The documentary film PAAralan (TREADucation)

by Malou Mangahas is a powerful and disturbing

look at the challenges faced by children in remote
areas of the Philippines who are trying to get an
education. The film follows the lives of several
children from the village of Latag in Nasugbu,
Batangas, as they face daily dangers in their
journey to school.

One of the most striking things about the film is the

sheer determination of the children. Despite the
risks, they are all eager to learn and they are
willing to make great sacrifices to get an
education. For example, one child, named Jay-Ar,
has to walk for two hours each way to get to
school. He often has to cross a dangerous river,
and he has even been attacked by wild dogs. But
he never gives up.

The film also highlights the failures of the

Philippine government to provide adequate
education for its citizens. The children of Latag are
forced to attend a dilapidated schoolhouse that is
in constant danger of collapse. The teachers are
poorly trained and underpaid, and they often have
to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet.

PAAralan (TREADucation) is a sobering reminder

of the challenges that many children in the
Philippines face in their quest for an education. It
is a film that everyone should see, and it is a film
that should make us all think about the importance
of education and the need to do more to ensure
that all children have access to a quality
education.

In addition to the challenges faced by the children,

the film also highlights the apathy of the local
government. The mayor and barangay captain of
Latag are shown to be largely indifferent to
 the plight of the children. They are more
concerned with lining their own pockets than with
providing the necessary resources for education.

The film ends with a call for action. It urges the

Philippine government to do more to provide
quality education for all children, regardless of
their background. It also urges the public to
demand better from their elected officials.

PAAralan (TREADucation) is a powerful and

important film. It is a film that should make us all
angry and ashamed. But it is also a film that gives
us hope. It shows us that even in the face of great
challenges, children can still achieve their dreams.
And it shows us that we can all make a difference
if we are willing to stand up for what is right.

Here are some of my reflections after watching the

film:

Ÿ I was deeply moved by the resilience and

determination of the children in the film. They
faced so many challenges, but they never gave up
on their dreams of getting an education.

Ÿ I was also angry and ashamed by the apathy of

the local government. They were more concerned
with lining their own pockets than with providing
 the necessary resources for education.

Ÿ I am inspired to do more to help ensure that all

children have access to a quality education. I will
contact my elected officials and demand that they
do more to support education.

Ÿ I will also volunteer my time to help children in

need. I believe
that everyone deserves the opportunity to get an
education, and I am committed to making a
difference.

I highly recommend watching PAAralan

(TREADucation). It is a powerful and important film
that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
The documentary film "PAAralan (TREADucation)"
by Malou Mangahas is a powerful and eye-
opening look at the challenges faced by children in
remote areas of the Philippines who are trying to
get an education. The film follows the lives of
several children from the village of Latag in
Nasugbu, Batangas, as they make the long and
dangerous journey to and from school every day.

The film's title, "PAAralan," is a play on words that

means both "school" and "to cross." This reflects
the two main challenges that the children of Latag
face: the physical challenge of crossing a
dangerous river to get to school, and the
educational challenge of being taught by
unqualified teachers in a poorly equipped school.

The film is heartbreaking to watch, as we see the

children risking their lives to get an education that
is often of poor quality. However, the film is also
inspiring, as we see the resilience and
determination of the children to overcome these
challenges.

One of the most striking things about the film is the

way it shows the impact of poverty on education.
The children of Latag come from families that are
struggling to make ends meet. As a result, they
often have to work to help support their families,
which leaves them little time for school.

The film also shows how the lack of access to

education can perpetuate the cycle of poverty. The
children of Latag are not getting the education they
need to get good jobs and improve their lives. As a
result, they are likely to continue to live in poverty,
just like their parents.

"PAAralan (TREADucation)" is a powerful film that

raises important
 questions about the state of education in the
Philippines. The film shows how poverty and
inequality are preventing children from getting the
education they need to succeed. It is a film that
everyone should see, and it is a film that should
make us all think about the importance of
education.

Here are some of my reflections after watching the

film:

Ÿ I was shocked by the lengths that the children of

Latag had to go to in order to get an education.
They had to cross a dangerous river, walk for
hours, and attend a school that was poorly
equipped.

Ÿ I was also saddened by the fact that the children of

Latag were not getting the quality education they
deserved. They were being taught by unqualified
teachers, and they were not being given the
resources they needed to succeed.

Ÿ I was inspired by the resilience and determination

of the children of Latag. They were facing
incredible challenges, but they were not giving up
on their dreams of getting an education.

Ÿ I believe that the film "PAAralan (TREADucation)"

is an important wake-up call for the Philippines. It
shows us the challenges that children in remote
areas are facing, and it challenges us to do more
to ensure that all children have access to quality
education.

I hope that the film will lead to positive changes in

the Philippines. I hope that the government will
invest more in education, and I hope that more
schools will be built in remote areas. I also hope
that the film will inspire people to help the children
of Latag and other children who are facing similar
challenges.

We all have a role to play in ensuring that all

children have access to quality education. We can
donate to organizations that are working to
improve education in the Philippines, and we can
also get involved in our own communities to make
sure that all children have the opportunity to
succeed.
The documentary film PAAralan (TREADucation)
is a powerful and disturbing look at the challenges
faced by children in the remote Latag community
in Nasugbu, Batangas. The film follows the story of
Elsa, a 10-year-old girl who must wake up at 3am
every day to begin a three-hour trek to school.
Along the way, she must cross rivers, ravines, and
a bridge that is in danger of collapsing.

The film highlights the lack of government support

for education in Latag. The local government has
not built a safer road to school, and the school
itself is in a state of disrepair. As a result, Elsa and
her classmates are constantly at risk of injury or
death.

Despite the challenges, Elsa is determined to get

an education. She is a bright and motivated
student, and she dreams of becoming a teacher
one day. The film shows how education can be a
powerful force for change, even in the most difficult
circumstances.

PAAralan (TREADucation) is a sobering reminder

of the inequality that exists in the Philippines. It is
a film that should be seen by everyone who cares
about education and the future of our country.
 Here are some of my reflections on the
documentary:

Ÿ I was shocked and saddened to learn about the

challenges faced by the children in Latag. It is
unacceptable that children should have to risk their
lives just to get an education.

Ÿ I was inspired by Elsa's determination and

resilience. She is an example of what can be
achieved when someone is
 passionate about their dreams.

Ÿ I was disappointed by the lack of government

support for education in Latag. The local
government has a responsibility to ensure that all
children have access to a safe and quality
education.

I hope that PAAralan (TREADucation) will raise

awareness about the challenges faced by children
in Latag and other remote communities in the
Philippines. I also hope that the film will inspire
people to take action to improve access to
education for all children.

Here are some things that can be done to improve

the situation in Latag:

Ÿ The local government should build a safer road to

school.

Ÿ The school should be repaired and upgraded.

Ÿ More teachers should be hired.

Ÿ The government should provide financial

assistance to families who cannot afford to send
their children to school.
I believe that with the right support, the children of
Latag can have a bright future. They deserve the
opportunity to get an education and to reach their
full potential.