Lottie the volunteer's BLOG

By: Lottie Salarda The pride of Brgy Dolho, Bato Leyte, Jesus Menjani Esmani, the first Badjao teacher in their community, is committed to produce more Badjao professionals by helping his nephews to get education. In his 22 years of working as a high school teacher, Esmani has produced two Electrical Engineers, one graduate of Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries. Esmani, as the youngest child in the family, witnessed the hardships of his parents raising them by fishing as their means of livelihood. “ If there’s a storm, it means there will no food available for us. It’s so painful to see my family in that kind of situation, so with the encouragement of my high school teachers, and with the help of my siblings, I pursued my studies and dreamed that one day I will have a job,” said Esmani. He sells beauty and food products with his teachers, classmates and friends in school to help sust...

I admit. I took for granted my studies in Law School. I prioritized my job as a police beat reporter than my studies, though I graduated without failing grades.It was my mom’s decision to take Law anyway. As I was obedient to submit to the will of my mom, I did without showing her hesitation. Yes, the Legal Profession brought prestige and lots of money. But I was not thinking of those things at that time. Until my mom died before I graduated her chosen course for me. Painful, indeed. Then comes typhoon Yolanda. Destroying all my possessions, even my remaining strength and hope. Yes, it’s like living in hell –full of pain, sorrow, agony, and sacrifices. Despite those experiences, I didn’t forgot my mom’s dream –me, to become a lawyer someday. Ambitious, right? Indeed. For an orphan like me to take the most expensive review of all examinations in the country, is, yes an impossible thing to happen. I worked my ass for a year as a freelance writer and took my first try in 20 1 5. Af...