Sunset and sunrise

They came after sunset. They left after sunrise.

Five males, 15 females, all in all, 20 students of Toyo University came with Gaku Manago-sensei (the Japanese term for teacher) for a 2-week workshop at the University of the Philippines-Cebu to study about poverty and community development.

They toured the city, they listened to speakers, they visited various types of communities. Finally, they spent more time for field research, more to see personally how people, whose basic needs are still unmet, manage to survive in difficult circumstances and surroundings.

They honestly shared, during their presentations, that they came, like the darkness after sunset, with not so good images about our country, our people. They did see challenges in the lives of the urban poor in the various communities they visited. However, a number, if not all of them, realized that life is not only about physical survival, not only about income or work, not only about available resources for daily needs, or comfortable surroundings.

They saw with their own eyes that family, the company of people, the warmth and love for others, the smiles, the touch, the hugs, brought out the sun amidst so much clouds and darkness for those they met during their short stay in our country.

For sure, the Toyo University group left with the sun shining in their hearts as well. Many said, amidst tears while saying goodbye to their UP Cebu student volunteer counterparts, that they will return. They promised to share the various learnings they experienced during their short stay in Cebu to chase away the dark clouds of misinformation and lack of knowledge about the poor, about communities, about our people and our country.

No doubt, there is so much more for them to learn about this society and culture but at the very least, they took the first important step - they decided to share themselves , their time, their openness to learn and to exchange, their willingness, together with the Filipinos, to start to build the cultural bridge to deeper understanding and peace, amidst diversity, amidst differences.

This year saw the 5th batch from Toyo University that participated in the 2-week workshop organized by UP Cebu, together with RCE-Cebu (Regional Center of Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development) and partner community, Brgy. Luz and other partners from the civil society and local government.

More than research and field work, Toyo University has proven their deep concern for the residents of Brgy. Luz by quickly rallying to assist the fire victims last May through cash and school supplies. There have been suggestions to move to another community for novel field site and results. However, Toyo University is setting the model that engagement is not just academic or temporary. Real partnership means until most, if not all the needy in Brgy. Luz, will be able to stand on their own and have the sun rise in their lives and chase away from their lives, the dark clouds brought by social, local and global inequality.

The Toyo University group came to learn. They did not realize they also came to teach those they touched during their brief stay in Cebu. Their discipline as a group was conspicuous. No complaints, no loud voices, always on time, patiently awaiting the next instructions from the organizers. And eager to learn, brave enough to express themselves in English, and though sleepless, enthusiastic to share their field results and realizations with others- for sure, they allowed the sun from Japan to shine and bring light of much cultural appreciation to all those they met during their brief stay.

No goodbyes just itte-rasshai (please go and come again), the UP students told the Toyo University group at the airport who replied and said, itte-kimasu (we will go and return).

They came and left with the sun present. They will surely come again from the land of the rising sun to visit our country where the sun always shines.

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