#JourneyToChange : The Beginning

Let’s have a little throwback here.

Hey guys! I’m really glad to let you know that it’s my first time to write a blog. I’ve written posts before, I’ve had a different account before, but I wasn’t able to continue writing, and I also forgot my password (geez, signs of aging). Maybe it’s because of my availability, or maybe because it’s only at this moment when I’ll write something new and interesting about my experience.

I apologize for the late uploads and updates in our page, because of many things. Let’s just say this: during schooldays and summer, I gain and lose things, just like any other student. During schooldays, I have money, a semi-constant internet connection (because I only use broadband at home, and there’s connection at school enough for me to do home works), and a lot of things to do. Communication students don’t stop school hours inside the classroom. We start it there. Since we had 30 units (super full load) last semester, we have a ratio of 60:40, in favor of the things to do to the time we have. We use up to the last minute of every day just to finish shooting, recording, editing, and not to mention, reviewing for our minor subject examinations. So by this moment, you know what I lose during schooldays: time, and sleep. On the other hand, it becomes opposite during the summer time. I will not call it vacation because honestly, I don’t feel like calling it like that because of two things: 1. we’re not used to the usual holy week escapade, and 2. I always have a lot of responsibilities in school. You read it right, I always, always have a lot. I lose money during summer, because I usually spend my savings on our barkada outings, and load, in case of emergency. When I lose money, I also lose my internet connection, so I’m trying my best to get one. I actually owe my sister and my father for the internet load I have right now. When I lose those things, I gain some. Finally, (Ariel happen to me, just kidding) I got some sleep and more than enough rest.

In fact this school year is really a bloody school year for me, specifically in the second semester, I’ll have a different blog about that, just so this blog will be more about our community experience.

Okay, I’ve had much ‘kwento’ in my introduction, (I guess I’m just like that all the time, if you ask my friends and all) so now it’s time for the real story (Okay, Augustus, I know you want to know my real story).

So last year, or shall I say, last last year, our school had an entry in Unilab Ideas Positive, it’s the 4th Run and they battle against diabetes. Their community is at Langkaan, General Trias, Cavite. Our school is located at Dasmarinas, so it’s quite close. I know their story because I am part of the school newspaper, (ooh sorry, I WAS) and one member of the team, Ate Bea Chamorro submitted her article to include in our issue. I also supported their team if I may remember, by liking their video in the Unilab Ideas Positive page.

During my third year, I had the chance to host school events (actually, I volunteered myself in it, yes, I know, ‘pakapalan ng pes ito’) and I get to meet different school staffs, including school deans. I know them before, because I have been in this school for years now, but in this time, some of them started to know me also.

The rest is history, our team was formed and we were mentored by the Dean of the School of Medical Technology, Dr. Supachai Basit. I’m glad that my fellow members were also my friends, except or leader, Kuya Jolo. I honestly don’t know him from the start, but I may have seen him once or twice in my entire existence (haha!). I’m quite surprised when I realized I’m the only girl in our team, but it’s fine, cause I know them. JM was my writer in the school publication, Kuya Chrisitan was my classmate in our Biology class before, and Ecko was a Central Student Council Officer, particularly PRO, that’s why he’s known to officers and student leaders.

At first, not everybody knows everybody, except me, because I only have to know one person, Kuya Jolo, unlike them, some may have to know the others, specifically, I think Kuya Jolo and JM. Kuya Jolo was not even known by his course mates, because he was an irregular student, and JM, because he’s the quiet type.

It’s a long drive from our meeting place to Batangas. We meet at our school early in the morning and we travel two hours at least. During our first community visit, we were surprised that Brgy. Wawa was that cooperative, we called for the baseline gathering, so we need the residents to come to the health center. There were plenty of them, and we got enough samples and results. We confirmed that many of the residents have iron deficiency anemia, the most common type of anemia among Filipinos. We know about their condition, because the community Doctor was a friend of our mentor, and she mentioned about the said condition. We gathered data so that we have a concrete information we need for us to plan our proposal for our project.

We also have an ocular visit in the community with Konsehal Andoy. We saw the condition of the residents, where they live, and did some interviews. It is a coastal community, so fishing is their source of occupation and food. They live near the seashore, so most of their floors are made of sand, where it’s really hot, twice the heat when you don’t wear rubber shoes, and some are unsanitary. They throw their trash in the sea, sometimes they bury it, but as the tides went high and low, sometimes it becomes visible. Not even all houses have their comfort rooms, which all lead to what their condition says.

It’s just the first time so we don’t know what to expect. In this, it’s really hard to keep your determination constant. But just before we ask more questions, those are already answered. We need to do this. We have to do this. It’s not for us, but for the Sitio.

Personally, I’m not new in doing community work, I’ve been in countless services, but it’s my first time that our community is far from us. It’s really tiring, but as the days went, it actually became a routine. On the next blogs, you will find out how we surpassed every week in our journey.

You can also like our facebook page, just search Team Catalysts. And follow our #JourneyToChange episodes in my personal Youtube channel, ImLadyDy.