In case I didn't write it out big enough, THANK YOU, to everyone who received my email--even if not directly from me--and rummaged through their homes, libraries (Brent International School--thank you thank you), publishing houses (let's hear it for Mr. G!) and even bought brand new books. I was so overwhelmed with your kind responses and selfless action in participating in the book drive.

I originally sent my email to 10 friends, who in turn forwarded it to their friends and...well, I now have a better understanding of the word viral. Everyone wrote back saying, "Where can I drop off my box of donations?" Did you say box? I remember my email said something like 1 book each person. This was one of the times where I sure was glad that 1x1 didn't equal 1.

I also had the chance to visit two of the partner communities of QK in Bacolod.

AT HINIGARAN
The first community we drove to was Barangay Tugis in Hinigaran. Sugar haciendas surround this barangay, and before you hit the dirt road leading to it, you can almost see Guimaras across the bay. QK's partner in Barangay Tugis is a small group of learners--all child laborers--who meet in a makeshift straw and bamboo kubo school.

The kubo, or hut, is big enough only to hold a teacher's desk and the bookshelf with some of your book donations. Class itself, is held beneath the protective shade of tree. I wasn't able to ask where they hold classes during the rainy season.

These learners, many young men and women 16 years of age (the oldest being 22), have stopped formal education to work in the sugar fields to help their parents place food on the table. As a result, they are academically only in the 4th-5th grade level. On the day of my visit, they were reviewing long-hand multiplication. Their 3 teachers are the fortunate few in the community who have been able to finish college and have chosen to stay to teach the QK learners.

When I asked them what kinds of books they like to read, everyone replied books with lots of pictures. Right then, I had to squeeze back my tears at the shame I felt at placing a foolish premium on personal sophistication. That story, alas, is for another blog :)

Trying quickly to recover from the chastisement of my consciousness, I approached the students' parents to chat about the QK program. One middle-aged father, lean and leathery from working in the sugar fields, began to talk about how the program has helped his family. He broke down and cried as he expressed his thanks that people should care about them--they who are nobodies. Needless to say, that was enough to make my own tear ducts overflow. I had to feign composure and look away when my lower lip started to pulsate involuntarily. Another mother chimed in to say that her boy had to stop school because they couldn't afford the P25.00 (around US .55 cents) required for him to get from house to public school everyday. Through QK's intervention, they have a fighting chance at a future outside of the haciendas.

As I turned to go, the learners were all in the vegetable garden rolling up their pants and sleeves. The kalabaw they had been waiting for had arrived signaling the start of science class. In lieu of a shiny laboratory, vegetable gardening was the way the teacher taught science to the kids. I was also told that it served a double purpose: providing cassava root which the students can eat and bring home.

Back in the car, my QK guide, Jing, read some of the letters the Barangay Tugis learners wrote in reflection some months back. One girl, Anne Marie, wrote that she wanted to finish school and find work so that her siblings didn't have to work in the sugar fields like herself. And just like a perfectly timed cinematic moment, as we were leaving the barangay a huge truck was entering--chock full of youngsters, mothers, fathers, and even grandmothers recruited to work the fields that day.

AT MURCIA

Next stop for the day was another small community of learners in Murcia, a town quite near Bacolod City. QK tells me this area has been declared child-labor free. The task now at hand is to get kids back in school.

This community had a little more resources, and the QK learners here were able to have classes in the community's preschool building--all concrete this time. I had arrived just before classes started, and the first sight that greets me are your book donations neatly shelved.

This is John Paul. He's 14 years old and academically in 5th grade. He wants to be a teacher someday, and hopes to teach right in Murcia.

The parents of the learners were also there. I had quickly scanned the room to make a headcount of learners and parents. The teacher asked the learners to introduce themselves for the benefit of the day's observers--me and my friend Gisela. I was most pleasantly surprised to discover that one of the people I pegged as a parent, was in fact a learner himself.

Mang Gregorio at 38 years old is the oldest member of his class. He, too, is a sugar farmer. He was supposed to take his high school equivalency test last year, but he missed it because he was working in the fields. He had enrolled again with the class to keep him eligible to take the test this year. That day, he was sitting quietly clutching a book--one of your donations. I assume in a normal setting, Mang Gregorio sitting in a class with 14 and 16 year olds would garner him much teasing. But there was no judgement here. He was simply a classmate; a fellow-learner. Mang Gregorio wouldn't meet my eye, but how much I wanted him to see that he had earned my deepest respect.

It's been a couple of months since I made the trip. To date, 5 batches of books have been sent to QK, totaling to 246 books. QK still needs books and I hope you don't tire of giving and forwarding that email to your friends. Today, the need has increased to used computers. Should you have any that you wish to give, you know how to reach me.

Again, thank you so much for your generosity. I hope you see how much your help means to so many people.