Teacher scavenger

[Passport]

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Mang Alfredo, pasado sa pagkaguro bago napadpad sa kalye para mangalakal | 24 Oras | GMA News Online



At home, Manuel catches up on his readings. His favorite topics are on mythology, botany, herbal medicine and science. Photo By Andrew Pamorada
At home, Manuel catches up on his readings. His favorite topics are on mythology, botany, herbal medicine and science. Photo By Andrew Pamorada

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-one-year-old Alfredo Manuel is a familiar face in Taft Avenue and Pedro Gil in Ermita, Manila.

Everyday at 1 p.m., this hunched man could be seen at Agno, a food joint at the back of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila, scavenging for leftover food, used plastic bottles or anything he finds useful. He sells the recyclable materials he collects and uses the money on his newspaper selling business in the area.

Tatay Fred has also made friends with DL SU students who occasionally give him food and money. In fact, he has become a sort of instant celebrity on TV of late after a video on him posted on YouTube by a group of DL SU students reached media attention.

The video documentary dubbed “Teacher Scavenger” was created by ICT seniors Andrew Pamorada and Cris Akol as a requirement for a school project on social outcasts. Initially, the students were looking for street kids to feature but they came across Tatay Fred and his poignant story.

Frustrated Teacher

To the surprise of the student-documentarists, Tatay Fred is not a typical scavenger. In fact, he is a licensed teacher, a bookworm and was once a model employee in a public school.

In 1966, Tatay Fred was forced to drop out of his studies at the University of the East a few months before graduating from his Education course.

“Tumigil ako kasi wala na kong pera pang-aral at nagkakagulo noon. Incomplete requirements ko kaya hindi ako naka-apply ng magandang trabaho,” Tatay Fred reveals.

He then found work as a janitor at the F. Maria Guerrero Elementary School in Sta. Ana, Manila. But even as he donned a workman’s clothes and cleaned classrooms and lavatories, Tatay Fred continued to nurture his love for learning by reading lots of books on a variety of topics.

“Gusto ko talaga maging teacher kaya nagbasa ako ng katakot takot na libro.

Tuwing suweldo ko bumibili ako sa National Bookstore sa Recto ng books. Eh kakilala na nila ako doon kaya binibigyan nila ako ng discount. My favorite books are on mythology, botany, herbal medicine and science,” says Tatay Fred who also learned to write essays.

Years later, he went back to school to finish his remaining four units and get his muchdeserved diploma. “Hindi na ko nagmartsa nung graduation. Late comer na ko eh. Basta kinuha ko nalang natitirang units tapos direcho kong nagtake ng licensure exam for teachers. Walang review ‘yun. I also took the civil service exam,” he says proudly.

A Helpless Victim

Just when everything was going well for Tatay Fred who was then earning praises from his superiors for his hard work and good performance, a twist of fate shattered his dreams.

“Ginawa ko lahat sa school na yun, ako na yung pinakamasipag na janitor at naging apple of the eye ng principal. Lagi niya akong binibida sa mga teachers at co-employees. Pero kinainggitan ako ng mga kasamahan ko at siniraan ako. Ginawan ako ng storya na nagnakaw daw ako ng pondo ng school. Tinanggal ako. There was a connivance between the division superintendent and the principal who turned against me,” he laments.

Tatay Fred tried to apply at the Manila Science High School and Roxas High School but he was turned down because of the supposedly bad record he had at F. Maria Guerrero. Hence, he was forced to make a living as a scavenger.

The 'Prop'

While he was not able to fulfill his dream to teach and improve the standard of education in that school, Tatay Fred was still given a chance to teach some kids despite his situation.

Avegail D. Carpio, M.Sc., an assistant professor 1 at the University of the Philippines Manila’s Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, says she and her sister and magcousins were taught by Tatay Fred whom they call “Prop” during their preschool days.

“My father asked him to teach us in our compound. Using a blackboard and a chalk, he would teach me how to read, write, add and subtract. This is the reason why I did not find reading, writing and mathematics difficult. He would give me exercises to answer.

