#literaryreportage

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[lifeinparagraph]

St. Joseph Golden Home Foundation

I was given the chance to be immersed in the eldery center and this essay  will tell you my experiences there. I hope that you'll discover a purpose as you continue to live with others.

              Do you feel a sense of fulfillment when you are able to serve other people? Especially the old ones like the grandmothers and grandfathers?  I, personally, would have to say yes to this because I felt this when we had our immersion in St. Joseph Golden Home Foundation. There, you will meet the joyful and cheerful elderly people. We have given a 2-week immersion to willingly serve and took care of them. Although at first, some of the clients were uncomfortable of us but we understand them. We extended our patience and help them make things easier like changing their bedsheets, interacting with them, feed them, change their clothes and, lead them to where they want to go in the center. Since the very first day, we really expected that most of our clients will be annoyed with us especially that we were new for them but we were so glad that they were very welcoming. We started to work there with a group of on the job training (OJTs) students and center staffs. They report earlier than us because they need to bathe the elders early. When we arrive there by 8 or before 8 in the morning, we often witness the elders outside getting a fresh air and enjoying the breeze of the beautiful morning. 

              First things first, we bless or “mano” to each of them and greet them a good morning. It felt like they were also my lolos and lolas even if they aren’t my relatives. After a few minutes, we guide them to the lobby and then in their chapel. The center has a well-built chapel for the elders and have masses 3 times a day. We were enjoying our work because our clients were very cheerful and they make us happy all the time. We observed how the staffs assist the clients so everyday, we have our daily routines. The time for the elders is different from our time today, as for the young people because they eat and sleep earlier. Food and snacks are  served on time. When we have nothing else to do, we spare time interacting with the clients and we strive to not to be in one elder only. We  should also talk to the other elders and check on them even if sometimes they get annoyed when being talked. All of the elders have places in the lobby and even the elders know it but you can see all of them there. Some just watch a tv show, some of them choose to sleep and, some of them also wants to go outside and see the relaxing nature. My groupmates and I had different roles everyday and sometimes we do exchange of works so that everyone could experience them. 2-3 were assigned to outside works like sweeping the entrance area outside, picking up dried leaves, hang blankets  then the others were assigned into inside works like washing the dishes, mop the floor, and assist the elders. 

            The next day, the other members would experience inside works as well as the outside works. Showing love, care, and giving service to the elders as well as to the center is the most fulfilling act I have ever contributed in my life. It made me realize my purpose and that is to be the hands, feet, eyes and the ears to those people who are already incapable of doing things. I will forever treasure the memories we had with our clients and with the people I worked with. It’s not easy to be abandoned by a family member that’s why if you get to visit there, let the elders feel that they are loved and they matter.

[trees-are-tres]

Literary Reportage

ROUTE. ¹Namoro Family taking up the scenic route at ²San Ramon, Iriga City on Friday, 25th of December 2020. ³The ¹family celebrated Christmas Day early in the morning as they shared good laughs and memories. Making it a December to Remember.

WANDERLUST. ¹Trishia Namoro practicing her driving skills at the ²parking lot of  Super Metro in the City of Naga on Saturday, 31st of July 2021. ³The new ¹driver was captured on her seat having a nervous smile underneath her black mask before roaming around the city whilst singing along to the song Overdrive by Eraseheads vibing with the not so famous intro ⁴“Magda-drive ako hanggang Baguio, Magda-drive ako hanggang Bicol.”

MIDNIGHT SKY. The ¹photographer, ¹Trishia Namoro, with her phone photographing the ²city lights at SM Baguio City on the late night of Sunday, 28th of November 2018. ³The ¹tourist seized her chance to stroll around the city cognizant of the chilly breeze and immersed herself upon the city lights till 2 A.M.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. ¹Former Grade 9 students gather around the ²oval after their classes at ²Naga Hope Christian School, Naga City on the 10th of January 2019. ³The ¹students were preparing for their upcoming play in Noli Me Tangere as their performance task in a Filipino subject and decided to take a picture while waiting for their other ¹classmates.

Conventions (Fiction and Narrative)

¹Character ⁴Dialogue

²Setting and Scene

³Storytelling/Narration

[aamberkaye]

“Awareness”

The discussion of the college professor on Political Science is a significant part of the HUGAS week since the discourse is a platform for students who want to study in this specific program.

