Lament of Hearts

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata nang masilaw ako. Kinusot ko pa ang aking mga mata at naupo. "Nay? Bakit po?"

"Hindi na muna papasok ang kapatid mo ngayon hanggang bukas. Ikaw na rin muna bahala dito sa bahay at sa kakainin mo" 

Hmm.. Bakit kaya? 

"Bakit po nay?"

Tinaasan naman niya ako ng kilay. "Aalis na muna kami ng kapatid mo, kasama ang tatay mo. Bukas pa kami makakauwi. Wala ka naman sigurong problema duon?" 

Umiling naman ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "Wala naman po nay. Anong oras po ang alis niyo?"

"Ngayon na" sabi niya at tumalikod sa akin. 

"Ingat po" Huminga naman ako ng malalim. 

Friday naman ngayon at walang pasok bukas dahil sabado, okay lang naman siguro na umabsent na muna si Franz kahit ngayon lang.

*****

"Gurl, may chika ako. Hihihi" pabulong na sabi ni Rosella nang lumipat siya ng upuan at tumabi sa akin. 

Si Maxinne kasi ay palaging naliligaw sa upuan. Palipat-lipat at halos araw-araw akong walang katabi pero okay lang naman sa akin kasi may kusa namang tumatabi minsan.

"Ano? Pero teka, naglelesson pa kasi si sir oh" pabulong rin na sabi ko. 

"Can anybody tell me again, what media and information literacy is? before my class ends, I want you class, to answer these questions" tanong ni sir at tumitingin-tingin sa aming mga estudyante. 

"Yes Joven?" Tumayo si Joven at sumagot. "Information and media literacy enables people to show and make informed judgments as users of information and media, as well as to become skillful creators and producers of information and media messages in their own right" tumango naman si sir.

"Then, why is information literacy important in media?" nagtaas naman kamay si Josh. 

"Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and the messages they are sending. When we speak of media, it encompasses print media, such as newspapers, magazines and posters, and theatrical presentations, tweets, radio broadcasts and so on. Being able to understand these various forms of information with an ability to make sense of what is presented is key"

Ngumiti naman si sir at sumulyap sa akin. 

Mukhang nageexpect na siya na ako na ang sunod na sasagot sa tanong niya. 

"Last question, or maybe not... Give me some benefits of the media and information literacy. Agad na nagtaas ako ng kamay. Hindi ako pwedeng magpatalo sa iba! Kailangan ko maabot ang mataas na grades. 

Baka sakali... baka sakali na maging proud na sila sa akin niyan. 

"As expected, hindi ka magpapatalo. Yes Khiena?" natatawang sabi ni sir.

"The main benefits are first, in the teaching and learning process it equips the teachers with enhanced knowledge to empower future citizens. Next is the media and information literacy imparts crucial knowledge about the functions of media and information channels in democratic societies, reasonable understanding about the conditions needed to perform those functions effectively and basic skills necessary to evaluate the performance of media and information providers in light of the expected functions. And lastly, a society that is media and information literate fosters the development of free, independent and pluralistic media and open information systems" mahabang paliwanag ko.