Share Your Blessings

Mary Grace, our favorite scholars always says "Rice is LIFE!"

Yesterday, we attended the recognition ceremonies of the Cebu City Taskforce on Streetchildren (CCTFSC) at the MCWD Conference Room. There was much emotion among the houseparents and staff of the member NGOs as their wards marched up the stage to be recognized.  Jacob Koshy, executive director of the CCTFSC, aptly expressed it simply as "your achievements are our achievements" - a testament of how children cared for by NGOs are prevented from becoming streetchildren or children in contact with the law because they stayed in school.

Going back to rice, it is my custom to treat graduating scholars to a celebratory meal. So they put away their packed lunch to bring home to their families and we walked to the restaurant.  I am amazed that they prefer Mang Inasal to eat-all-you-can buffets because for them "rice is life".  All they need is a little meat, a lot of seasoning (special mention the chicken oil) and they are happy with their unlimited rice chicken meal.

I was a bit surprised when I saw my seatmate Maricel insert a still-big portion of her roast chicken into her packed meal.  Looking at her plate, it was cleaned out. This was someone who had asked for at least two refills of steamed rice.  She had eaten a lot of rice, but only sparingly touched the chicken.  I asked her about it, and she said that she was saving the food for her mother who would be able to ration food until dinner the next day.  Looking around, most of the scholars did the same.

This reminded me of my grandmother's story long ago about a boy at a feeding program at Balay Bata Daycare Center.  He did not touch his food while others ate, but simply held onto his meal. My lola asked him why he was not eating.  Did he not like the food? Did he not have an appetite? Was he not hungry?

The little boy calmly answered that he had little brothers and sisters at home who did not have food to eat, who were even hungrier than he was, so he would bring the food home with him to share with his family. At such a young age, this little boy had EQ to wait until he could share his food with his family - such bravery and generosity of heart.

Looking around our graduates in that Mang Inasal restaurant, I realize that after all these years not much has changed.  These kids still bring food home to share with their families.  Hence, to reward academic excellence, we decided to buy 5-kilo rice sacks for distribution during our Moving Up and Recognition Ceremonies this afternoon at the Cebu City Social Hall.  I'm sure the mothers will appreciate the Ganador Rice and encourage their children to study hard to excel in school.