If Mary had his little lamb who followed her everywhere, John Michael has his pet Gelo who helped him in school
Written by Frank Cimatu
Children usually bring their parents or elder siblings as a volunteer for the annual Brigada Eskwela. They would then sweep classrooms, paint walls and repair school facilities before the school opens.
Twelve-year-old John Michael Andres, an incoming Grade 7 student of Bangag Elementary School in Lal-lo, Cagayan drew attention this week when he brought his pet carabao, Gelo, to plow the school’s garden in preparation for vegetable planting before classes begin.
A simple post by the school drew responses from the social media and many local newspapers picked up the story of John Michael and Gelo.
School principal Lilia Tayanim said John Michael volunteered to prepare the garden so it would be ready for students once the new school year starts.
While many children his age spend their free time playing, John Michael is accustomed to farm work. The fifth of six siblings, he has been helping his family earn a living since childhood.
His father, Robert Andres, is a farmer, while his mother, Belinda Andres, serves as a village watch officer and supplements the family’s income by offering manicure and pedicure services. The family is also enrolled in the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps.
John Michael began selling vegetables to teachers when he was in first grade. By third grade, he had started caring for a carabao, a responsibility he continues to shoulder alongside his studies.
Under the heat of the morning sun, he guided three-year-old Gelo across the school grounds, gripping the plow as the animal turned over the soil for future crops.
Despite financial difficulties, teachers describe him as hardworking and eager to help.
“John Michael is an average student, but he is diligent and never hesitates to help the school,” Tayanim said.
Beyond school activities, he regularly assists in planting and harvesting corn to help support household expenses, especially as the opening of classes approaches.
Teachers also noted his determination to improve academically. According to school officials, John Michael strengthened his reading skills by singing along to videoke songs, helping him keep pace with his classmates.
His mother said school supplies remain one of the family’s immediate concerns as the new academic year nears.
Yet John Michael’s ambitions extend beyond his current circumstances. He hopes to become an agricultural technician someday and assist farmers like his father.
He also dreams of owning cattle that could help with heavier farm work.
For school officials and fellow volunteers, the image of a young student leading his carabao across the school garden offered a reminder that community service can take many forms.
About the Author
Frank Cimatu is a veteran poet and journalist based in Baguio City. He currently contributes to Rappler and co-runs the Facebook page Mountain Beacon. In 2018 and 2021, he published two poetry collections: Ang Mga Prusisyong Dumaan Sa Unang Bangungot and Birdcatching in Sagada and Other Poems. Prusisyon won the 20th Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award for 2021. He twice won the Palanca for poetry in English and Filipino. He also placed 2nd in the Procyon Awards for Young Filipino Poets. His current collection is a compilation of his works from the onset of the pandemic to the present, following his recollections of nostalgia, pop culture, and political response to the struggles faced by journalists brought by red-tagging.
