Group Dynamics

by: Ida Marionne Arriola

What do you expect when you put nine totally different personalities with various levels of threshold for stress and different coping mechanisms, in one house, 24/7, for a whole month? Add these mentioned elements to a considerable amount of stress-inducing factors such as: experiencing hours of heat wave while having dozens of tasks to complete related to our community organizing activities, household chores and a shortage of water to complete half of those chores. Not to mention the most challenging obstacle we have to face: having to walk in the middle of the day, for 4 kilometers of rough road, just to get to the highway. And if you ever felt tired of walking the same distance to get to our haven, you can choose to pick another option which will you give you that needed surge of adrenaline rush through a 5 minute motorcycle ride to get to your destination, which for us meant three possible places: heaven, hell or if you get even luckier, our house.

It is not fair to just get a taste of the hardships that we go through in a month, people should also get to nibble on the best of times that we have during our month long sleepovers, as I would put it. Thinking of it as a month long duty does not help us cope with it as it would mean that we are obligated to be there against our will, instead, I would like to think of community exposure as a vacation with friends and we just happened to be at the right place at the right time to be of service to a community in need of our help.

Our favorite moments as group in Mirangan are those which were spent with each other as friends and as a family. The long walks to our destination were filled with fruit jokes, fish jokes, surname jokes and a whole lot of stories about the persons we were before we met each other. Some of us already knew each other before med school but when you’re living with a group of people for this long, you eventually get to know that your idea about some of the qualities you think you knew about them would eventually change and you get a feeling of being connected to each other deeper than you thought you would when you first met them.

 

The Baldemorts.

Living with the group was a bit of a rollercoaster at first but I can definitely say I would not trade off any members of my group for my other classmates in a different community. I always thought that the group made the place and maybe at times, the place makes the group. Sure our classmates assigned at other places had living conditions which were way better than ours but what we lacked for in the comforts of our living arrangements, we made up for the relationships we have built and made stronger as the days went by. It did not matter that we did not have tiled floors, television sets and internet connection while at the community, what mattered was the feeling of satisfaction of not having to hold grudges against your group mates. The feeling of acceptance regardless of who you were, how you reacted to certain situations and what you did or did not do for the group eventually made living with each other become as natural as breathing in the air that surrounded our home in Mirangan. Nothing beats the experience of having to sleep peacefully at night knowing you helped your friend be a better person and becoming a better person as well, because a friend helped you realize what you needed to be in order to be a better version of yourself.

I have learned that in our world today, a relationship of any kind is not made by just knowing and embracing the things you have in common and it is not founded on whether you have the same idiosyncrasies or not but it is made solid through the billions of differences you have. It is the annoying things that make you want to behave like cavemen clobbering each other to death that make you want to get to know a person’s character better and get to understand who he/she really is. It is easy to lose yourself and be carried away if all you think about is yourself while living amongst a colorful set of people, sure there are misunderstandings and hurtful moments but these are the things necessary to help you grow as a person.

I have come to realize that if you take away the material things that you think mattered, you eventually will be left with nothing but the insurmountable little things that take your breath away. Life gave me a whole lot of surprises during those days, it sure came in different forms and I tell you the whole experience was worthwhile. When you least expect it, gifts may come to you in a form of a helping hand when faced with endless tasks, a pat on the shoulder when you have done your best for the group, a group hug for when you have finished a core group meeting, community assembly and other tasks that you prepared for through all the sleepless nights, a song for rejoicing because it rained and you had water to finish the laundry. My friend, if you’re reading this, know that it may not come to you just like that, but when it hits you, you learn that in life, what is most essential is almost always invisible to the naked eye.

2nd Core Group Assembly

by: Felimon Mailig, Jr. 

12th day of April, 2012- It was around 12:30 in the afternoon when we started to set up the chapel for the second Core Group Assembly. Everyone was in a fuss. Each one is busy and most are already in the state of panic, it was as if there is only one minute left before “December 21, 2012” (end of the world). Everyone was doing their specific task such as carrying chairs and tables, preparing the blackboard, pens and papers for the core group members, ventilation and lighting, dialogue, and the snacks. And I was also checking the camera because I was assigned to document the said gathering. Looking outside the chapel, I can see the heat waves coming from the solar dryer. The sun was blaring hot and I tend to close my eyes for some time because of the combination of humidity and heat and at the same time, I kept thinking that maybe only a few people could attend the assembly.

