Zamboanga's teachers continue their work despite kidnappings

The beginning of the new school year brings new challenges for some teachers: new students to get to know, the renewed challenge of making ends meet given a teacher's salary, as well as the new challenge the K-12 curriculum brings. But the challenges that some teachers in Zamboanga face are unique to them. She has been teaching for over ten years, but for the Zamboanga teacher identified only as “Tet”, a measly salary and a new curriculum are the least of her worries. For one thing, just to get to work, teacher Tet will have to brave the seas as she has to take a banca to an island where the school is located. Tet happens to be one of around 100 teachers who serve in public schools located on islands dotting the sea around Zamboanga. Out of the province's over 200 public schools, about ten are found in the islands “Aalis kami ng Monday, tapos Friday na ang balik,” explained Tet in an interview aired Thursday on GMA 7's “24 Oraas”, “Mga 1.5 hours ang byahe.” “Nakakatakot! Lalo na pag maalon naiiyak ako," she added. And that is still not the worst of it as these Zamboanga teachers don's just dedicate their lives to their profession. Given the threat of being kidnapped or outright murdered by armed kidnap-for-ransom groups, they are gambling with their lives as well. Another teacher, “Riza”, tearfully recalled how she came face-to-muzzle with three men from one of these groups. "Tatlong baril ang nakatutok sa ulo ko,” said Riza, “Sabi nila, 'M'am sumama ka na lang. Hindi ka naman namin sasaktan.'" Teacher Riza resisted and, in front of her students, the gunmen dragged her out of the classroom. Fortunately, townspeople noticed the commotion and came to her aid. The kidnapping was thwarted. Pedro Natividad, the Department of Education's assistant schools division superintendent in Zamboanga City admitted that it was a dangerous life Zamboanga teachers led. "Kahit sa pagtulog sa gabi, 'tulog manok' daw ang ilang guro,” said Natividad, “So we discourage them to travel weekly. Kung maaari every two weeks na lang." Police Senior Inspector Rolly Joaquino, the Zamboanga City police's operations officer, said teachers were vulnerable targets for gunmen. “Kidnappers want easy money, not anymore just the wealthy,” said Joaquino Police units are trying to protect the teachers, providing escort and riding along with the teachers on the way to the islands. They escort them back every Friday's as well. But still, the fear is there. “Kailangan kong ipakita sa mga bata na matatag ako para maging matatag din sila,” reasoned teacher Riza. — DVM, GMA News