For many students, one of the first assignments that I bet they have been assigned to do is to bring something in their class like a family tree or a family picture, wherein you will be asked to describe your family in front of the class or through writing.
While most of us find it fun and exciting to share some details about our family, this young boy from Davao City made the netizens cry with the heartbreaking essay he wrote about his family.
Teacher Arnold Legara Cuevas instructed his students from T. Awad Elementary School in Barangay Mandug, Buhangin, Davao City, to bring a family picture and wrote an essay about their family for their assignment.
But he was shocked after reading one of his students’ essays, Rheann Khinn Cabahog who just lost his entire family to a fire that struck their family home in Isabela last March 12, 2019.
In his Family picture, the young boy wrote:
“Ang aking pamilya noon ay saya-saya namin nagsisimba kami. Kumakain sa labas. Pero dumating ang araw na bigla akong lumongkot kasi ang Mama at Papa ko ay kinuha ni God. Pati mga kapatid ko iniwan nila ako nag-iisa. Super lungkot ng buhay ko.”
Teacher Arnold decided to interview the young boy and learned from Rheann that he’s staying with his grandmother and aunts in Davao, while his parents and siblings were living in Isabela.
Unfortunately, both his parents and two siblings recently passed away after they were all trapped in their burning house in Isabela.
His family, including his two cousins, were all sleeping when the fire takes place.
Rheann would have been included in this if his class adviser did not oppose his father’s decision to transfer him to a school in Isabela. In fact, the fire incident happened only a few days after his class adviser told his father that it would be best for him to complete the school year first before they transfer him.
Saddened by his tear-jerking essay, Teacher Arnold shared the young boy’s story on Facebook. His post immediately went viral with over 53k reactions, 30k shares, and thousands of comments from netizens who offered prayers and words of encouragement for the young boy.