Introductory note: this literary reportage is all about when we were having our immersion at Tahanan ng Kabataan, and our experiences there in the center.

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Noel Niño M. Seriño

Literary Reportage

We started our immersion on January 20,2020 and ended on January 31,2020. On the first day of the immersion we met up at Corpus Christi High School because Teacher Anselma Inot had to teach us about the rules and regulations of every center that we will be immersing. Because the the centers, or the clients rather has confidential issues on why they are there in that curtain center. I was assigned at Tahanan ng Kabataan with six other immersionists. We were monitored by our Chaperon, Sir John Mark Del Rosario regularly. He constantly keeps checking on us and moving to other centers beside ours to monitor our activites. The centers beside Tahanan ng Kabataan are. Boys town, and Oro Pahulayan. Every center has a different energy and vibe when entering. Because every center has different kinds of clients, such as at Tahanan ng Kabataan, we handled children aging thirteen to seventeen years old who are all male that have done dangerous cases that are against the law such as murder, rape, and theft. Inside Tahanan ng Kabataan there are twenty-one male clients who are constantly being monitored because Tahanan ng Kabataan serves as a Rehabilitation Center for children aging thirteen to seventeen years old who violated the law. Because according to Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. The state recognizes that children below 18 shall not be put into prison. That’s why Centers such as Tahanan ng Kabataan and Department of Social Welfare and Development are created. Observing other centers and knowing them were fascinating. Because you would know every life and story of each and every client inside the centers. Inside Boys Town, there are children below eighteen years old who have been reported being abused or have been left by their parents or family. And inside Oro Pahulayan there are Senior Citizens who have been left by their own families. And some have been lost in the city because they can’t remember anymore because of mental disorders or because of old age.

 On the first Day of our immersion we rode our own private vehicles in order to go to Lumbia and to our respective centers. Arriving at Tahanan ng Kabataan, and getting out of our cars we were nervous and scared. Seeing the clients at the entrance and leaning on the wall and the gate. Staring right into our very souls we were scared of them. Entering inside the gates of Tahanan ng Kabataan the clients looking right at us. We were looking at each other and prayed that nothing horrible will happen to us. When we entered the building inside, we were greeted with a group creating a circle together with the social workers of Tahanan ng Kabataan. We were requested to join their group circle, and we did. Everybody started role calling, one to twenty-one. And started with a disciplined and synchronized “Goodmorning Family”. Because inside Tahanan ng Kabataan, everyone is treated as a Brother, and everyone should be seen as a Family as well being respected. Then we had our prayers starting with the Islamic prayer then after, the Christian prayer. We prayed as one despite our differences and religions. Then they recited their memorized vows and pledges of Tahanan ng Kabataan. Then they had a routine called “Pull-ups”. Not the literal pull-ups but rather it is used as a term for someone to report something that they don’t like or have been insulted in some way. I’ve seen that as a good practice from them, because it is a way to speak-out the problems with each other and to settle the beef with one another through verbal and formal way. I hope that Corpus Christi School would apply this inside the institution for it shows positive and calm way of ending a conflict with one another. Then we had our news report. The news report was reported by the clients themselves in order for them to know what is going on outside and around the world. Then they had their talent show, someone is called to present their talent infront of the circle and mostly they would just sing Visayan Songs. Then they closed it with crossing of each others arms and singing the song “Pagsubok”. The activity that we participated was called “Therapeutic Community”. And I see it as a positive way to start a day, creating positive and peaceful vibes inside the Center.

Then we had our lunch together with them. And had their rest. Then in the afternoon we swept the dead leaves on the ground and made a pile, and created fire. Then we did our Gardening with the clients, for we have connected with the clients immediately and created a bond. Now knowing everyones cases, we but most importantly, they were comfortable with us. We chopped wood and raked the leaves every single day and most importantly bond with them. We conducted and tutored them basic alphabet and mathematics. We were shocked that they did not know the simple basics of learning. We were glad that they have learned from us, seeing their faces finally happy because now they know how to divide and subtract. On the last day we had our culmination and we made a “Boodle” for them. And we had our closing remarks and thanking remarks with one another. The clients made us a letter that they would miss us and stating that we are their favorite batch of immersionists. We created a bond with the clients that we the immersionists would not forget. We created a brotherhood, we saw each other as siblings and as a family. They were grateful and happy for the things that they have learned from us. And I greatly am thankful for I have learned many great things from them. I have learned that we should appreciate our lives and situations we currently have right now, for we are blessed to have a life in which we have not experienced theirs.