03/10/2025
๐ช๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
by Shyna Villas
โCongratulations, Summa Cum Laude!"
The wind blows, making the tarpaulin dance in harmony. Every word etched through the polyester fabric is enough to make the graduate, parents, peers, and even strangers proudโฆ However, there's someone in the background whose smile shines brightly under the sun, filled with fulfillment. This is why I weave.
As the moon brightens and crickets sing, weavers sort out their materials: threads, needles, scissors, and everything they need. The silent sound of the night urges them to close their eyes and rest. However, their purpose to shape better futures is much stronger than that urge. Their barely awake eyes scan through the materials, making sure that there is a prepared plan for tomorrow's โweaving."
And that's the beginning of threads finding their own pathโwhere they truly belong.
Threading the needle
Eyes wide open, fingers tired from trying to magically slide the threads in. Just like the same old scenes, the process of inserting the threads through that narrow hole is a struggle. Frustrating as it is, that part shouldn't be skipped. In the same essence as getting to know students at school and persuading them to listen.
Different personalities, beliefs, and behaviorsโall have their own levels of warming up. Yet, weavers never get tired of trying to enter that narrow path, to guide them towards the light.
Crossing the threads
Weaving over and under, binding strands into patterns. Lessons are taught, no matter how many trials and errors; frowns and confusionโ-all are woven into a fine tapestry filled with lessons and wisdom.
Tightening the weave
The whole day of weaving tires them out, yet they make sure that the thread is snug so that the fabric grows firm. They provide different activities, tasks, and challenges that shape students to be prepared for the next level of life.
Layering the colors
Weavers blend strands to form shapes, textures, and meaning. Students bond well with their own peers due to the guidance they give. They add color to the bland classroom, with everyone's effort, they create a scenery full of laughter and meaning. The four walls are now called the โsecond home."
Correcting mistakes
Unpicking tangled knots, rethreading when the path goes wrong. When students have problems, they are there to tend to them. It's not completely removed, but they make it lighterโeasier for us to carry the baggage. A simple โAnak, may problema ba?" is enough to let students feel the love of a second parent.
Completing the tapestry
After the calloused fingers, the threads are now shaped into a tapestry. The sleepless nights are all worth it after seeing the word โPASSED" on their laptop screens. The weavers now cut them from the loom, releasing them into the next levelโready to stand on their own.
Admiring the fabric
Back to the present, they now see their students' names printed on the tarpaulin.
A smile is planted on their face, knowing that they will do that again for every student they hold.
These weavers are like our teachers, who work thread by thread with the lessons, guidance, and encouragement that they provide to their students. And we are the threads, those of us who are students right now and those who once were. We are the scattered threads that they have organized into a strong fabric. May our teachers be recognized not only for their teaching, but for holding everything togetherโeven when the threads tried to tug.
๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐โ ๐๐ฎ๐
Cartoon by: Angeline Liwag
Layout by: Danniel Matias & Jeicy Kate Mallare
โsDay