With all the things that we were doing, plus the combined humidity and warmth of that day, adding the panic and stress we were feeling at the same time, our sweat pores begin to open and we started to sweat a lot. We were not looking our best for the assembly. We allotted most of our time in preparation for the assembly that we forgot ourselves

By 1 o’clock in the afternoon, everything was ready. The place was already waiting for the visitors. We were looking quite prepared as well minus the makeup and the wax. The snacks were ready to be served. But to our dismay, there is one important thing lacking, the ones we needed much in order for the assembly to start: the members of the core group.

I could not help but think of the same thoughts during the time we were preparing, that maybe because of that day’s weather, the people opted to stay home and sleep. Another reason is because they already attended the assemblies we organized twice: first was the 1st core group assembly and second, the community assembly.

As seconds turned into minutes, I could feel my hope for the assembly shrinking and shattering into pieces. Five minutes after one in the afternoon, there were still no members. Ten minutes after, we were the only ones (medical students) inside the chapel, no members still. After 20 minutes, there were about less than five members and my hopes are almost gone. But by about 1:30 in the afternoon, it was as if a miracle has happened, all the members were there except for those who were not in Mirangan that time.
With all the things that we were doing, plus the combined humidity and warmth of that day, adding the panic and stress we were feeling at the same time, our sweat pores begin to open and we started to sweat a lot. We were not looking our best for the assembly. We allotted most of our time in preparation for the assembly that we forgot ourselves

Peter Vitug writing down the agenda for our 2nd core group assembly.

The tone of the meeting was serious at first. But the group eventually became comfortable with each other.

I could definitely sense their full support towards us. The meeting started in a round table manner and like our PBL, most of the time they did all the talking while the medical students served as the facilitators.
We came up with the final vision and mission, as well as our objectives and goals. Tasks were disseminated. We gave and informed them about the list of activities for our next exposure. Everyone is cooperating and at the end of the session, they told us that they were quite hopeful for our return. What they did made us all teary-eyed and all I can say during that moment is “pwede ma-TEAR here?” which is our group’s expression. We were definitely excited to see those faces again and so much for the fuss awhile ago that we forgot the main reason why we were there in the first place, not to please them by the materials we could bring but because we were there for them and they could feel the sincerity we have towards them.

1st Community Assembly

by: Jermae Rubares

It is in the little things and in the lonely places that we prove ourselves capable of the big things. Let me start this entry by sharing this inspiring message with you. It was an “aha” moment for me when we ended another prayer session with this lasting lesson. I could not help but ponder on such thought. Do the little things matter that much? Why are we shaking off the small stuff? Are they even worth discussing? I mean, they are called “small” for a reason after all. Then looking back, I realized that the little things are the very reason why the big things happen. Well, a more concrete example would be monetary unit, the ‘little’ centavos are the reason why we have the ‘big’ thousand bills. So maybe, if we have such perspective in life, then we wouldn’t be whining and complaining about not achieving the “big” things in a rush. Because building a “big” thousand bill with the “little” centavos take time. If we actually, took time to dwell on such thought then the world would be a better place. If we learned to appreciate the small things, if we took responsibility and embraced the small things, then for sure, big things will happen. If you have proven yourself capable of handling the small stuff, the big things will be handed to you, and everything will be a like a breeze.

“Mauswagong Mirangan 2015”, this is our goal, and in no way is it considered “small”. Indeed, it is ambitious, it is “big” in every angle, yet it is possible. It will be achieved. We already claim victory, because we started by embracing the small stuff, we took responsibility in the little things, and we succeeded. If we already proved that we are capable of the small things, then, lo and behold, the big things will be promising.

The 1st Community Assembly is one of the first steps into reaching our dreams for Mirangan. For others, it may be like it is just another gathering, something that they would normally take for granted, but for us, it is the key to a strong and lasting relationship with the people. Some say that we should not pour all our efforts into the Community Assembly, after all, it is the implementation that would matter most. However, we took a different take on it; we invested on having a good relationship with the people. We listened to them; we talked to them and lived with them. In every day that we shared with the people, we learned more about them. It is in the everyday surprises that we get our inspiration and drive to help our community. The passion that we have to genuinely help the people is greater than our desire to fulfill our school requirements. It is amazing how life changing this experience has become for us. The relationship that we built with the people, the love that we received from them is just so overwhelming, that even in the little acts that we do, we give it our all.

