Neo’s Little Garden

Neo was a small boy in a big city. 
He lived in a small house in Manila with his Nanay and Tatay. 
In their home, mornings began with soft sunlight, the sound of the radio, and the yummy smell of breakfast.

While his classmates received stars in school, Neo earned smiles from Nanay when he made his bed.

He got a thumbs-up from Tatay when he watered the plants.  

“Home is the best classroom,” Nanay always said.

He was not at the top of the class, but Neo had many friends. 

He shared his baon. 

He listened when someone felt sad. 

He liked playing luksong tinik and piko during break time.

One morning, Neo saw the neighbor’s trash on the street -- banana peels, plastic wrappers, and old cans! 

“Yuck!” said the other kids. 

But Neo paused. He looked at the cans a little longer.

He picked them up, washed them clean, and filled them with soil from the park. 

He planted kamote tops and kangkong. 

“Let us grow food!” Neo said with a smile.

His friends came over. 

“Can I plant one too?” asked Carlo.  

“Let us paint the cans!” said Maya. 

Neo shared his seeds, his paintbrushes, and his laughter. 

Soon, other kids in the community joined them!

After a few days, some kids got tired of watering and composting. 

“It’s too much work!” they complained. 

Neo thought quietly. 

Then he started to sing “Magtanim ay Di Biro”.

“Magtanim ay ‘di biro, maghapong nakayuko…”

The others joined in—some sang, some clapped, some whistled. 

With sounds and laughter, watering and composting didn’t feel like chores anymore. 

It felt like playing together. 

Soon, tiny leaves sprouted everywhere—on steps, on walls, even on rooftops.

The garden wasn’t fancy, but it made the whole house feel alive.

Nanay cooked kangkong for dinner.

Tatay showed Neo how to make compost from peels and leaves.

“From waste to wonderful,” Tatay said.

Neo invited his friends to share the harvest for lunch.

The neighbors started copying Neo and the kids.  

Old cans became planters.  

Trash became treasure.

The whole street slowly turned green—fresh, clean, and full of tiny gardens.

The community not only became cleaner, but it also smells like a vegetable salad!

One day, Neo’s teacher visited their home. 

She saw the tiny garden, the tidy street, and the children helping one another. 

“You are growing more than plants, Neo,” she said. “You are growing hearts.”

Neo continued trying his best in school.  

His kindness, helpfulness, and simple ideas made him a good classmate.  

His classmates liked being around him—because Neo made the world feel like home.

From a little house in a big city, Neo’s little garden kept growing.  

Similarly, his friendships, care for others, and the way the community learned from one another were also notable.  

Because even small hands can grow big things!