About 40 pupils of Sudlon Elementary School were in for a pleasant treat when Humanist Alliance Philippines, International (HAPI) volunteer Ethan Yslam, along with friends, paid them a visit on January 22, 2018, during his short vacation in Cebu City, Philippines. Ethan was making a number of stops at Cebu’s tourist spots around the
time.
In an effort to draw more motivation from Ethan’s deed of giving back to the community, teachers of the school gathered pupils who were considered bottom of their class as fortunate receivers of lunch meals and some school supplies. By seeing the joy in the pupils’ eyes, Ethan realized that being bottom of the class does not always mean causing trouble, but needing more love and care from adults around them.
Sudlon Elementary School is located in a partly remote area in Sudlon II District of Cebu City. Sudlon II, being in a mountainous colony of Cebu, is home to the Moncado Hotel, a +50-year-old hotel made of wood, and neighborhoods of decades-old houses since the district was made into a military base during World War II. The highlands-kind of weather makes the district perfect for gardening and breeding poultry and livestock.
However, about two years ago, Sudlon II farmers had to scrounge for water to irrigate their crops as Cebu City declared a state of calamity after the prolonged drought destroyed PhP13.4M worth of crops and affected the city’s water supply.
Ethan is a Filipino mixed martial artist, now based in the United States. He is a follower of science and astronomy, and a traveler while being a music and digital media enthusiast.
A not-for-profit and secular organization, HAPI was founded on acts of kindness — small and great. Ethan’s deed only proves how humanism is a gift in itself yet it keeps on giving. You, too, can be like Ethan. Just look around, and think well how you could make a difference in your community. Humanity needs you.
Author:
McJarwin Cayacap
HAPI Metro Manila Member
Web Content Editor
National Events Officer-in-Charge
Coordinator for Foundation Beyond Belief
He’s currently in between careers, so he busies himself with anything that works for the good of humanity. Other than being a humanist, he is a realist, an art aficionado, a frugal foodie and a weary wanderer.