Posters were pinned in designated areas to announce our 1st community assembly.

April 8. 2012, it is not just Easter Sunday, that we celebrated, it was also a celebration of the unity in Mirangan. It was no ordinary Easter. After celebrating the Holy Eucharist, people would normally go to the beach and have picnic, or spend time with their loved ones, but instead of doing so, they celebrated it with us. In the humble grounds of the Barangay Hall, the community people gathered, and chose to spend time with us. For hours, they sat and listened. The program was a testament of the close relationship that we built with the people. They participated and gave us a hand in the preparation of the venue, down to the presentation of data. The medical students, together with their partners (members of the core group) delivered a great presentation of data. The interaction was dynamic. The people did not hesitate to share their thoughts and opinions. The suggestions they gave were also something to ponder on. The assembly ended with an inspiring message from our group leader, Moritz Soliven. She delivered a heartwarming speech that reflected our passion and desire to serve the community without expecting anything in return. After all, the love and acceptance that the community people showed us is more than enough.

Our banner.

Listening intently. 

Ma'am Rhadiza Silao, Barangay Nutrition Scholar, 

sharing her views on malnutrition during the community assembly.

Overall, the 1st Community Assembly was a success. The cooperation that the group members and the community people showed was remarkable. Indeed, we have proven that we never shake off the small stuff. We never take anything for granted, and in whatever success we have, we all offer it to God. For nothing is impossible in His hands. With passion, determination, love and faith in the Lord, Mauswagong Mirangan 2015 will not only be a dream, but a reality.

Elementary School Teachers for the Day

by: Farhana Paber

The Team Mauswagong Mirangan considers the children of the Barangay as one of its assets in attaining the pinnacle of success. Therefore, we need to nourish them with proper knowledge and enhance their skills and attitude in viewing health as a whole. Our group, together with OIC- Principal Mrs. Elvira Paniagua, and with the assistance of Board Member Dr. Eufemio “Vic” Javier, conducted a Medical Check up and Health teaching at Mirangan Elementary School Last April 26, 2012. This aims to assess the medical needs of the students and at the same time, ehhance their previous knowledge on proper hygiene and nutrition.

We were very excited to launch the activity that is why we really prepared for the said event. We divided ourselves for the health teaching. Peter Vitug and Jermae Rubares discussed about the importance of Proper Nutrition, Food Pyramid and the 3 major food groups. While they were discussing, I was amazed by how the children cooperated and raised their hands with enthusiasm with regards to the topic. The lecturers also prepared a game to enhance further their interaction. They grouped the students and asked them to classify the different food cutout pictures per food group. In the end, all of the participating groups emerged as winners. They were also evaluated through series of questions related to the topic, overall, I can say that the children indeed “absorbed” something from us after the lectures.

Next, Moritz Soliven and Neil Marcos discussed about good personal hygiene specifically on how to take a bath properly and proper toothbrushing. During the lectures, I was surprised that some of the children raised certain issues and concerns regarding hygiene. For example, most of them use calamansi, guava leaves and sugar cane to clean their teeth. Some share that toothpaste and toothbrush for them are a precious commodity and it should be used during important occasions. A kid also shared to me that sometimes, when they don’t have soap or shampoo, they use detergent bars as a substitute. I was startled by these revelations. So, our group cleared some of these issues and still stressed on the importance of proper hygiene. We also corrected some misinformation and shared some natural alternatives for shampoo and toothpaste (like Sugar Cane and Guava for toothbrush and Aloe Vera with Coco-milk for shampoo).

Shernalynne Tahir and I, on the other hand, discussed about proper hand washing. I was surprised that the students know its importance and yet they seem not to practice it mainly because, WATER is their problem. It was a challenge for us. Nevertheless, we demonstrated how to wash hands properly. We discussed the six steps of proper handwashing as prescribed by the Department of Health. And to put fun into the discussion, we introduced a song to the tune of Baby by Justin Bieber. The song was composed by Moritz and her friends from Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health batch 2015. Its aim is to inform the kids of the importance of hand washing and its proper steps as well. In the end, the kids enjoyed and even presented the steps to us in a creative dance.

