WISH FOR CHRISTMAS: Going back to school, OSY’s in the bunkhouses wish this Christmas

KC

By: Lottie Salarda

Tacloban City, Philippines – Fetching a jug of water for others in the NHA bunkhouses for 10 pesos has been Kristia Camille Oliver’s means in sustaining her daily meals. She is 13 years old. She formerly lives in Brgy Palanog, Tacloban City. She lost her mother during typhoon Yolanda. Of the 4 siblings, only one of them is now attending school with the help of her relatives. Her father had just got married and left them to live in Manila with his new family. 

KC, as she was often called by her friends, stopped her schooling since she transferred to the bunkhouse. She strives each day to have some food to eat together with her friends who are also out of school youth. She lived in any unit of the bunkhouses where they find comfort to sleep.

Like her friends, the only wish she wanted for Christmas is to go back to school. Supposedly this year she is in her grade 8, but because of the abandonment of his father, she then have no choice but live in her own. She called on her aunt Lanie Oliver who is living in Paranaque City to help her in her present situation.

“Gusto ko sanang makabalik ng pag-aaral, kaya lang wala na si Papa, mas pinili nya ang kanyang bagong asawa kaysa sa amin. Umalis na sila papuntang Manila. Kaya sana kung totoo man si Santa Claus, yun po sana ang tanging hiling ko ngayong pasko,” Oliver said.

She cried when she was asked on what will be her ultimate wish this Christmas.

Of the 315 families living in the NHA bunkhouses, there were 245 teenagers aging 13-19 that are living there, but Retchie Cablao, who is the bunkhouse manager has no record on how many OSY is there, but she assures that there many of them that are not in school.

Meanwhile, Fe Chona Bahin, Youth Program Coordinator of the City Social Welfare and Development of Tacloban City admitted that they have no programs for the youth particularly for the OSY in the bunkhouses. 

Although they have an organization called Pagasa Youth Association of the Philippines whose members are aging 15-23 where they offer vocational courses for the youth, she admitted that they haven’t created a program focusing on the problems of the out of school youth who were survivors of the typhoon.

They don’t have much information regarding the OSYs in the bunkhouses because the City Social Welfare is not in-charge for its management. It is the Regional Office of the DSWD who take charge of the bunkhouses.

“Kung ma turn-over na sa amin ang management ng mga bunkhouses meron kaming ipapatupad na mga programa para sa mga bata,” Bahin said.

According to Marife Halina, 30 years old and a mother of two, abandonment and poverty have been some of the reasons why there are many teenagers that were not attending school. Some of them lost their parents during the typhoon, some were abandoned, and because of the unemployment of some parents. ##