Mikaela

Mrs. Marian Ferrer was a teacher who have thought for many years in a public school in the eastern part of the city of Manila in the late nineties. She thought mathematics and English language to mainly uninterested high school senior around the dump site of Payatas. Payatas became well known not for the beauty of its surroundings but for the tons of garbage that was dumped by seven mega cities of the greater metropolitan area. Teaching the students was the easy part according to Mrs Ferrer. Making the students go to school was the harder part. Perhaps because poverty was part of every ones life in this part of town. And that the only sure thing that can offer them food is the garbage dump nearby. At that point in time, even college graduate are unsure of getting a job after graduation. So why bother sending their kids to school when few scrape at the foot of the mountain can ensure at least a food on their table? Marian Ferrer was no stranger to the burgeoning seams of the smoky mountain and the danger it poses to the population of Payatas. She saw the transformation of that dump from the once green forest area of thirty years ago to become the biggest unregulated and non segregated dumpsite in the entire Asia.

It was early in the morning of September while Mrs Ferrer was gardening when one of her 12 year old student came up to her . Her name was Mikaela. Mikaela was too mature for her age at that time. Mrs. Ferrer asked Mikaela what brought her all of a sudden. The young girl told Mrs. Ferrer that her father prevented her many times from going to school. In fact he doesn't want her to go to school because no ones gonna take care of her younger brother and sister. They were seven in the family and she was the eldest. She pleaded to Mrs Ferrer to convince her parents about the value of education and what would become of them if she were not to pursue her eduction. Mrs. Ferrer was of course disheartened by what Mikaela had told her and she promised she would do everything in her capacity to let her parents know of her intention.

The next day Mrs. Ferrer went to Mikaela's house in Payatas to talk to her parents but it was met with harsh criticism. The parent questioned her intention of meddling in family affair. They said education is a good thing but no ones gonna take care of her younger siblings and she got to do her part. Mikaelas parents both work at the dump site.

Mrs Ferrer was defeated in her effort to save Mikaela. That night Mrs. Ferrer talked to her husband about the bright young girl in her school who have shown such value in education and she seemed helpless to help her wage that war against her own parents. Mrs. Ferrer's husband was even brutally honest. He told her to forget all about her since they cannot afford her to send her to private school. They too belong to those who have none on this city. He said picking up stone so they could hit their head with it later on is one dumb act. He believed Mikaela is just another footnote in the pages of this miserable country. Mrs. Ferrer was of course not amused by what his husband have said. " I am not saying we will adopt her. I just thought..." Her husband cut her. "What?"

"Of giving her her basic need. Education!"

"You help her and a thousand more would knock on your door asking for the same thing. It's got nowhere to go. It's the cycle of poverty that we should stop."

Mrs. Ferrer had no child of her own. At 36 they had given up all hopes of having a child after almost fifteen years of marriage. Her husband teaches full time in a university and part of their savings were already allotted to sending some of their relatives to school. They never ask for anything for their heroic deed. They always say a greeting card on Christmas is more than enough payment for them. The next few days Mrs. Ferrer tried to bury Mikaela's thought at the back of her mind. But every time she saw the empty chair where Mikaela sat, it seemed she lost a big part of herself and it made her uneasy.

That afternoon she went to the principal office to consult about the plight of Mikaela. The principal was of course not in her best mood at that time and her body language more than state her reaction to what Mrs. Ferrer revealed. The principal was repetitive on saying " if parents is the problem then it is not in the best interest of the school to pursue them. It is the local government that should act on the matter. Your student is just a number on the long lists of out of school youth before the summer arrive. It's not something to ponder about. " Mrs. Ferrer claimed Mikaela's case is different. She wanted to go to school but her parents is the one keeping her from achieving her dreams. The principal can only offer her an advice that if Mikaela is an extraordinary case then she must do the unthinkable and that is to "tutor her at her home". Mrs. Ferrer thought it was a fair idea.

The next day Mrs. Ferrer embarked on a journey to change the life of Mikaela Roldan Ybañez. Everyday after her class, she would visit her in the slum area to teach her the lessons she needed for her exams. Mikaela agreed after several prodding that she would visit school twice a week to take her quizzes and examinations. It was a rare situation that Mrs. Ferrer have seen a young girl's dedication in learning mathematics and sciences. Mikaela was of course thankful that her teacher was so kind to help her while attending to her younger siblings. Mikaela said Mrs Ferrer can always change her mind and she would not mind. But Mrs Ferrer was determined to finish her sacrifices for the sake of Mikaela. Mrs. Ferrer even sponsored Mikaela's travel down south so she could attend math competition. She also represented the school in oral declamation and district oratorical contest which Mikaela won. The help truly paid off when Mikaela was able to graduate on top of her class in high school.