Health Teachings? More Fun in Mirangan! Watch our first teaching stint at Mirangan Elementary School.

I believe that we ended the health teaching with a “BAM!” when we introduced BASURA MONSTER to them. Previously, during our first community exposure, we have learned that the people seem to have a problem in terms of environmental sanitation. That pushed us to teach them proper segregation and waste disposal in a story-telling activity. We adopted Christine Bersola’s The Basura Monster. The story brought the children’s imagination to its two main characters, Buboy and Anna (re-enacted by Jacqueline and Veronico, the selected students of Mirangan Elementary School), who continuously threw garbage anywhere. They have failed to notice that the pile of garbage was brought to life and became Basura Monster (played by Peter Vitug). The said monster feeds on garbage and has become a source of energy to him. In the end, the Basura Monster was defeated when the Mayor (played by Neil Marcos) told the children the importance of cleaning the environment and the proper waste segregation and disposal. Overall, the children enjoyed the story and gasped the importance of Environmental Sanitation.

Our creative take on Christine Bersola-Babao's Basura Monster.

Watching them learn, interact and finally showing some concerns gave us a euphoric satisfaction. We hope that through these activities, we can instill change to the community event in simple ways.

We are definitely hoping for more fun-filled health teaching with the kids, in God’s will. After all, these children are the roots towards a Mauswagong Mirangan.

1st Core Group Assembly

by: Leo John Siaotong

It was the day that we’ve been waiting for and a crucial step for our future projects: the first core group assembly. The morning air was filled with both nervousness and excitement intertwined maybe because of the implications of its outcome. Unexpectedly, my whole body halts me from doing something for a second but I composed myself again to do my task which was to cook the food for the assembly. It will take place at the chapel around one in the afternoon. I felt anxious because of two reasons: I haven’t cooked pansit without anyone’s supervision and I’m cooking for the people of Mirangan, which adds to my anxiety even more. Fortunately enough, my dear group mates were there to give me moral support in which they never fail to do and which I am appreciative of.

The clock was ticking so loudly- it deafens me for a moment, reminding me that the time of the assembly is almost near. We were all rushing around, making sure everything was ready, Upon arrival at the chapel, we were unexpectedly engulfed by an air of dread because no one was still around. Still, we patiently waited for them to arrive because we believe that these people won’t fail us, and after thirty minutes, boom! The people kept coming. They were the barangay officials, barangay health workers, purok leaders, parent leaders, teachers and the head of different organization. We asked them to be part of this assembly simply because we know that they’ll make a good impact in helping us in achieving our vision for our beloved Mirangan.
The clock was ticking so loudly- it deafens me for a moment, reminding me that the time of the assembly is almost near. We were all rushing around, making sure everything was ready, Upon arrival at the chapel, we were unexpectedly engulfed by an air of dread because no one was still around. Still, we patiently waited for them to arrive because we believe that these people won’t fail us, and after thirty minutes, boom! The people kept coming. They were the barangay officials, barangay health workers, purok leaders, parent leaders, teachers and the head of different organization. We asked them to be part of this assembly simply because we know that they’ll make a good impact in helping us in achieving our vision for our beloved Mirangan.

Our banner for the event. 

Presenting the data we gathered from the survey conducted last October 2011.

The program started and I must say, we were doing quite well. We started the program with a touching prayer shared by Jam. Afterwards, Ate Maj gave the opening remarks. Tingting’s hosting prowess gave a relaxed and inviting vibe. Kah Shern, Peter, Mon and myself presented the data based on the house to house survey done during our first exposure. We explained the respective implications of these data. The rest presented the group’s ranked problems and they asked the participants to rank the community’s top five problems with the use of the Maglaya method. The problems that they successfully identified were the following: malnutrition, family planning, toilet facility and others. My heart was filled with overflowing joy as I saw the people’s eagerness and excitement as they participated willingly to the activities we prepared for them, particularly our problem analysis portion which made use of problem and solution trees.

Working with the barangay leaders. 

