The Story of Moryo-moryo
From the ground up
The concept of the Moryo-Moryo school started out as an odd idea from one of Agusan National High School's teachers, Mrs. Fumero. She managed to walk by one of the busy roads of the Upper Doongan district one day, and there she saw several children, mostly aged from about three to six years old, rummaging along the mounds of garbage along with their parents, searching for recyclable objects, things they might reuse or trade for money in junk shops.
She felt pity towards the children and thought about their education. About how much they could learn with the time they could spend on reading and learning, rather than climbing along the smoky hills of garbage, looking for bits and pieces that they somehow might find useful. And then she thought of the compromises and risks she had to make to do what she had been planning to do—building a school for these scavenger children to give them the chance to change their mentalities and develop their knowledge.
She gathered volunteers and sponsors for her proposal. A stone's throw away, an unused building with unpainted walls and worn out wooden frameworks stood beside the barangay's old chapel. Mrs. Fumero asked for help from the lot owner, Mrs. Liyaw, and fortunately, she offered the use of the old edifice for free. She sought for assistance and financial help from the barangay. She managed to take hold of a few construction materials from several construction sites.
The building of the day care center began in March 2006, until May. After the construction of the site has been fulfilled, volunteer teacher Mayeth attended a training for teachers in the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Fortunately, the agency agreed to let her take part in the program without payment.
Thanks to the help and support from the community, the St. Therese Day Care Center that was once just a dream now became a reality and continues to give light to the little children's hopes and dreams.
The Daycare's Firsts
On the 26th day of June, 2006, St. Therese Daycare Center opened its doors to 12 pupils armed with absolutely nothing, except their will to learn. The daycare faced criticism from people, saying that the daycare would not last due to its lack of financing. After the end of its first year, only five pupils graduated from the daycare. The rest either moved, or encountered financial problems.
People underestimated the abilities of the graduates of the daycare. But these kids proved their detractors wrong when they top their respective Grade One classes, proving that nothing hinders success when you work hard and have faith.
The following year, the daycare was faced with more problems. There was a lack in school supplies, the tables and chairs were damaged, their makeshift roof was not shielding the pupils from the unpredictable weather, and on top of these, Teacher Mayeth, the daycare's only teacher wanted to give up. Seeing the hope that the daycare gives the children, Mrs. Fumero and the childrens' parents never gave up. They went all-out in search of donors and benefactors.
Come June 2007, the daycare housed 30 pupils, and 22 of which successfully finished the whole year. This was a big improvement in comparison to last year.
At present, the daycare has 22 pupils, in hopes of graduating in March next year.
Today and Beyond
Today, St. Therese Day Care Center still continues on its mission of providing basic education to the children of Upper Doongan. However, the owner of the lot STDC stands on, Mrs. Caluya (who is Mrs. Fumero's sister-in-law), loaned the lot from the bank and anytime soon, they will probably be using the property. That means that Moryo-Moryo will have to pack up and leave.
Will the door to a better future close for the children of Moryo-Moryo?
Even more than worldly possessions or fame and accolades, the best legacy we can give our children is a proper education. That, not money or power, will allow them to be all that they can and want to be. When they have knowledge, it's no holds barred for them and their dreams.
As trite as it may sound, these children are the future of the country. Their families are counting on them to bring them better days. Their country is counting on them to do the same. At a time when our society is faced with crises and problems, and when the current generation seems too preoccupied with much else, we look to today's youth and see them as our hope.
But for now, we're their hope. While they're young and raring to learn, they need us to bring them better days. They need us to help them in any way we can. They need us to hold that door to the future open so that they can march in proudly and make us proud.
Here's to the future.