Assumption Iloilo students: AFP's new weapon in forging peace in Mindanao
Somewhere inside a makeshift camp of elite Army soldiers in wartorn Mindanao were letters passed around by tired yet smiling government fighters. The scene was unknowingly repeated in other camps and Army headquarters here with the letters accompanied by specially-made blue rosary beads.
Miles away inside the quiet halls of government's V-Luna Hospital in Quezon City, hospital beds with wounded soldiers fighting for their lives were sent same letters as well. Rosary beads were either clutched by the wounded fighter or displayed prominently beside the hospital bed.
It is not a scene from a war movie but real life in real time. Thanks to the thoughtful idea of Ilongga Emma Concepcion, a a former Assumption parent who sent all her children to Assumption Iloilo, one of Iloilo City's premier private Catholic schools.
And a simple one too inspired by an advertisement in a national daily that called for support for the nation's unsung heroes – the soldiers fighting the war in Mindanao.
For Sister Claire Cecilia Salvane of Assumption Iloilo, it was one good idea turned into a really great school activity.
"Wouldn't it be good if we show support to our soldiers? Wouldn't it be nice for the students to write our soldiers?," Sr. Claire recalled of that conversation.
Move forward to today, nearly a thousand Army soldiers are grateful, inspired and reinvigorated. So grateful that no less than Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. took time out to thank the Assumption Iloilo community.
"In behalf of the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines, please accept our warmest thanks for the letters, prayers, poems, rosaries and even money that you sent to our soldiers. We have sent them to the brave and noble soldiers in the field to guide and inspire them to win their battles," the General's letter obtained by The News Today went. "Your unprecedented act of writing to us to thank us, life our spirits and give us hope in our struggle in Mindanao has truly touched our hearts and our lives. It is very heartwarming to know that there are young children who look up to us as heroes and appreciate what we have been risking our lives for."
A total of 980 letters with heartwarming messages were sent and 1,509 rosary beads, the amazing result of the school's collective effort as facilitated by Assumption Iloilo's Merlina Patingo, the school's academic coordinator.
From pre-schoolers to First Graders like the adorable Sophie Canja, and the entire elementary and secondary classes, the students here spent precious time during their Christian Living Education (CLE) hours.
Authors of the love letters
Six-year old Sophie joined other First Graders of her class in drafting letters to the soldiers. Her beautiful message bore this thoughtful reminder,: "Hello Sir. This is a Grade One student. Remember to smile. I will start praying for you every day and every night."
As an added bonus, Sophie made a drawing of herself and "Sir" shaking hands. She also shared part of her lunch money like the rest in the class. And when she grows up, Sophie shared with TNT, she will become a doctor as she promised further to help treat the wounded soldiers.
Third Grader Suzanne Dureza has similar thoughts. Inspired by an uncle who is a soldier, Suzanne said she willingly gave part of her lunch money, will become a nurse and would want to help the soldiers who get hurt in the war.
Fellow Third Grader Therese Sartorio for her part said she wrote to thank the soldiers, "I thank them for our freedom."
Fifth Grader Jessica Cuello has no plans of becoming a soldier herself but shared her empathy with the fighters.
"Even though I'm a kid, I can tell you that I share your challenges…and know that forgiveness and peace is the key to freedom," she recalled having written to her unnamed hero.
Sixth Grader Arbee Palmos will not be a soldier himself yet in a beautifully written poem, he expressed his pride in taking part of the soldiers' battle for peace and freedom.
"Trust God and know that we appreciate what you all do for us," Arbee said of his message. He smilingly added that he also shared his day's allowance to get the rosary beads for the soldiers.
For Fourth Year students Gayle Gonzales, Claudine Delfin, Sayori Gato and the school student council president Kizia Daquilanea, writing the letters to the soldiers was one rewarding experience. They similarly expressed gratitude while saying "it would be nice to meet them."
"Though we didn't know each other, I still appreciate what you are doing for me and for the country and I know that you out there protecting us," Sayori said on the gist of her message, seemingly shy that she had hers in a Pink paper.
As for Gayle, it was yet another message of empathy saying that she knows the risks involved in the soldiers' lives everyday and for such, "I am so lucky and grateful. I want to be as courageous and want to do something like that for our country."
Claudine echoed her friend's sentiments while adding that her message told of how she prays hard for the fighters, understands the danger and how the soldiers do it all to bring peace for the Philippines.
To sum it all up, Kizia spoke of her own fears as a student and as a teen-ager saying that she shares the soldiers' struggles and their pain.
"We support them," Kizia ended with a smile.
A fitting gift to the nation's heroes. A fitting tribute to Assumption's Mother Foundress, Mother Marie Eugenie and the school's theme, "Justice and Peace."