Presentation of Problem tree regarding Proper Waste Disposal by OIC-Principal
of Mirangan Elementary School, Elvira Paniagua

In the end, we achieved our goal, that is to form a cooperative and participative core group. I felt relieved after the assembly. Our days of hard work and sleepless nights paid off. But the highlight of this is that we learned that we share the same goals and aspirations in making Mirangan, a mauswagong barangay. In a way, I can say that this event was a ground breaking one because our hearts beat as one, our eyes envision a goal, our hands prepared to do the work in order to achieve our dreams. BUT, before achieving these things we know that we will be facing trials, challenges and obstacles along the way. Still, it doesn’t faze me at all. I know we will be unstoppable because we have our secret weapon: friendship and camaraderie. Eventually we could win this battle. 

Student Doctors at Work

by: Ma. Monique Theresita Soliven

It was a warm day, and my duty mates, Ting-Ting Paber and Neil Marcos, and I were the first group to embark in what we expected to be just a typical day at the center. We all thought that it would be just like our bedside rounds back in Zamboanga City Medical Center, wherein we would extract the history from the patient, perform the necessary physical examination, assess the patient based on your findings and discuss the management plan. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Little did we know that we would be having a totally different experience on that fateful first day.

One of the nurses, Sir Toto, told us that they were conducting a medical mission at the elementary school grounds in Barangay Poblacion in Siay. He asked if we would like to help out in “Operation Tuli.” Dr. Ruhida Sarabi-Saydil gave us permission over the phone. Seeing that I haven’t performed circumcision, I was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to experience doing the operation myself. I was relieved when I learned that my duty mates are experienced and they would help me out. Sir Toto also assured us that he is trained to do circumcisions and offered to demonstrate to us the procedures and techniques.

One of the nurses, Sir Toto, told us that they were conducting a medical mission at the elementary school grounds in Barangay Poblacion in Siay. He asked if we would like to help out in “Operation Tuli.” Dr. Ruhida Sarabi-Saydil gave us permission over the phone. Seeing that I haven’t performed circumcision, I was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to experience doing the operation myself. I was relieved when I learned that my duty mates are experienced and they would help me out. Sir Toto also assured us that he is trained to do circumcisions and offered to demonstrate to us the procedures and techniques.

Helping out at Operation Tuli '12

Since the three of us were in this together, Neil, Ting and I never left each other’s sides while each one of us took turns in performing the operation. The other two would observe and provide assistance in handing out the instruments used throughout the operation. It was a funny sight: it really looked like we were in an operating room, performing a major operation. When my turn came, I did my best to keep my cool and to recall all the steps. Mine was particularly a more complex case due to the fact that he already had been circumcised by an albularyo or a traditional healer with the use of a bolo knife. This made the operation difficult for both the patient and for myself. For one, the patient cried in pain. As the patient cries, the beads of sweat on my forehead grew. I learned that keeping a cool head and being focused is the key. Despite the challenges of the whole operation, I managed to make it through with the help of my duty mates. They fueled my drive to succeed in my first ever surgical operation. Once we’re done, we breathed a sigh of relief and gave each other a pat on the back. At that moment, we realized that we had a role in the boy’s transition to manhood. There I was, faced with the importance of the medical profession and the responsibility that you have for the patient's life.

Conducting a thorough Physical Exam

For our second RHU duty, we finally got the chance to see patients with various conditions ranging from skin diseases to tuberculosis. It is quite a challenge to take on, since there might be misdiagnoses, which would lead to wrong drug prescriptions and so on. These are things that you might only see on the news, but this is becoming more real to us. You can avoid these things with the right elicitation of your history and physical examination. It is an important skill to master, which is why we are being exposed to health centers and hospitals at an early stage. More importantly, a doctor-patient relationship must be established for one to be able to elicit the important data that would lead to the right diagnosis and eventually provide the proper care that these patients deserve. All aspects of the patient’s condition must be taken into consideration, and they must be handled in a way that you would want to be handled if you were on the other side of the doctor’s table. You wouldn’t want to have your baby handled by a doctor who scowls every time she cries. You wouldn’t want a doctor who doesn’t listen to what you have to say and instead, insists on his diagnosis. You wouldn’t want a doctor who only cares about curing the disease and not what causes or aggravates it. These realizations made me even more determined in paving my way to become a doctor not only with the skills, but most importantly, with a lot of heart. Dr. Edward Trudeau said it best, that doctors must keep this aphorism in mind, that we, as doctors are called: “To cure sometimes, to relieve often and TO COMFORT ALWAYS.”

