“Hunger”

Alito B. Delos Santos, T-III

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?