Survey Time

by: Leo John Siaotong

“Those were days filled with contrasts: dread and excitement, lowlights and highlights, tears and laughter.” These are just some of the things I mention when I was asked to talk about my first month of immersion in Mirangan, Siay. This lovely haven is the venue for the countless of experiences, both good and bad, that I didn’t expect to be experiencing as a medical student. 

WDS stands for Whole Day Survey.

One of the highlights of my stay in Mirangan was the start of our survey. The purpose of the survey is two-fold – first is to acquire baseline information regarding the people’s living conditions. Second is to build rapport with the community. The night before we were to embark on our first survey day, I was quite disturbed and my mind was clouded with uncertainties on what I would be expecting for tomorrow’s journey. My mind was filled with worry and before resting myself to sleep I prayed for guidance and strength for the obstacles that my group mates and I were about to face.

The morning of our first survey day came and for most of my group mates, it was a morning filled with excitement and eager hearts. They were thrilled about the idea of climbing mountains, crossing narrow, makeshift bridges & traversing difficult terrains. They saw it as an adventure, like we were on Survivor or this new TV show, “Off the Map.” I, on the other hand, dreaded all of them: I fear the sight of high mountains and even more so, the climbing that goes with it. I was anxious of the possibility of crossing a narrow bridge because it might break. I was terrified of the idea of crossing muddy paths and rice fields because I might get stuck or worse, get injured.

Before leaving, my group mates were all so busy preparing the things we needed for survey such as the survey tools, packed lunches and the necessary medical equipment, which I think must be their way of coping their own fears and anxieties. We divided our group into four teams with the following criteria in mind: 1. Each team must have a male group member. 2. Each team must have at least one Bisaya speaker. 3. Each team must have a team name. (Please refer to the album of the same title for photos):

Team Changaw:

The Changaws are composed of the trio, Ritz, Maj and Mon. The origin of the team name came from the distinct smell of the Changaw, a rice pest abundant in rice fields and paddies. They were the ones always plagued by the smell it emits and at times the insect is even caught sitting pretty on their shoulders (usually Mon’s). *Update: Ritz transferred to Team Bang during the second exposure. 

Team VWT (Vitug Was There):

Team VWT is composed of the dynamic duo, Jam and Neil. The origin of the team name was due to their experience of taking the road less travelled (read: dangerous and steep) to survey a house on top of a hill. After many minutes of a difficult climb, they finally reached the house. But lo and behold, “Vitug was there!” Imagine the expressions these two had after Peter (Vitug) told them he incidentally took the safer route (composed of stepping stones) found on the other side of the hill and went ahead to survey the household assigned for Neil and Jam. 

Team PR:

Team PR is composed of Peter and Kah Shern, the PR masters of the group. They usually get detailed interviews and can build rapport with their interviewees in a matter of minutes. 

Team Bang:

Team Bang is composed of the tandem, Ting-Ting and myself. We were assigned to record weight and height measurements for children under the age of 6. Hence, the name “Team Bang” (pun obviously intended). 

Fortunately enough, we were escorted by one of the kind-hearted and passionate barangay councilors of Mirangan, Mr. Ariel “Nonong” Oroc. We first went to Purok 5, the purok he is assigned in. It is also the farthest and the poorest purok in the entire barangay. As we were making way to the purok, I realized that I was not wrong with my qualms regarding our trip. I had my endless falls & slips in attempting to climb mountains. I sank countlessly in the soft paddies of the rice fields. I was so embarrassed. I felt sorry for myself, to the point of giving up my dream to become a doctor someday. I’m beginning to believe what a group mate of mine said about ADZU-SOM being one of the hardest medical schools in the country. I was on the verge of quitting, but I thought, hey, maybe I’m seeing only the negative aspect of it all. I should look at these experiences as a whole. Eventually, I realized that these experiences make me stronger in all aspects. These challenges would make you a doctor who sees his patients not as cases to be solved, but as human beings in need of compassion and humane treatment; that you’re not there to cure just one aspect of his illness, but to have a more holistic approach; not only are you called to treat an individual but to treat an entire community. Yes, we are faced with quite a challenge, but when we hold the community’s best interests at heart and act on them, that’s when you know you’ve made a difference. I have my group mates to thank for helping me realize all these things. They are indeed blessings from God; my family away from home. 

All smiles! 

Day 1 of our survey with Mr. Ariel Oroc.

The outcome of our survey? Apart from the endless slips and falls, I must say it went fairly well for our first major survey day. We went through all the questions quite thoroughly and got a lot of information that would comprise a portion of Mirangan’s community profile. I can’t express how eye opening this experience has been for me, how the school’s emphasis of being a “catalyst” for change would start on the first semester of my first year in medical school and after seeing the whole picture, how hungry we are to make that change for Mirangan happen. And I know we WILL make that happen. Very soon.