Health Teachings for 4Ps

by: Peter James Vitug

It was just our second day in Mirangan and I didn't expect that this would be the day that we would accomplish quite a number of things on our to-do lists. Monday is considered to be the busiest day of the week. It is officially the schedule for the barangay council to be conducted. While three of our group mates went to the Regional Health Unit in Siay to perform their duties, the rest of us attended the barangay council meeting and we listened to each of the officials’ reports, concerns and opinions. One of the council’s agenda was about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and its requirements. For a 4Ps member to receive money for his family, there are conditions that he must comply to, such as a complete attendance in seminars and health teachings which are conducted by a social worker. The council informed us that there is a scheduled health teaching in the afternoon about the benefits and methods of family planning and we were invited to help out. This surprised us a bit since it would be our first time to conduct this activity on such short notice. Despite our apprehensions, we agreed to participate. At that time, we were all trying to remember our lessons in Maternal and Child Health Module regarding Family Planning.

After we left the council, our 12 noon break was spent by eating our lunch in a hurry while trying to review the important points on Family Planning. Time flies so quickly that I felt that the hour turned to minutes, the minutes turned to seconds. Before we knew it, “Oops, it’s time to go.” We made our way to the chosen venue, the chapel. Upon arrival, we were again surprised by the number of people present. This added to the pressure that we were all feeling as this is considered as Team Mauswagong Mirangan first public appearance. Not only were we there to become visible in the community, but we also had the heavy responsibility of imparting knowledge to the people. With the guidance of Mrs. Letty Cabactulan, the social worker responsible for these health seminars, we were able to give out lectures on the different family planning methods. Her warm encouragements gave us the boost of confidence that we all needed.

Student Medical Doctors with Maam Letty Cabactulan, 4P's coordinator for the Province of Siay

Aside from the different methods of family planning, the importance of both partners in strengthening the foundations of their marriage was also discussed. I was personally amazed by the participation of the members during the discussion. I was able to witness their inquisitiveness and at the same time, their willingness to try on the methods. My nervousness disappeared as I saw their enthusiasm to participate in the open forum. Some of the misconceptions were clarified too, like the famous vasectomy and tubal ligation and its effects on their “behavior,” the usage of pills and IUD and the efficacy and challenges of natural family planning methods. The issue of their religious beliefs and traditions in relation to family planning was also discussed to gain an idea of their understanding of the whole concept of family planning. In the end, some may practice family planning or some may not. What is important is that you gave them the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Doc Maj and I discussing the different family planning methods.

At the end of the lecture, I took a deep breath and smiled with my group mates for a job well done. Not only were we able to impart knowledge, but we also gained ideas in improving our communication skills even further. This experience also provided us with the ideas for our future projects. It is definitely an initial step for the betterment of Mirangan. We believe that our own simple way of touching lives just like what we had done, we can move mountains. To render such service and help to others without expecting anything in return and doing things voluntarily give us happiness and satisfaction that no amount of money can provide.

Homecoming

by: Neil Ryan Marcos

It was three o’clock in the morning and I only had a few hours left to pack my things. But amidst the time constraints and the cycle of entropy in my room, I was staring into space. I kept thinking if I was really ready to go back, and the challenges that await us. Then I remembered the thing I said when we left unexpectedly. I was very determined to go back. I wanted to prove to the people we were really there to help them and we meant what we said. But at that moment, all I could think of was if I could do it all over again. Going back to the community needs a lot of strength-emotionally, physically, spiritually. I didn’t know if I had such strength.

