Kahimtang Series

S T A R T

FILIPINO STUDENTS AMIDST ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING

The Kahimtang Series:

About the Author

Message

How to Improve Your Wellbeing Amidst Pandemic

Sources

CNN Philippines (News Video)

Factors that Affect Students' Wellbeing

K-Drama

Semento

Susubok Hindi Susuko

Magtanim ay 'Di Biro

Bayaning Paratokdo

MaguLang

Ang Hirap Maging Mahirap

Aspiring Guro ng Bayan

Disclaimer

Question to Ponder

The Kahimtang Series

This project is a collection of kahimtang stories, a Cebuano word that signifies "state of condition". Through the narratives of various students everywhere in the Philippines, we will become more acquainted with their wellbeing amidst the online distance learning brought by the pandemic. Thus, wellbeing is fundamental to the general health of an individual, empowering them to effectively overcome difficulties and accomplish what they truly desire. That is why there is a need to have solutions to address this significant problem, no one should be left behind, together we heal and stand as one.

THROUGH FACEBOOK DIGITAL TAYO

The Kahimtang Series

Ngunit ano nga ba ang kalagayan ng mga Pilipinong mag-aaral sa gitna ng pandemya?

But what exactly is the state of the Filipino students amidst the pandemic?

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Kahimtang Series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. The analysis is not reflective of the position of any entity other than the author - and, since we are critically-thinking human beings, these views are always subject to change, revision, and rethinking at any time. The primary purpose of this project series is to educate and inform about the wellbeing of Filipino students during the new normal education. This project series does not constitute educational or other professional advice or services. The author and other involved parties are not held responsible for the misuse, recycled, and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this project series by others.

DISCLAIMER

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Ril is an aspiring future educator. As a freshie, he encountered a lot of culture shocks and adjustments in his first few weeks at the university. Thus, the most challenging problem for him is a convenient learning environment and enough focus to submit his outputs on time – resulting in a taxing semester.

“Nakakastress kasi wala kaming conducive study place para sa online distance learning, kaya isa mga dahilan ‘yon kung bakit hindi ako makapagfocus sa pag-aaral.”

19 yrs. old

I - Bachelor of Elementary Education

Quezon City, Metro Manila

"Ril" from University of the Philippines – Diliman

“Hindi po naging madali ang pag-aadjust sa pandemic, lalo na po kapag walang sapat na budget pang-load at mabagal na data/internet connection para sa online classes.”

The student utterly stated that instead of availing data connection, she should simply buy it for food or any other necessities that are needed by her family.

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Ann is currently enrolled in a public high school in Makati. As everyone embarked on the new normal education in the Philippines, her family is struggling in financing her internet connection fee for her online classes.

16 yrs. old

Grade 11 (Senior High School)

Makati City, Metro Manila

"Ann" from Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School

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12 years old

Sam is a graduating student in a public elementary school in Pasig. In cooperation with DepEd Pasig and the Local Government Unit of Pasig, they have provided educational devices for students all over the city to access their modules with video lessons. However, just like Sam, many students are still struggling in understanding their lectures in this kind of setup.

“Naalala ko po iniyakan ko po yung module ko kasi hindi ko po alam gagawin, nagpatulong po ako kay Mama kaso hindi niya rin daw po alam.”

Grade 6 (Elementary)

Pasig City, Metro Manila

"Sam" from Kalawaan Elementary School

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"Paghuna ko (Akala ko) mahirap ang mag-aral sa ganitong panahon, kahit dakol (marami) ang gawain talagang maboot (mabait) ang aming mga paratokdo (guro) dahil tinutulungan talaga nila kami.”

The student still believes that his teachers are doing their best to reach out to each student in town.

Leo is one of the optimistic students in Homapon High School in Legazpi City, Albay. He always chooses to see the brighter side of every situation, despite the shortcomings of his family due to the pandemic.

14 yrs. old

Grade 8 (Junior High School)

Legazpi City, Albay

"Leo" from Homapon High School

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Pat is currently a junior high school student in Leyte National High School. As a student, she admits that the new normal education is quite taxing. Thus, she shared that one of her classmates is currently working in the farm fields just to afford a gadget in their online classes through installment mode due to the enormous amount of price of the phone.

