Laughter and toilet humor

Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource. — JFK

On the third anniversary celebration of the pioneer Laughter Yoga Club, Phils., and living true to its mission, we turned over to Payatas B-Annex Elementary School, Quezon City six toilets, two showers, and a complete water supply system for its over 1,200 elementary students.

How we stumbled upon this farthest branch in the string of Payatas Elementary Schools, was narrated by its principal, Rosemarie Salvador, during the turnover ceremony. She met Roger Cuaton, former president, Quezon City Federation of Parents-Teachers Association, in a seminar and, having learned about the toilets and water supply system we donated to Payatas A Elementary School last year, she asked Mr. Cuaton for similar help for her school. Their meeting must have been providential — for at that time I was scouting around for a school to help, and I discussed this with Roger Cuaton.    

Cuaton immediately contacted me and   mentioned Mrs. Salvador’s urgent request for toilets and water supply system. Immediately, I visited the school and met its principal, whose dedication and genuine concern for the welfare and interest of the school and its students were very evident. With limited resources, I saw the vast improvements she introduced to the school in the short time she was assigned there. It touched me to the core that here is a teacher-principal who opted to stay and be with our school children, though she could have left for a much better remuneration abroad. 

When asked how the toilets-and-water-system help to public schools came about, I always narrate that I caught the tail-end of an ANC TV host interview some years back, where some students replied that since they only had one toilet, they just control the call of nature until they reach their homes. Appalled and deeply touched by that scene, I vowed to do whatever I could to help alleviate their situation.

Our public school children constitute a major part of our young generation, who will inevitably take over from us. We cannot prosper as a nation unless we progress in education, and the human mind is our fundamental resource! But how can our school children have healthy, bright minds under such pitiful situations? Experience tells us that when we control the call of nature, we suffer from headaches, discomfort, and mental dysfunction. Hence, Laughter Yoga, Phils.’ mantra of “healthy minds, healthy bodies!” and being true to its self-avowed commitment to help provide water and sanitation to our public school children.

During the turnover ceremony, a program was presented by the students, whose sincere and profound gratitude moved me to tears, a humbling and memorable experience that inspires me to go on and do much more.

As the children were standing under the heat of the sun and becoming restless, I proceeded to do some basic kinds of laughter, and with the positive chanting of “I feel good, very good, yey” and “I am bright, very bright, yey,” they were awakened and energized, dancing and swaying to the rhythm. They used the basketball court outside the school for this activity as the school premises have no such facility. The school principal took advantage of the occasion by requesting Valerie Manila, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte’s representative, who provided the snack for the 320 students present, to install a roof on the open court so it could be comfortably used, rain or shine.

Excited were the school officials when I mentioned that the schools in India, which have integrated Laughter Yoga during the flag ceremony and in between classes, have reported zeo absenteeism and a remarkable improvement in their students’ performance and attitude. With optimism, I look forward to that day when we can adopt the same in our schools.

Here is what some participants say of their Laughter Yoga experience:

• Ma. Consolacion Lastimado: “Enjoyable and helped release bad energy through laughter. We really need this “seminar.” Thumbs up to Ma’am Elvie … you made our teaching life more meaningful.”

• Riggnald Gamboa: “We really had fun. Hope to have more exercises and activities like these.”

• Roger Cuaton: “The LYoga exercises we did relieved me of headaches.”

To register for the July 10 LYoga session, visit www.laughteryogaphils.com; to laugh, visit youtube: lycphohohahaha.