[casilihanjet]

8: Orgullo Week: Bughaw, Ripple, Sinag, Crown

Photograph Credits: Film Society

Bughaw

Team HU22 flaunts symbolic blue uniforms at the Belardo grounds on Monday, February 17, 2020.  The class fashioned blue uniforms and slogans to showcase SDG 6: “Clean Water and Sanitation.” Ms. Maria Dominique Tabagan waved her crown of recycled bottles to show that every drop counts.

Ripple

Team HU22 struts in the Gimik Parade at the Belardo grounds on Monday, February 17, 2020. The students wore blue droplet face paints then waved slogans showcasing SDG 6: “Clean Water and Sanitation.” All face paints, banners, and choreographies were prepared minutes before the event.

Sinag

Madam Redfranz Aliliran illuminates HUMSS and GAS students at the Belardo Multipurpose Room on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. The BS Psychology graduate shared her work experiences as a guidance counselor in St. Joseph School, Naga City. Madam Red lessoned about Unconditional Positive Regard, full acceptance of a person despite failures.

Crown

Jet J. Casilihan and Maria Dominique Tabagan of Team HU22 take a photo opportunity with HUGAS Chairpersons, Sir Francis Orasa and Madam Redrose Aliliran, at the Xavier Gymnasium on Friday, February 21, 2020. Both HU22 representatives were crowned Mr. and Ms. Orgullo 2020. Joseph Marco, Mr. Orgullo 2019, joined the scene.

[je-veux-mourirrr]

Digression

In one of the busiest days of the week, workshops like political science are given, majority of the students are seen captivated by the lecture of that far wiser than them. At face-value, he appears indifferent, but who would know of his internal articulations, his unseen potential.

- Jarl Lim and Jeffrey Dayao

[yourangelstudent-blog]

Human Refrigator that Restores Lives

It's a good time to be alive, but what if the only way to stay like that is by being a piece of frozen meat? If you were given the chance to stall the death of a loved one, would you do it? This has been the struggle of people ever since and science has an answer to it - body preservation also known as cryonics.

 It's both horrifying and amusing to think that immortality is one step closer from our doors. In fact, a lot of people with terminal illnesses have already tried the experimental concept hoping that they would one day wake up, healthy. It's a risk, but for them, "why not?"

 For Sahatorn Naovaratpong, a medical engineer, it was the tragic fate of her daughter, Matherine, that made him hold on to this possibility. At the age of two years and two months, the child was diagnosed a very rare condition of brain cancer called ependymoblastoma after not waking up one morning.

 Matherine's persistence to live was what drove her parents to fight for her life.

 "We decided against this cancer. We may not beat it, but her life can lead to a further step of mankind to overcome cancer in the future," his father stated in one of his interviews.

 Before officially dying, the little Thai girl had a duel with the grim reaper. After the discovery of her 11-centimeter tumor in the left part of the brain, she was immediately brought to surgery. There, the surgeons drilled her skull to remove the tumor. She had a really tiny chance to live, but this courageous warrior woke up after a week or so.

 The next few moments were stressful for everybody involved in it, including Sahatorn who described all that happened as an "emotional roller coaster." In a span of a year, Matherine underwent 20 chemotherapy sessions, 12 brain surgeries, and 20 radiation therapies. This led to her losing 80 percent of her left brain.

 "We noticed a power struggling for life in her beautiful round eyes. Finally, Einz [the child's nickname] was able to stand up on her feet again and could see from both eyes, as if she had survived from brain cancer. Couldn't help wishing she could go back to her normal childhood even with only a single right brain," Sahatorn continued.

 She was a fighter, as she outlasted most of the patients with this kind of condition. Unfortunately, it was not enough to keep her alive. In November 2014, face and muscle paralysis doomed her.

 "That was when we knew it was the end," the dad said.

 In 2015, her body was preserved in Arizona and is awaiting technology from evolving to be the newest inspiration of humanity.

 Their family agreed to doing this and they decided to consumer the service of the organization named "Alcor." They are the world leader in cryonics, a system used to describe the preservation of bodies. Because of this, lives can stop progressing and remain how it is now.

 "The first day Einz was sick, this idea came to my mind right away that we should do something scientifically for her, as much as is humanly possible at present. I felt a real conflict in my heart about this idea, but I also needed to hold onto it. So I explained my idea to my family," Sahatorn uttered.