“Tinuod gyud ba (Sa totoo lang), kapoy pud kaayo ang ganitong sitwasyon (nakakapagod talaga ang ganitong sitwasyon) naa pa jud akong kaklase (mayroon pa nga akong kaklase) na nagtatrabaho sa sakahan para lang may pambili kana (‘yun) siyang cellphone pang-eskwela…”

15 yrs. old

Grade 10 (Junior High School)

Tacloban City, Leyte

"Pat" from Leyte National High School

“Permente gyud ko magpalihug (Palagi akong nakikiusap) sa akong (aking) mga teacher lalo kapag dili (hindi) ko maabutan ang deadline ng mga activities, imbes na humilak ka sa kapoy (umiyak sa pagod) magpursige na lang jud matapos ang mga gawain…”

Therefore, she thinks that she is not the only one who does this kind of breakdown, but rather numerous students have been experiencing this lately.

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Ange always believes that is it better to be late than never. Despite the struggles she has been facing in her studies, she always set aside her “emotional breakdowns” in accomplishing her outputs and activities in school. According to her, it may sound awful but after finishing all her works, that is the best time to cry.

15 yrs. old

Grade 9 (Junior High School)

Davao City, Davao del Sur

"Ange" from Davao Christian High School

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19 years old

Dodong is currently a graduating senior high school student. Despite the pandemic, it does not hinder him in learning new things because he believes that there is a greater opportunity waiting for him after obtaining a diploma. However, to achieve that, he skipped an academic year last 2019 to work on a construction site to finance himself in going back to school and for his family.

“Sa imuha diri sa Calinan (Dito sa amin dito sa Calinan), modular learning ang among (aming) mode of learning kasi hindi gyud (kasi) lahat kakayanin sa online class, kinakaya naman kasi may sariling oras ka tapos nakakatulong ka pa sa imong balay (inyong bahay).”

Grade 12 (Senior High School)

Davao City, Davao del Sur

"Dodong" from Calinan National High School

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“Daghan gyud (Marami talagang) activities diri (dito) sa among (aming) school ba…compare mo last year na mas konti kaya kapoy (nakakapagod) gyud talaga, ang akong (aking) reward sa sarili ko, k-drama talaga.”

She also emphasized that there are more activities this year compared to the previous years which makes her situation more challenging.

Wyn is one of many students who always knows when to pause when academic life is burdensome. As for her, Korean dramas are the most rewarding break after a tiring day.

17 yrs. old

Grade 11 (Senior High School)

Davao Central, Davao City

"Wyn" from Brokenshire College Toril

FACTORS THAT AFFECT STUDENTS' WELLBEING

Due to the overwhelming activities, students can encounter overfatigue that prompts a decrease in school performance, negative wellbeing results, and refusal to go to class.

Overwhelming Activities

Destitution lessens a student's preparation for school since it prompts poor physical wellbeing and motor abilities that decrease a child's capacity to think and recollect information - diminishes mindfulness, interest, and motivation.

Poverty

Disengaged guardians who are not involved in the scholastic journey of their children promote school failures which often lead to the student's breakdown.

Lack of Support& Knowledge

Even though students today are digital natives, studying from virtual classrooms each day in their homes and abandoning the physical classrooms is not fit for their full and productive turn of events.

Conducive Place to Study

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"Ang sektor ng edukasyon, malaki ang kinakaharap na hamon sa gitna ng COVID-19 pandemic. Paano babalansehin ang kaligtasan ng mga estudyante at ang pangangailangan nilang mag-aral." (CNN Philippines, 2020)

2020

New Normal Education

CNN Philippines

SONA 2020: MGA PROBLEMA SA EDUKASYON SA GITNA NG PANDEMYA

Ilan lamang ang mga estudyanteng ito sa libo-libong nakakaranas ng hirap sa online distance learning sa Pilipinas.

Use online websites, practice unwinding abilities, yoga and reflection. Meditation applications are offering services for free during this time and helps you to manage stress.

The government could provide a better internet connection, educational devices, training guidelines, and how to improve wellbeing webinars. These things can be beneficial for students that, regardless of the difficulties, they have their family, companions, and local area to help them.

