MANILA, Philippines –  Until he was 37, Gener Jarito never set foot in a classroom to study.

Jarito has been a taxi driver for almost a decade. During this period, he felt he had no direction – both in life and at work.

“Gusto ko pa mabago buhay ko. Ayaw kong tumanda bilang taxi driver,” Jarito said in an interview with Rappler. (I still want to change the course of my life. I don’t want to grow old as a taxi driver.)

As a taxi driver, he goes where his passenger tells him to. While his route varied, it remained winding and endless. He wakes up at 4 am, goes to work, drives his passengers to their different destinations from morning until next dawn, and then goes home after a whole day’s work.

He was bound to repeat the same routine for the rest of his life until he discovered the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program offered by La Salle Green Hills.

Instantly, he found a real direction – to start and finish his education.

Childhood dream 

When he was born, his parents abandoned and left him under his grandmother’s care in Northern Samar.

He grew up on a hill, found at the outskirts of the province. To be able to reach the nearest school, it would take a day of trekking down the mountain. It is for this reason that his grandmother decided to no longer send him to school.

“Katwiran ng lola, siya nga raw `di nga nakapag-aral eh. Tapos malayo ang paaralan. Kaya sunud-sunuran din ako sa lola ko kasi mahal na mahal ko siya.” (My grandmother reasoned that even she wasn’t able to go to study. And the school was far. I followed my grandmother because I love her so much for raising me.)

So instead of going to school like other kids, Jarito spent his childhood planting vegetables and crops. He also helped with household chores.

Despite this, Jarito never discounted the value of education. If any, being away from school only strengthened his childhood dream to be able to write and learn.

“Naiinggit ako sa mga bata sa amin noon. Hinihintay ko sila sa labas ng eskuwelahan. Tapos ako sinisilip sila sa bintana, nagsusulat at nagbabasa. Sabi ko: kailan kaya ako makakapasok sa loob na yan at matuto magbasa’t magsulat?” Jarito recounted. (I was envious of the my friends back then. I would try to catch them whenever they went to school. I would peek into the window and I’d see them writing and reading. I asked myself: when would I be able to enter the same room and learn how to read and write?)

This dream constantly drove him to persevere harder in life.

Uneducated, incomplete

Before reaching his 20s, Jarito travelled to Manila to work. He first landed a job at a landfill but couldn’t endure the strong stench of the mountains of trash. He then moved at a construction company but his fragile body couldn’t bear the rigorous work.

Soon enough, a family hired him as a houseboy. It was then when he first tried his hand at writing the alphabet. According to Jarito, the son of his boss, upon learning he was illiterate, taught him how to read and write. 

He also learned how to drive at the same house. 

After a few years of training behind the wheel, Jarito decided to find another job as a driver. But entirely without an educational background to show to employers, his job hunt proved to be difficult.

In one of the interviews, the employer who lived in one of the private villages in Makati, noted that while his experience was vast, he didn’t have an educational background. 

The employer then told Jarito he would call him instead as he handed his papers back to him. Jarito knew well what that meant – an empty promise to sugarcoat the rejection.

“Para akong sinukluban ng langit. Di ko na nga naramdaman kung paano ako nakauwi. Iisa lang talaga nagpapasira ng buhay, kawalan ng edukasyon. Kaya nagpupursige ako.” (That experience really saddened me. I even forgot how I managed to go home. I realized that there’s only one thing that continues to block me from my dreams – lack of education.) Jarito added that the experience fueled his desire to go to school. 

Alternative learning system

One day, while plying the roads of Metro Manila, he heard about the ALS program offered in La Salle Green Hills on the radio. That moment was his turning point. The following day, he trooped to La Salle Green Hills to submit his requirements for the program. 

ALS is a 10-month program of the Department of Education that provides a practical option for people like Jarito – employed Filipinos who wish to finish elementary and/or secondary education.  (READ: Making friends in jail: A mobile teacher’s story) 

The ALS program in La Salle Green Hills caters to all sorts of students – taxi driver, maid, masseuse, etc. This year, there are 34 students currently enrolled in the program. However, the number usually dwindles throughout the program’s implementation. 

“The number one challenge is the attendance – to make them commit themselves. We understand their background and situation – they have concerns with their family, job, etc,” Catherine Laguitan, one of Jarito’s teachers at La Salle Green Hills, said. 

Fortunately, the teachers at the ALS never experienced the same problem with Jarito. 

In fact, ALS is more than just a learning program for Jarito. For him, it is both a dream come true and a ticket out of a life as a taxi driver .

“Masaya na nag-aaral ako ngayon. Hindi na magkasya sa bahay ko ang kasiyahan ko. Syempre dati hirap ako magbasa, dati kung magsulat ako parang kahig ng manok, di maintindihan,” Jarito shared. (I am so happy that my house can’t contain my happiness. Before, I found it so hard to read and my penmanship was hard to decipher.)

Challenges

But the way to his dream wasn’t smooth-sailing. 

Since he started school in 2013, Jarito had to spend a portion of his work day going to school. In the morning, he would attend his classes; and in the afternoon, he would take his taxi to the road to save up for his day’s boundary. 

“Napakatiyaga ni Gener at magaling mag-manage ng time. Dahil binibigyan niya ng priority ang kanyang pag-aaral, meron siyang focus at direksyon,” Edwina Meily, another teacher at the La Salle Green Hils ALS program, said. (Gener is very persevering and he knows how to manage his time. Because he gives his studies priority, he has focus and direction.)

Jarito knew his priorities – education over work. According to Jarito, there are days when he only earns as low as P50 to P300.  But this doesn’t bother him as long as he is able to go to school. 

On a “lucky day”, he could earn up to P1,000. 

(Even if I earn little, as long as I am able to go to school. That’s what’s important to me – to be able to reach something other than by driving a taxi), Jarito said with a reassuring smile. 

At home, his desire to finish his education wasn’t met with full support either. According to Jarito, his wife initially opposed the idea, believing that it could only distract him from his regular job. 

“Lagi kami nag-aaway, lagi niya akong kinokontra. Bakit kung kailan raw nagka-edad, dun pa ako nangarap mag-aral. Sabi ko: Ma, matagal ko na siyang pangarap. At lahat gagawin ko para maabot `yun,”  Jarito would explain to his wife. (We always fight, she always opposes me. Why did I dream about studying when I grew old? I told her, Ma, it’s long been my dream. And I would do everything to make it real.)

Despite the hurdles, Jarito moved forward in his goal to finish elementary and high school. He said he hopes to start a business after studying. 

Value of education 

In January 2015, he took up the Alternative Learning Exam (ALE) for elementary. If he passes, he can move on to the high school program of the ALS. If he doesn’t, Jarito said he will re-take the program and study again. He is all set to finish his studies despite all odds. 

Gener Jarito’s efforts to finish his education through ALS is a success story in the making. 

“Kahit anong klaseng sipag ko, yung pera anytime magkakaroon ako kasi may trabaho ako. Pero yung edukasyon, wala sa akin. Kahit saan ako pumuntang lugar, yun ang kulang sa akin,” Jarito said. (No matter how I persevere, I can always have more money because I have work. But education is the only thing I don’t have. Wherever I go, that will always be my shortcoming.)

Jarito said he wants to achieve something beyond being a taxi driver. By being a part-time driver, part- time student and a full-time dreamer, he is well on his way to achieving his ultimate goal. – Rappler.com 

To enroll for the ALS program, bring a copy of your birth certificate and 4 pieces of 2×2 ID photos to La Salle Green Hills. You may also call  721-2000 (local 350).