A handwritten letter from a Grade 7 student in the Philippines asking his teacher for a loan of ten pesos (₱10) for food has struck a chord with netizens, shedding light on the silent struggles of many public school students.
The note, scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper, was addressed to a teacher named Myoren. It read:
“Ma’am Myoren, pwede po ba ako umutang ng sampung piso. Nagugutom na po kasi ako.”
The teacher, a Junior High School TLE instructor, shared the heartbreaking moment on Threads, where the post quickly gained traction. She revealed that this was not the first time the student had asked for a small amount, often to buy snacks or bus fare, but he always made an effort to pay it back—even when she refused to accept repayment.
“This time, I gave him ₱100, told him to buy rice meal para siguradong busog siya,” the teacher wrote.
But instead of spending the money on a full meal, the student returned with a pack of biscuits and handed back ₱90.
“Madalas absent ang batang ito dahil wala daw siyang pambaon, gagawan pa raw ng paraan ng mama niya. Sabi ko pumasok siya, bibigyan ko siya ng biscuit at tubig,” she added.
The post resonated with many teachers and former students who shared their own experiences of financial struggles in school.
One commenter, a fellow teacher, recalled how he ensured his pupils ate together during lunch so he could see who had food and who didn’t.
“Being a teacher ay walang pinagkaiba sa tunay na magulang, di matitiis at di kaya may anak na nagugutom,” he wrote.
Another user related to the student’s hardships, recalling how he had to skip classes due to a lack of transportation fare and even failed a subject because he couldn’t afford a project.
Others expressed admiration for teachers who go beyond the call of duty. One educator shared how he once carried a student with disabilities during a school field trip so the child wouldn’t miss out on the experience.
The viral post also inspired aspiring teachers.
“Kaya mas lalo kong ginugusto maging guro. Pagpalain nawa ng Diyos ang batang ito,” one user commented, adding a message for the student:
“Wag na wag kang susuko sa buhay. Manalig ka lang, hindi ka nag-iisa, may mga taong handang tumulong sa iyo.”
