The SAI team got together virtually on September 7 for their monthly general assembly. The theme for this month is #Malasakit.

Malasakit is the only Filipino word in the 7 core values of Silid Aralan as it has no exact English counterpart. It can be synonymous to “empathy” but malasakit is so much more: it is empathy with the extra mile, with action.

CMO Arcie explained that malasakit is not only an attitude, but the voluntary act itself that one does for the welfare of another. Empathy is the ability to place yourself in someone’s position and the ability to feel what they feel and understand the background of their thoughts as it relates to them, but malasakit is being proactive and taking the initiative in extending necessary assistance or support to one another.

We were also joined by Tess, a parent co-learner of Silid Aralan, and Alma, a former iLEAD learner. They both shared their experiences and stories of malasakit back when they were active in service in the organization.

There was also a poem-making contest about malasakit and here is the winning piece from iLEAD Program Head Anne Clenuar:

Malasakit

Ang pagmamalasakit sa kapwa
ay hindi mo madalas makikita
Ngunit sa panahon ng kagipitan
ito ang syang nangunguna

Pag-tulong sa kapwa
Pagdamay sa panahon ng sakuna
Malasakit ang pinaiiral ng bawat isa
Kahit na wala kang kapalit na makukuha.

Malasakit is not a usual thing for some people but still in time of crisis and hardships this will rise and resonate specialty to us Filipinos.