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Maraming problema ang aming nayon. Mahaba ang pila sa pag-igib ng tubig kasi iisa lang ang gripo.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Naghihintay lang kami ng pagkaing donasyon galing sa iba.
We waited for food donated by others.
Maaga kaming nagsasara ng bahay dahil may magnanakaw.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Maraming bata ang tumitigil sa pag-aaral.
Many children dropped out of school.
Pumapasok naman bilang katulong ang mga dalaga sa ibang nayon.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
May mga binatang istambay at pagala-gala habang tumutulong ang iba sa bukid.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Kumakalat ang basura kung saan-saan kapag malakas ang hangin.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Nasusugatan ang ilan dahil sa bubog na tinapon na lang basta.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Isang araw, nawalan ng tubig ang gripo at hindi kami nakapag-igib.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Pinuntahan ni tatay ang bawat isa sa kanilang bahay para tawagin ang isang pulong.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Nagtipon ang mga tao sa ilalim ng malaking puno.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Tumayo si tatay sa harap, “Kailangan nating magtulong-tulong para malutas ang mga problema.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
“Tutulong akong maglinis,” sigaw ng walong taon na si Juma habang nakaupo sa putol na puno.
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
“Magtatanim kaming mga babae ng makakain,” sabi ng isang ale.
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
“Maghuhukay kaming mga lalaki para makahanap ng balon,” sabi naman ng isang mama.
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
“Magbabagong buhay tayo,” sigaw naming lahat. Iyon nga ang aming ginawa.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Arlene Avila
Read by: La Trinidad Mina