"Matheryn had something special about her from the day she was born. She communicated with her love more than the other children, always wanting to be part of our activities," he continued.

 In the future though, her parents stated their interest in preserving their bodies to be with their daughter, then safe and healthy, finally.

Will body preservation be the newest emerging technology that may cure numerous illnesses or not? This is the big question. Whether we think that Matherine's parents are doing this because they fully and sincerely believe in the concept or not is up to us. However, one cannot deny the frightening yet comforting existence of technology to our lives. If it will help or destroy us, only time will tell.

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[aamberkaye]

“Cause” 

One of the highlights of the HUGAS week was the pageant competition. It was definitely one the most powerful platform since each contestant are to speak out regarding their SDG advocacies. Also, there are a series of q & a’s about their take on the different senior highschool issues. 

[aamberkaye]

“Education”

The first event in Orgullo 2020 was the gimmick parade dated on February 17, 2020. Our SDG was Quality Education wherein we put up placards to address the issues on our SDG. The recent issue was about the increase of tuition fee whereas education isn’t a privilege but a right. 

[aamberkaye]

“Personal”

Following the gimmick parade on the same day was the spoken word poetry whereas the contestants are asked to create their own piece and present it to the to the audience. What struck me amongst the presented pieces was the poem about self-love which happened to be the winning piece. 

[lifeinparagraph]

Short Takes: The Art of Memory

We did a lot of tasks and activities during the 2-week work immersion. It was really all worth it despite the exhaustion that we felt. 

              Work Immersion is a requirement for the grade 12 students conducted by the Department of Education. We, the grade 12 students from the Humanities and Social Sciences and the General Academics strands had our 2-week work immersion which started on January 20 and ended on January 31. We were grouped and assigned into different centers. Out of the three centers in Lumbia, I was assigned in a center called Tahanan ng Kabataan. The center was established by the City Social Welfare and Development Department where males aging from 13-17 years old that violates the law are situated.

           The first day was the day wherein we had a lot in our minds. We gathered in Corpus Christi School in order for our strand coordinator to remind us the dos and don’ts during the immersion. As we entered the area on the first day of immersion, the first two centers that I saw looks like typical houses. The last center that I saw looks different from the others. There was a fence and a gate monitored by a guard. As we entered our center, the clients were furiously looking at us. All of us were in silence because we were not used to this kind of environment. We had an orientation with the staff, giving us information about the center and our tasks. At 10a.m., we entered the area wherein clients gathered around to have a therapeutic community approach. “Good Morning Family” was the phrase that started the activity. We started praying both in Christian and Islamic way. During the gathering, I noticed several things that they need to talk about. The staff further talked about each and every one of their cases. Theft, drugs, rape and murder were the usual cases of the clients. First part of the gathering, the clients were given time to speak up about their conflicts with each other which they call it as “pull ups”. The clients who were involved in the conflict were asked to stand up. Some of them gave advices after. Second thing that they did is to express as to whom they were grateful for. Third, they showcased their talent, mostly singing and rapping, which they were confident enough to do so. At the end of the program, we prayed again and started singing with arms crossing with each other singing a song which concludes the program.  At lunchtime, we started getting our lunchboxes and ate with the clients. Another thing that I noticed was that the clients ate their meals using their bare hands. The meal’s serving looks a little unsatisfying because the rice were massive with their viand looking so limited. After lunch, they had a siesta wherein they rest and sleep from 12 pm up until 2 pm.. In the afternoon, my classmates and the clients had fun playing basketball. In the center, I learned that the therapeutic community approach in the morning, lunch, siesta, and basketball at 3 pm. were the daily routines. Our chaperone, Sir JM, lets us write a reflection paper wherein we expressed our feelings, learnings, and observations at the end of the day.

           We had a lot of different tasks during the immersion. On the first week, we conducted a Zumba session wherein all of us have to exercise and dance with the beat of the song. We also let them play different games. We removed the unwanted grass off of the soil and swept the dried leaves that were surrounding the court. We tutored the clients with basic English and Filipino spellings and mathematics. There were some that were knowledgeable enough and some were also not but at least, the clients were participative on the activity. On the second week, we went to the center’s garden and rehabilitate it. We also swept the dried leaves not just inside the center but also outside wherein we have to pile them up and set it on fire. We also chopped wood which will then be used as fuel for them to cook. On the last day, we had our culminating activity wherein we conducted a boodle fight and said each and every one of our concluding statements after.