On the day of graduation Mikaela stood before her class to deliver her valedictory address. She was so thankful for all the help and support that Mrs Ferrer had given her in times of hardship. She compared her to "a true friend, a good mother to her sickly child, like a lantern that lighten up her path. Each day I was filled with hope and joy that a good teacher was there to guide me. It seems this success is easy when someone is there for you and I thank Mrs. Ferrer for doing that." Before the end of the program, Mikaela showed her singing prowess by dedicating an old folkloric song called "lullaby for my mother" to her dearest teacher Mrs Ferrer. In attendance that evening was Mrs. Ferrer's husband who was once skeptical of Mikaela. He realized his wife was right all along and he felt so wrong in having said those hurting words. He embraced Mrs. Ferrer and said "look at her. "

After graduation, Mrs. Ferrer visited Mikaela to assure her that the college scholarship is ready for her and her parents just have to agree on it. It was a difficult time because the government have declared Payatas as a "dangerous zone' and people living within the area need to go. The government is on the lookout for new places to throw the cities garbage. Payatas had become an uncontrollable mess at least in the eye of government department that assessed the danger it posed to thousand of its inhabitant. The sulfur level had risen and the smoke that risen up in the air contained harmful level of dioxin that can cause cancer and lung problems. All residents have to be evacuated or go somewhere else. Mrs. Ferrer talks to Mikaela's parents about its danger and the possible relocation site, Mikaela's college scholarship and the possibility of getting her in one of those college dormitory. That talk became the saturation point because every issue Mrs. Ferrer tried to convey did not elicited a favorable response from Mikaela's parent. They said firmly they weren't going anywhere. They will stay in Payatas come what may. And Mrs. Ferrer heard the final nail in the coffin. She doesn't need more of that college education. She has to work just like everybody else. It was a shock to Mrs. Ferrer who have magnanimous dreams regarding Mikaela future.

When Mrs. Ferrer learned that Mikaela got her first job at a seedy bar in the outskirt of the city, she immediately went to her aid with help from some of her friends.

It was a painful moment when Mikaela stepped out her house for her first job ever. Her face were all made up and her dress...whatever left of it...is nothing short of scandalous. Mrs. Ferrer, up to that point tried to intervene but Mikaela is already sure of what she was doing.

"I'm really sorry, ma'am. I have people to think of. They expect so much from me to give them food on the table. I can't say no to them...especially now... everyone's hungry."

A pimp accompanied her outside of her house. Mikaela looked at her teacher then said the saddest word Mrs Ferrer heard in a long time.

"I hope you won't forsake me."

Mrs Ferrer was crushed when Mikaela left that afternoon. She went home on verge of tears as heavy rain fell from the sky. She tried to recompose herself and rearrange her thoughts. She spread her arms and stood for the longest time under the dark gray sky. Maybe there are reasons for everything and the rain were but a tie that can never bind them together. She held the droplet in her palm but like memories that flew away the water just seeped through her fingertips.

Mrs. Ferrer watched Mikaela that night from the dark crevice of the club where she sold her body and soul. She cried at how she wasted so many years molding her, only to become someone whom she does not want her to be. For almost a week, Mrs Ferrer became bedridden in a hospital and all she could think of was Mikaela. She was much of a daughter to her than just mere a student. One night, Mrs. Ferrer was sleeping in her hospital bed when she heard Mikaela's voice called out her name.

"Ma'am I'm here. I want to ask for your forgiveness."

That night the typhoon season dumped the heaviest rain in twenty years. The electricity was cut off. Bridges broke down. Houses along the riverbanks were destroyed after the mighty dam up north unloaded their excess water filling up the shallow river and "esteros" down below. At one o clock in the early morning the mountain of garbage around Payatas collapsed.

Mrs. Ferrer opened her eyes. The surrounding was dark but she could see Mikaela standing in front of her. She held her hand out and put it on her cheek.

"You've done nothing wrong Mikaela."

"Ma'am you know when I was a little girl always wanted to become a teacher like you. I want to teach the innocent, the weak, the poor , my brother and sister, my neighbor."

"You should. It's not too late."

"I guess it's all over now."

"Why are you saying that?"

"I'm going"

"Where to?"

"Far . You have been so kind Mrs. Ferrer. I always thought I never deserved it all."

"Why are you saying this?"

"So you wouldn't blame yourself for my failures. You have done great things for me. I just want to thank you for it."

Then Mikaela faded slowly from her sight.

Mrs. Ferrer can't explain her sadness when she woke up the morning after. She still felt Mikaela's presence inside her room. She asked for Mikaela the moment she first saw her husband. But he was silent and sadness was visible in his eyes. The world outside was still dark from the endless rain that inhabited the city. With a cracked voice he broke the sad news. "I just heard Mikaela is ...no longer with us. They were buried alive." Mrs Ferrer felt her chest explode. She tried to walk but her knees were weakened by the terrible news. She sat on the floor and cried inconsolably. She opened her hand and in her palm were the pendant of St. Filomena.

"She was just here last night!" She cried."Dear God she was just..here..last night!"

In the ensuing years, Mrs. Ferrer always tell Mikaela's story to her students. She said her story was something to be proud of. Mrs Ferrer received countless recognition from various organization for her unselfish dedication in helping the poor, the needy and the marginalized sector of the community. She once said that her dreams were buried underneath the garbage of Payatas when that fateful tragedy happened. But since then, it has risen up. The garbage of Payatas once symbolizes the failed dreams and hopes of the poor. When it came crashing down it spoke so much of human selfishness because the affluent ones did nothing to their rescue at a much earlier time. She pleaded that one must do their part to help others build better lives.

Mrs. Ferrer continued her charitable work and the day before her 41st birthday, she was rushed to the hospital emergency room due to nausea and vomiting. When her blood and urine were examined, the doctor gladly told her she was pregnant for her 'first time' ever. It was a miracle! Her doctor considered her as the oldest 'primigravid' in Manila for some time.

As tribute to her former student she christened her daughter Maria Mikaela Gonzales Ferrer.