An unhealthy self-denial

Perhaps it is their sense of pride that students, who come from economically disadvantaged families, have decided against making good use of the school lunch program prepared daily for them.

Two things happen when students place their pride ahead of their health: 1). The denial of healthy nutrients their bodies need to recharge. 2). Inability to partake in full class sessions because of an empty stomach. It works against them as they go through the rest of the day consuming unhealthy junk food to quell their hunger.

But then maybe there’s also a strong local resolve from such decision: Students aren’t prepared to embrace freebies not so much that it is embarrassing, but are fully wary that someone is paying for their “free” lunch, thus it isn’t necessarily free after all. Perhaps it is the notion of accepting a freebie when they can work and earn their stripes that predominates their decision against taking advantage of a program basically designed to aid students who hail from economically disadvantaged households.

Such self-denial reminds us older folks (who went to school in the late fifties and early sixties) of days gone by when most families basically worked and toil the soil in family farms to supplement food on the dinner table. Otherwise, we head to the lagoon where we catch fish and share them with neighbors throughout the villages. Either way, the local diet was supplemented by farm and sea food produced by hardworking families.

Those were the days when students who come from poorer families go to class on empty stomach. When lunch rolls around, most would head either to the beach to shoot the breeze or tañgantañgan jungles to eat lunch wrapped in banana leaves or simply wait out the whole hour for the bell signaling the beginning of afternoon classes.
There’s no such thing as free school lunch program back then. They were difficult days when most who can’t afford the $.25 lunch consisting of fast fried spam smothered with tomato paste and red rice had to endure the balance of the day drinking faucet water between classes.

Those were the good old days that has become font memories of what we had to endure then. How we wish we too had the opportunity to line-up for our share of nutritious school lunch for the poorer bunch. Perhaps, too, we would forego the chowline in much the same way that most students today have seen fit to skip out of local pride and resolve not to take advantage of the not so quite free meals that come from the hard work of other taxpayers. We’re not encouraging that you skip this program entirely. But if you need it, go for it. After all, you need strength to go through the rest of your classes in the afternoon. Otherwise, head home and find out what’s available in mom’s kitchen. Si Yuus Maase`!