           All I can say is that most of my observations during the work immersion experience were delighting and positive. The clients were very polite and kind to us. We hung out like we were already close with each other. We set aside our differences and created an unbordered bond with the clients. As to what they have said, the clients were thankful for we gave them fun and joy even though we had limited time. Also, the staffs of Tahanan ng Kabataan center expressed their gratitude. They were thankful that we did a great job in our service in the center. The staff mentioned the bond that we have created all throughout the experience, highlighting the part wherein we spent our lunch time not by eating outside the center but by eating together with clients.  

[lifeinparagraph]

Gugma sa Kabataan

In life, we cannot escape interacting with other people. With that, a little help you give to others could actually benefit you more. It may seem like you’re the one helping them, but actually, they’re the one helping you - to get to know yourself more.

           On the 21st day of January, I started my first day of Work Immersion. As I arrived at Gugma sa Kabataan together with Sir EJ Baisa, our chaperone, and my group, we were greeted by Kuya Jonah Domnigo. Kuya Jonah is the Executive Director of Gugma sa Kabataan (GSK) who was appointed by his mom, Mami Iluminada Domingo. Mami, as what she would prefer us to call her, was the previous Executive Director before she appointed her son. We started our first day of Work Immersion with an orientation about the rules and regulations of the center, Gugma sa Kabataan. Kuya Jonah tackled about the funds of their center and he mentioned that it was not funded by the government but by FICCO and some sponsors from Germany. After the orientation, we were given almost half an hour to just relax. As I looked around the center after the orientation, it was really not that spacious. Gugma sa Kabataan sponsors 33 kids in total and they could all fit inside the center during breakfast and lunch, as what Kuya Jonah have mentioned during the orientation. After thirty minutes, Kuya Jonah then decided to bring us to the Barangay Hall of Consolacion for the Courtesy Call. We were introduced to the barangay administrator and to their secretary. And after that, we went to some of the houses of the clients of GSK and introduced us to some of the families. We visited three houses and all the families greeted us with wide smiles while some of them were doing their laundry. During lunch, Kuya Jonah suggested that we should go and help bring the kids’ lunch to school so that we could finally meet them. We went to the houses with ate Nove, one of the clients of GSK. As we rode the tricycle, we then arrived at our destination which was in a public high school in Barangay Consolacion. We were greeted by the clients of GSK as they all claimed their lunch boxes which had their names on it. We then went back to the center as we finished giving them their lunch, and ate our lunch together. In the afternoon, we played table tennis and badminton with some of the clients since it was a Tuesday. Their schedule for playing was during Tuesdays and Thursdays as long as they are all finished with their home works. We ended our day with a short debriefing and then went home together.

            In our two week work immersion, all we did was visit the houses of the clients in GSK, brought the kids their lunch, played with the kids, helped them with their homework, and sometimes, we would clean the center, and wash the dishes. During home visitations, we would go to our assigned family. I was assigned to Mimi and Joyjoy’s family – twin sisters whose mom was ate Inday. Their house was not spacious enough and I was amazed by how they were able to pull it off. Their dining table was outside their house and there were clothes ready for laundry that were scattered everywhere. Ate Inday has six other children and her husband worked as a sikad driver. While Ate Inday worked in the Barangay Hall of Consolacion as a utility staff. There were times that I would not visit her at home but instead, I would visit her while she was working at the Barangay Hall. We helped her clean the session hall and in watering the plants while we were chitchatting about her life as a hardworking mother. Aside from home visitation, we also helped in cleaning the center and in washing the dishes. Although Kuya Jonah told us that we should not help in cleaning anymore, we still did. The kids in GSK had tasks that they should wash their own plates, which was why we did not wash too many dishes during our Work Immersion. Sometimes, during the afternoon, some clients would go to the center to do their homework that required them a laptop and an internet connection. We helped them with their assignments and played with them after. Also, we always ended our day with a meaningful debriefing wherein we shared our insights and realizations for the day.

           To sum it all up, our two week Work Immersion at Gugma sa Kabataan was honestly not very tasking. However, it was emotionally draining. Seeing the dirty surroundings where families live and hearing their devastating stories were the reason why I was tired at times, not the cleaning, washing of dishes, and the frequent long walks on our way to some of their houses during home visitations. However, the center heads and the kids treated us like their own which made us feel better during our Work Immersion.