Reunions among Cagayan De Oro City pupils bittersweet

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Thirteen-year old Rodel Gabato wasn’t able to come to school on Tuesday. He died when floodwaters swept away their house in Isla de Oro on Dec. 16. Hours before his death, he was partying with his grade six section classmates at the City Central School.

“We had our Christmas party on Dec. 16. It was his happiest day. He was laughing so much and was taking photos with his cell phone,” Marvin Carl Traje, a classmate, said of Rodel.

“It was like he was saying goodbye to us. We were so happy that it was impossible to forget that day. We were dancing and eating in our classroom and it was sad to know that Rodel died that night,” Lynel Aciarto, a classmate, said.

Rebecca Nietas, adviser of Cassiopeia section to which Gabato belonged, said that from a class of 50, only Rodel didn’t make it.

Jessica Lanozo, a classmate, said that with Rodel gone, “it won’t be the same again.”

Of the whole Cassiopeia class, Angelica Cago was the first to show up in Tuesday’s re-opening of classes. She did not have reason to be late as she had been staying in their classroom after their house was wiped out by the floodwater.

Angelica’s mother was rescued by fishermen on Camiguin Island, but her younger brother remains missing.

Angelica’s classmates, Marvin Carl and Learefaye Yamit had brought relief goods for her.

“We asked our parents to gather relief goods for Angelica and we brought these ourselves in our classroom where her family temporarily stays,” Learefaye said.

Porferio Padinit, City Central School principal, said they were still trying to verify the initial list of more than 80 students killed by the floods.

“Although some were already confirmed by their teachers, we are going on home visitation today to account the students,” Padinit said.

There were no formal classes on Tuesday. The students at the City Central School were asked to walk to the nearby Pelaez Sports Complex where two-hour “informal classes” will be held in the coming days, or until the evacuees move to resettlement areas.

Of the City Central School’s more than 5,000 students, only less than a thousand showed up on Tuesday.

“We will not be having formal lessons. The students will be debriefed by their teachers on what they went through. We will also have an accounting of our students, as to those who are present, absent and missing,” Padinit said.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro, who visited the schools on Monday, stressed the importance of the students being able to share their experiences with their teachers and with each another.

“Today and in the next few weeks, we want to hear your stories, your fears, your anxieties. Our teachers are here because they want to take care of the most vulnerable sectors of society, the children,” he said in speech before students and parents.

At the Macasandig Elementary and High School, only 249 out of its 1,668 students were able to make it to school.

Rosa Maria Magno, a Grade 5 teacher, said only four of her 48 students were present.

Magno said she was instructed by their principal to talk to her students about what they had and have been going through. She, however, is having a dilemma as she herself had survived the floods.

“I was also affected. Although my family is safe, I went through a horrible experience. I think I will be crying with my students when I get to talk to them,” she said.

After the two-hour informal classes, most of the teachers went around different evacuation centers, looking for their students.

At an evacuation camp, Merlyn Sambaan said her two children, both first graders, refused to show up at school as they were embarrassed to wear the tattered clothes that they got from the relief goods they received.

“But what can I do? The used clothes are the only ones that we have?” she said in Cebuano.

In Iligan City, Tuesday’s resumption of classes also turned into bittersweet reunions for those who survived. Students were seen crying and hugging as they saw classmates alive and after learning that some had died.

Luistro also visited Iligan City Tuesday morning.

Luistro earlier ordered the teachers to hold stress debriefing sessions, where schools were still being occupied by evacuees, in “learning tents.”

“Magandang-maganda ang ginawa ng ating mga teachers,” Luistro said of the sessions facilitated by the teachers.

“We do not hold regular textbook classes, instead we are using the actual experiences of the children,” he told the Inquirer in Iligan.

The evacuees will remain in the schools until such time shelters are ready for them, according to Luistro.

Randolph Tortola, city schools division superintendent of Iligan City, said they were still validating the student attendance in schools to “determine whether they survived or if others are still missing.”