives. As Paeng’s aftermath ravages our lives and livelihoods, the worrisome it brings to the students is not to be taken lightly.
The wrath of Paeng unequivocally affects the folks in academia, yet the shouts and screams of students' grievances brought about by Paeng's onslaught reach some unshaken.
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The experience of John Carlo Stephen Guinto, a 16-year-old grade 11 student, offers a novel yet typical standpoint. Guinto is currently living in Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna. Similar to Guinto, many students have to endure long hours of not having electricity. “Nawalan kami ng kuryente nang isa’t kalahating araw. Nag-start siya mga mag 1 PM nang Oct. 2, at bumalik ito mga 5:30 nang Oct. 30,” Guinto notes.
Guinto is "the only male" in their household causing him to carry the burden of "physical work." Guinto has also mentioned that due to the rampaging winds, their roof almost got blown away.
Floodwaters also submerged houses. Such is the experience of 17-year-old grade 12 student Ben, not his real name, from San Pedro, Laguna, and 18-year-old grade 12 student Angeline, not her real name, from Landayan, San Pedro, Laguna.
Paeng has wreaked havoc on Ben and his family as it has triggered a subtle flood making them gather up their belongings to avoid them being destroyed by the floodwaters.
Inescapably, Paeng made Ben fearful and alarmed. Ben, just like Guinto, has also experienced power outages including water interruption. “Naapektuhan nito ang aming pamumuhay kasama na ang pagkasira ng aming ilang kagamitan sa tahanan,” Ben shares, referencing how Paeng adversely affected them.
Angeline, however, experienced a heavier slap of Paeng as floodwaters drowned their home, forcing them to evacuate.
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Guinto believes the nearing Quarterly Exam is something they need to be well-equipped for as it carries a significant percentage in the grading system.
Paeng's onslaught, however, became a hindrance to Guinto’s studies as the wrath of Paeng diverges his focus. "Hindi ako maka-focus, at ang material lang na meron ako dito ay yung mga modules," Guinto says. “I suppose, enough na siya, pero mayroong mga lessons na masyadong broad, resulting na hindi ko sya maintindihan.”
"Mayroon ring guro na hindi nagturo sa amin, kaya hinulaan nalang namin kung anong coverage ng subject nya, kaya kailangan ko pa maglaan ng maraming oras sa subject nya upang aralin ito," shares Guinto.
Such is similar to what Angeline has experienced. Due to them being in an evacuation area, the noises bar her from focusing even when reading.
Meanwhile, Ben feels resentment as floodwaters caused by Paeng’s onslaught destroyed some of his school supplies.
The anxiety and ordeal Paeng has brought to Ben largely affected his preparation for the nearing 1st Quarterly Exam. “Dahil na rin sa bagyo ay nagdulot ito ng anxiety at takot na syang nagpahirap para sa paparating na paghahanda sa unang markahang pagsusulit na malapit nang ganapin,” Ben mentions.
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Guinto requests for the deadlines to be extended for at least half a week, extending sympathy to other students who will have a hard time recovering and catching up to their academics, citing the disastrous casualties Paeng has brought, especially in Elvinda, wherein the floodwaters severed the area. Likewise, Angeline and Ben also request an extension on assignments’ due dates
“Kung maaari sana ay magbigay pa ng konting panahon para matapos ang mga gawaing naka-atas at magbigay nang konsiderasyon,” Angline requests.
Ben calls for an academic break to give way to the ordeal he and his fellow students have experienced during the storming aggression of Paeng. “Aking hinaing ay ang pagtawag ng academic break para sa akin at sa aking mga kapwa mag-aaral upang mabigay daan sa hirap at pasanin… naming pinaluhod sa kahirapan na dulot ng bagyong Paeng,” Ben pleads.
Ben also entreats the rescheduling of the nearing 1st Quarterly Exam, which will take place on November 8–11, since it is, as he characterizes it, a displeasure and burden for students. “Sana rin ay mailipat ng araw o ma-reschedule ang napipintong unang markahang pagsusulit dahil ito ay isang hinanakit na lalong nagpapahirap sa mga estudyante… Kung sakaling ang aking hiling ay marinig, ito ay isang malaking tulong at labis na ginhawa para sa mga kapwa ko mag-aaral at guro na naapektugan ng nangyaring bagyo,” Ben says.
“Ito ay makatutulong upang makabangon sa mga pahirap na ipinadanas ng nagdaan na delubyo at magkaroon ng sapat na panahon upang makapag-handa sa unang markahang pagsusulit,” he adds.
As the sunlight touches the ground signaling a new day, such a day may be dull and full of worries for some. Just like what Guinto, Ben, and Angeline plead for, extending the deadlines of homework will diminish the burden carried by the struggling students worsened by the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
Drowning students need some time to breathe and get back to their feet. As reflected in their words, rescheduling exams and extending deadlines will ease worries as the rattling slams of the roofs caused by wrathful winds continue.
Layout by: Mj Marmeto
Photo from:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/14/asia/typhoon-mangkhut-philippines-intl/index.html
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