MY SATURDAYS WITH CORNERSTONE
by Michael Matados
A wish came true.
It's in my blood (which I inherited from my father), to help people, especially those who really need help. It's always
been my wish to help people on a regular basis, not only when there's a calamity or disaster.
Last September I made a wish to God not expecting that it would be granted immediately. Three weeks after I made
the wish, I was invited to a Cornerstone session one Saturday at TS Cruz Elementary School (TSCES). That
Saturday became the first of many Saturdays I had spent as teacher-volunteer at TSCES. You see Cornerstone,
was part of the wish I made that came true and I'm grateful and continue to thank God even today.
Start of something new.
Benilyn, a friend, texted me all the instructions on how to get to TS Cruz, so after my shift in Makati where I work, I
hurriedly went to Las Pias. As I near my destination, there was this feeling that I couldnt shake off. You see I'm not
good at meeting people or making acquaintances and besides, I had no idea what my role would be. I even asked
myself, will I be able to deliver? Doubts, apprehensions started to overwhelm me so when I arrived at the
Elementary school I couldnt make myself get inside the school immediately. The only person I knew had not arrived
yet so the shyness in me started to nag me and I thought of going home, but there was this other side of me telling
me to go on; that there was nothing to be afraid of. A moment later Benilyn texted me to go inside to meet the
volunteers and the kids. .
Meet and Greet.
The volunteer teachers were serving a bowl of Sopas to the kids when I went inside the school, Teacher Katzy
greeted me. The kids were enjoying their bowlful of Sopas and some of them asked for a second serving; so while
they were eating my keen eyes observed everything I could absorb. Based on what I overheard and judging from the
T-shirts some of the teachers wore that day, I concluded that they were SFC/CFC members. This made me feel a bit
out of place so I went to the restroom to release my tension. The kids and the teachers were in the classroom already
when I went out of the restroom. Tita Mel informed me that Benilyn had arrived and was already in the classroom.
Inspiring.
Inside the classroom, I saw Benilyn flocked by a group of kids who were giving her a hug, a very inspiring scene I
thought. Beni later briefed me about Cornerstone and the role of SFC/CFC in it. Listening to what she had to say, my
apprehensions soon disappeared and I started to feel relaxed just by being at her side.
The coolest thing I was ever called.
I still had no idea how I could help or what my role would be, so I just watched and listened as Teacher Arbie
discussed how to pronounce/ read the letters. After that, Teacher Katzy assigned the kids to the volunteer teachers.
There were three kids assigned to me and Teacher Katzy told me that they already know how to read I just had to
correct their pronunciation. The task was simple enough so I asked the kids one by one to read a page from the book
we were given. While we're at it one of the kids asked me, "Teacher, may I go out?" I smiled and said "Sure you
can."
The word that struck me and lingered in my head for a long time was "Teacher." It felt strange but at the same time it
was cool to be called a "teacher". I've been called a nerd, weird and anything people can think of to annoy me or
humiliate me but never was I called a teacher. That first Cornerstone Saturday was a day I would forever remember.
Beginner's Luck?
In a nutshell, I believe I was able to accomplish what was required of me on my first Saturday and for a beginner it
wasn't bad at all. All my apprehensions vanished into thin air and the best thing is I enjoyed every moment of it. I told
Katzy and the others that I would be back the following week for sure. After my first Saturday with Cornerstone, I
realized that I was happy, I loved it and I wanted to do it again. I had never been happier for a long time.
Innocence is bliss.
Even though I wanted to be back the next Saturday, the truth is I had to move heaven and earth so that my Saturday
morning would be free. I was really not sure if I would be able to return to Cornerstone ever again. But it turned out I
didnt need to move heaven and earth; I just had to pray, and voila, I was back the following Saturday.
Unlike my first Saturday with Cornerstone, there were a lot of volunteer teachers this time. Ate Wendy, Kuya Nio,
Kuya Ferdie, Paul, and Aileen were those I remember. I was a bit shy still and most of them thought that I was an
SFC member until later that morning when Teacher Katzy asked me, how my experience was so far with
Cornerstone. I told her it felt good to be in the company of people whose intentions are noble. My second Saturday
with Cornerstone was more than fun. I got to meet new kids, new teachers and I was a bit more comfortable teaching
the kids. After the tutorials I had lunch with the volunteers then went home with a smile in my heart.
Thank God It's Saturday.
Sunday used to be my favorite day of the week until I started attending Cornerstone. My favorite part of the session is
story telling; its when a teacher tells a story either from a bible or anything that has a moral lesson to it. I like it
because its like re-living my grade school days when I would just sit with the tutees in class and listen to the story
being told. I believe the kids love this part too, because they all behave and listen attentively to the storyteller.
Whats with Cornerstone that makes me come back every week?
In my world where I seldom see kindness, it's refreshing to know and see that there are people who are more than
willing to devote their time and resources to teach the kids how to read, be familiar with the English alphabet, and
most of all teach the kids moral values which our society sorely lacks. We are living in a crazy world where most
people think only of themselves, where humanity is nasty, and sad to say I met a lot of people and had acquaintances
who are just that - nasty and selfish, people who would use even their friends for the sake of money. And I'm sick
and tired of it. It's refreshing, at the same time, amazing and admirable to see that there are people who treat
children with kindness and compassion; it really is inspiring. I met a lot of people at Cornerstone, some of them were
surprised to know that I'm not a member of their community, probably even wondered what the heck am I doing there.
Well, my only answer to that is my intentions are good, I admire what they are doing and I give them my heartfelt
gratitude for giving me the opportunity to do something that most people aren't willing to do.
Superheroes.
Last December 29, 2014 I was invited to attend the Cornerstone Christmas party with the theme Superheroes
which was apt to what the Cornerstone is doing - heroic and noble. There's a hero in all of us that gives us strength,
makes us do something that is noble, makes us open our hearts, not only our eyes. The kids and their parents may
not realize it yet, but those people at Cornerstone are already heroes, my heroes and I'm proud to say I'm one of their
sidekicks and I am truly grateful for knowing them. Sec. Jesse Robredo once said that "Those who help others, even
in the smallest way are heroes." Indeed, to help others is a time well spent.
Tomorrow.
There are three more Saturdays and my Saturdays with Cornerstone will end only temporarily because I will definitely
be back next school year. I'm going to miss those kids and it saddens me that this will be over. I've been with them for
almost 15 Saturdays and I thought I am the one who is teaching, but in reality Cornerstone is giving & receiving (not
taking because taking is something you get with some kind of compulsion). I give those kids' attention and care and
I receive from them lessons lessons on humility and patience while having fun with them. I will cherish this
experience for a long time and will do my best not to forget those kids.
My heartfelt gratitude to Benilyn without whom I wouldn't be here. Without her I wouldn't have met a lot of wonderful
people; without her, this experience would not be possible. I would also like to thank Katzy, Tita Mel and Tito Art, Tita
Cindy and Tito Ricky, Arbie, Rollie, Jay Orr, Edwin and Ate Wendy, who all welcomed me with open heart and
treated me as their own, and the most important of all - God. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Robin of Locksley said that "Nobility's not a birthright. It's defined by one's actions."
My favorite Old English Proverb:
"I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human
being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