Utilizing the 20-20-20 guideline is a great method to help stay away from vision problems during new normal education. This standard includes taking a break like clockwork by seeing something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Also, weekends ought to be off from any school work rather filled up with sporting exercises, play web-based games with their companions, do the cooking, gardening, watch films, bicycle at the local park, and other recreational activities.

Permit Additional Time for Stress Management and Self-Meditation

Enough Support to the Community

Take Regular Breaks

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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING AMIDST PANDEMIC

Ano man ang iyong kahimtan ngayon, huminga ka nang malalim. Isipin mo na ang lahat ng bagay ay may dahilan. Maaaring napapagod ka ngayon kaya't marapat lamang na magpahinga ka ngunit huwag kang susuko sa hamon ng buhay. Nariyan ang iyong pamilya, mga kaibigan, ang komunidad at higit sa lahat ang iyong sarili. Sa kabila ng lahat, piliin nating maging mabuti araw-araw para sa bayan. Ang simpleng ngiti mo sa labi ay motibasyon na nagsisilbing sandata para harapin ang panibagong pagsubok sa pag-abot ng ating mga pangarap. Puhon, malalampasan natin ang lahat ng suliranin sa buhay - ang pandemya at ang danas ng hirap sa edukasyon kaya magpatuloy ka. Padayon!Whatever you are up to now, take a deep breath. Think that everything has a reason. You may be tired temporarily, you may take a rest but do not give up on life's challenges. Someone is there for you, your family, friends, the community, and most of all yourself. After all, let us choose to be kind every day for the nation. With just your simple smile on the lips is a motivation that serves as a weapon to face another test in reaching our dreams. In God's will, we can overcome all the problems in life - the pandemic and the new normal education so keep going. Move forward!

MENSAHE

Kiano Reyes is currently a student at the University of the Philippines - Diliman. He is a youth health advocate, volunteer, student leader, and tutor. Using multimedia stories, his passion for empowering and educating youth in serving the country continues as he becomes a speaker through various local and international organizations.

"Sobrang grateful po ako kay Prof. Gerson Abesamis for giving me this opportunity to somehow contribute and inspire others amidst this pandemic. Salamat din sa lahat ng istorya na nagbigay buhay sa proyektong ito. Alay ko ang lahat ng ito para sa bayan!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Agustin, Lawrence. “Providing Youth A Second Chance to Complete Their Education Amid COVID-19.” UNICEF Philippines, 16 Aug. 2020, www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/providing-youth-second-chance-complete-their-education-amid-covid-19.
• BNAHS Facebook Page. Benigno "Ninoy" S. Aquino High School. 17 May 2020, www.facebook.com/BNAHS2020/.
• Censoro, Keith. “E-Learning.” Philippine News Agency, 2 July 2020, www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107808.
• Cruz, Josefino. “PH Likely to Become Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 Hotspot.” Bitag Media, 6 Aug. 2020, www.bitagmedia.com/2020/08/06/ph-likely-to-become-southeast-asias-covid-19-hotspot/.
• De Silva, Angie. “Public School Students at Barangay Poblacion, Mandaluyong City.” Rappler, 11 Nov. 2020, www.rappler.com/nation/deped-reminds-students-use-multiple-methods-distance-learning.
• Favila, Aaron. “Grade School Student Bhea Jhoy Roxas.” AP News, 5 Oct. 2020, apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-pandemics-education-philippines-asia 9eed0f28ae8955940aa3aba73b2c644f.
• Hogsholt, David. “Alyssa: An Aspiring Teacher Help Tutor Her Siblings.” UNICEF Philippines, 30 Sept. 2020, www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/learning-should-reach-most-vulnerable-unicef-says.
• IRRI Images. “Rice Farmer in the Philippines.” Asia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2011, asiafoundation.org/2011/10/12/social-media-in-the-philippines-is-widespread-but-what-is-its-impact/.
• Tipchai, Sasin. “Online Distance Learning.” Philstar, 30 Oct. 2020, interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2020/10/30/179466/initiatives-to-close-the-digital-divide-must-last-beyond-the-covid-19-pandemic-to-work/.

SOURCES (IMAGES)