DAGYAW matters

(by: MARK JOSHUA T. TACSAGON, SKMF President, Tubungan, Iloilo)

 

The word “dagyaw,” in the Ilonggo vernacular translates to “bayanihan” in Filipino. There is no single English word that quite captivates the breadth and aptness of this uniquely Filipino undertaking.

In Tubungan, Iloilo, “dagyaw” takes a different meaning as one teacher of Alternative Learning System (ALS), Darwin T. Tadifa, chose to strategize a literacy integration program involving various sectors in their community. He calls this, the Delivery of Assistance and Guidance for the Young Minds’ Advancement and Welfare or DAGYAW. 

While the rest of the community prepares to combat COVID-19, Sir Darwin gathered seventeen (17) Kabataang Guro Volunteers, forty-four (44) learners from various schools, volunteers from other sectors including parents, as well as barangay and SK officials for the “dagyaw” project called, BULIG SA KABATAAN!

Bulig sa Kabataan (bulig-help/assistance) or BUhayin ang LIterasiya at tulungan ang mga maGulang; Sanayin sa Arithmetic ang mga bata; KAbataan boluntaryong magtuturo at BAsang may pag-unawa TutukAn para sa kinabukasAN meant more than just helping the youth during the period of the extended community quarantine. It was also meant to transform the lives of learners and other members of the community by promoting literacy, extending charity works to the aged members of the community, to the needy, and to the frontline workers during the pandemic.

“Dagyaw” thus, meant more than just “helping” those in need. It became the brand of this man’s creative leadership that even this pandemic failed to restrain.  For this unsung hero, “DAGYAW” does matter.

DALI! DAGYAW TA! SK Kabataang Guro Volunteers, 

in Barangay San Jose, Tubungan, Iloilo, April 24. 2020:

Among the programs initiated by Darwin T. Tadifa 

is Integrating Health Awareness and Literacy in the community.

 

BULIG SA KABATAAN! Project DAGYAW’s learners’ survey conducted on April 24, 2020:

Sir Darwin and his team of volunteers work in the spirit of bayanihan,  

to help members of the community especially those from the remote areas  

of Tubungan, Iloilo cope and find hope during the pandemic.

(Mr. DARWIN T. TADIFA, is the District ALS Coordinator of Tubungan, Iloilo)