“Hunger” Alito B. Delos Santos, T-III Val. Ed. Dept. Head (Designate) Lala National High School Maranding, Lala Lanao del Norte For nearly a decade of being a teacher, I noticed that one of the recurring problems that our learners encounter is that of hunger. Students coming from very poor families are the ones who suffer from it on a regular basis. Consequently, this has made a dent on the capacity of these students to learn. Many of them are not necessarily dumb but studying for them is constantly distracted and/or hampered by annoying pricks in their empty stomachs. This situation has moved several kind-hearted teachers to organize feeding programs for these children. Despite the negative outlook we have on hunger, this phenomenon has a lot to teach us as well. I (though a salaried teacher and capable of providing food for myself and for my family) have a share of these “hungers” too. From time to time, I continue to hunger for wholeness, to hunger for meaning, and to hunger for belonging. And I think it would be difficult for us as teachers to “feed” others if we ourselves do not know what being hungry is all about. Feeding and/or eating only make sense when we are hungry. A person who is already full would not crave for food. Thus, although hunger oftentimes carries a negative meaning since it could also be a sign of existing injustice, oppression, etc.—the hunger felt by people in Third World countries—it also signifies a kind of openness, a willingness to receive help from others. It will be significant if sometimes we allow our students to “feed” us and place ourselves at the receiving end of their generosity. If we could do this, we would not only teach them how to “feed” others but also how to empower themselves. By simply situating ourselves at the receiving end, we are actually sending a concrete message to our learners that they have some things to give—talents, skills, time, giftedness, etc.—things that they might not, initially, recognize as their own. By the way, I think being hungry or thirsty for something or “longing” is also part of our humanity. There are times when everything seems to be fine in our life but then suddenly we discover a kind of emptiness deep within. My Spiritual Director before called this kind of hunger “existential longing”—a longing for God. As teachers, we therefore have to recognize the presence of hunger within us. Until we acknowledge our own hunger, we cannot “feed” ourselves with God. If we fail to see our own hunger, we cannot see the hunger of the people around us either. How then can we feed them?