Then he would check it and explain why I was wrong in some items,” recalls the 30-year-old teacher. Tatay Fred continued to become Carpio’s personal tutor in elementary. He would help her review for her lessons and sometimes would even give in to her request to do her assignments.

Everytime, the "Prop’’ was very patient and kept on motivating her even when she doubted herself.

“I learned a lot from him. He and my parents motivated me to study hard and finish my education. But during those days, I never got to know him including his real name,” admits Carpio, a BS Computer Science graduate from UP Diliman and an MS degree holder in Health Informatics at UP Manila. She has been teaching Computer Science to freshmen and sophomores at UP Manila for almost 10 years now.

Teaching for Tatay Fred is a very serious job. Teachers, he says, must be well-trained and employ creative and engaging strategies to teach effectively.

"Akala nila if you pass the board, nakuha na lahat ng skills ng teacher.

Doon ako galit na galit, yung low quality of teachers today. Mga retakers pa yan sa board. Maling-mali ang turo. Siguro kung nagtuturo ako ngayon, maglulupasay ako sa galit dahil sa kind of education meron tayo ngayon" he complains.

The Reunion

One school day in 2004, Carpio saw Tatay Fred carrying heavy loads of garbage while she was on her way home.

At first, she couldn’t accept what has become of him. But on that Christmas season, she decided to play Santa and left him a bag of groceries for Noche Buena. Tatay Fred, in return went to her house and there they finally met again after so many years. He even had his own gifts for her entire family.

“I’m very proud of Avegail. Tuwang-tuwa ako nung nakita ko siya. Isa na siyang magaling na UP professor. Pero ako isang scavenger,” he says sheepishly.

The video on Tatay Fred didn’t earn a high grade for the students. Yet it continues to draw attention and at least 5,193 views as of this writing. "We don’t really care about the grade. We made this video not just for a class requirement but to send a message that would hopefully touch and encourage someone to help people like him," Pamorada says.

Tatay Fred is no longer dreaming of teaching. He says even if he gets to clean his record, he may no longer be fit for the job because he is old, toothless, haggard.

"Pangarap ko lang ngayon, kung magkaroon ako ng pera ay magpamigay. You have to share. Gusto ko ring mag-abroad at makita yung places na pinag-aralan ko sa mga libro, the Parthenon of Greece, Phoenix in Egypt, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum of Rome, Zaragosa, Spain. After that, puwede na siguro ako mamatay," he ends.

[<SMILE>]

Yup,
nag DH pud ang uban o kung dili nag-sales lady,
we need to build more classrooms for them.
In addition, he should fight for his rights if injustice is there
then he should make a legal approach, question the allegation through the courts.

[Eve's Apple Project]

louy sad og storya..but ana jud ang kinabuhi, mura rag ligod..ang naa sa taas usahay tungod sa sayop nga decision, mokalit og naog paubos..

wa sad ta kabalo kung tinood jud nga nakasala ni sya tong batan-on pa..sayang lang kay wa sya nisulay sa laing skwelahan..

[Passport]

igo ra jud ta malooy ani.. this society is ruthless !

[beyee]

It hurts me seeing old people out in the streets
even at their fragile state and age. They are
supposed to enjoy their remaining years in the
comforts of their home. They don't deserve this.

Tsk tsk tsk...

I'm baffled.
We had ample resources for Education system but
still more students are cramped in classrooms not
conducive for learning, teachers with meager salaries
but so overworked, Education graduates who are
left unemployed, education system dwindling...

We don't need more years to stay in school to be at
par with the Global Education System but we need to
see our TAXES allocated properly in different departments
in our country especially the Education System.

*sighs*

Pwera gaba naa sa posisyon.

[Passport]

kini si maam bey kay titser jud ni... unsay imo lantaw ni noy alfredo maam?

[jeremiahjay]

Hmmm...I hope he'll got another shot..Dili daghan ang teacher na passionate to learn and teach..

[vahnhelsing]

ngiga nga story... dili kabintahaan, sakit lang paminawon nga kun kinsa pay naay kapasidad
mao pay wala nooy mabuhat.

[Passport]

I feel his pain...

[madmike]

i feel his pain,

but everything is a choice.

so he made his..