Good Samaritan teacher Emil Bal-iyang of Ilocos Sur has been providing fresh harvest from his fish pond and vegetable garden to feed the families of students who are affected by the community quarantine to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Like in the Parable of the Good Samaritan that Jesus Christ told in the Gospel of Luke in the Bible, teacher Emil did not just walk by the needy but stopped and gave help.
Teacher Emil was presented as a Good Samaritan by his townmate and co-teacher Josephine Gironella who posted the story on Facebook on April 18, 2020.
Gironella shared that in the upland municipalities like Quirino, the residents are mostly farmers and fisherfolk who are allowed to go outside the area to visit their farms and fish ponds.
Teacher Emil Bal-iyang of Lamag Elementary School in Quirino, together with his co-teacher Frederick Daumen then decided to deliver fresh fish from his own pond to families of his Grade 6 students.
Before the Luzon-wide lockdown was enforced, teacher Emil’s class planned to go on a picnic with their parents near the river to celebrate their graduation. But now under quarantine, the plan had to be shelved.
“Tunay ngang hindi lamang sa pagtuturo ng iba’t ibang asignatura magaling ang isang guro. Gaya ni sir Emil, nakakaya pa rin niyang mag-alaga ng isda sa palaisdaan sa ilog at magtanim ng iba’t ibang gulay para lang may makain ang kanyang mga mag – aaral. Ika nga niya, ‘kung may itinamin, may aanahin, at may kakainin’,” wrote Gironella.
(It is true that teachers are not only excellent in teaching different subjects. Like sir Emil, he managed to take care of his fish pond in the river and plant vegetables so his students have food to eat. Just like what he said, ‘when you plant, you can harvest, and have something to eat.’)
Teacher Emil Bal-iyang is also serving in the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. The DepEd teacher joins checkpoints in his barangay and even donates cash to people stranded in Baguio City.
“Isa kang magandang huwaran maestro.. (You are a model teacher) You’re one of the living heroes in our town. May God Bless you a thousand fold Sir! 🙏” Josephine Gironella said in her post.
More ordinary Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world are doing their share of helping out of concern for others affected by the community quarantine.
Another Ilocano, Larry Ceria, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Italy planned to have his vacation in the Philippines but was unable to go home due to the lockdown and instead used his travel fund to send relief goods to the Philippines.
University of the Philippines students Sofia Tagle and Meghan Sevilla have also used their time at home to produce the Lukal health drink for donation to hospital frontliners.
Engr. Gerry de Leon in New Zealand plays healing music on his saxophone for his neighbors under lockdown.
SHARE THIS STORY to inspire people and SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Teacher Emil Bal-iyang for his act of kindness during the lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus disease.
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