My mind races back to remember our first community exposure. The first thing that popped into my mind was walking several kilometers under the heat of the sun to buy potable water. The second was of our kind neighbors, who would always help us with a smile. Even strangers would occasionally extend a helping hand when the need arises. The people made our stay very comfortable. We may have considered them strangers at first, but looking back now, they never did the same to us. With this realization, I remembered how I was able to walk several kilometers under the heat of the sun, climbed mountains without any proper training or gear, ate the only available food, speak an unfamiliar dialect, and most of all-be away from my life and my loved ones. But despite all these, I’ve always felt right at home. It was because of the kind people who treated strangers like us, as their own. It was because of their heartfelt response-“Daghang Salamat” which made every wound, sunburn, and homesickness bearable. The feeling of being able to touch the lives of so many is indescribable. It fills you up with warmth and joy by being able to change the world, which you may have lost faith in, for the better. It gives you the hope that it really is possible. We could really do this if we try.

With a rekindled passion, I finished packing my things. After a few hours, we were on our way. But being cynical as I am, I kept thinking if they still remember us, and if they would still treat us like before.

On our way back to Mirangan. 

Feels great to be back! 

When we arrived, I really felt nostalgic. I felt like every corner, chair, and store has a story of us in it. We started settling in and unpacked our luggage. After a few days, people heard we have returned and they started sending us little gifts at our house. We instantly felt welcomed and happy. But the kind act that struck me the most was the speech of the Deacon during the mass of the 7 last words.

During the mass he said:
“We thank the good Lord for the presence of the medical students. We are very grateful for their help. We would want to appeal to the members of the church and to the barangay council of their living conditions. We should at least sponsor their water supply. It is very uncomforting to know they are lifting heavy loads of water everyday for their water needs."

I felt very uncomfortable. It was very heartwarming to hear they were very concerned about our well being. But at the same time, it feels very disturbing to know they had the wrong notions about us. After the mass ended, we spoke to the community. We thanked them for their generosity and genuine concern. But we made it clear that we are here to serve and not to be served. Never think of us as someone of higher grace. Yes, we may have different backgrounds, but it doesn’t make us better than them. The smiles and the kind gestures they gave us are more than enough to make the struggles worthwhile. At that moment, I felt infinite. I kept worrying about how the people would react on our return, but the truth is, they were also worrying if we would return. We may not had our heroes’ welcome, or a sounding cheer from a crowd, but at that moment, I was sure I was doing something significant with my life. I was sure I was where I belong.

Countdown to Homecoming

by: Ida Marionne Arriola 

It has been 107 days since our unexpected departure from our home in Mirangan, Siay, Zamboanga del Sur. Since then, a hundred days or so were spent educating ourselves about the things we needed to learn for the second semester: trauma, infectious diseases and currently maternal and child health module. During these times, we might have forgotten what life was like in Mirangan as we were caught up with all the hustles and bustles of the city life and coping with the stress that comes along with preparing for exams.

Our community exposure helped us evolve as individuals and as a group, we became a community of people hungry for knowledge which we can apply and bring back to our Mirangan. We were always involved in activities as a group and it helped us get to know each other more and grow as a family. We spent birthdays together, studied for hours on end supporting one another and dozens of lunches spent mostly talking about school stuff but always coming back to stories we had when we were in Mirangan. There was something magnetic about that place that holds us all together in one bond, it inspired us to be better student doctors because people were counting on us. The whole experience made us feel so blessed to have known people who were willing to act in bringing about change healthcare wise or for the overall quality of life that we can all hope for in this lifetime.

Spending birthdays together.

In thirty eight days, we are scheduled to return to our home in Mirangan, I hope to see our friends with the same warmth and acceptance as they have shown us upon our first arrival. On our return, we hope to show the council the data we have collected on our prior exposure and begin to prioritize the problems that need socially acceptable and sustainable solutions.

During our month-long stay, we hope to begin building the foundations of what could be the greatest project of our lives as student doctors. It is the most critical phase among the steps that we are going to take in achieving our goals towards a healthier Mirangan. Knowledge we have acquired during the months that passed can be used to help develop the health team’s capabilities and the council’s point of view regarding health care and the whole system. Building a bridge where these two elements could meet would be our key to the future of Mirangan. We aim to determine what moves these people the most, what in their current situation makes them wish it were different, what needs to be changed and what needs to be done, now.

Studying together.

During our surveys, these questions were asked frequently, some residents, to our dismay, are used to the ways of their world that they no longer have it in them to demand for something better, something which every citizen had rights to and I am not just talking about health because education is of much importance as well. The customs and traditions of the people that dictate who they are as a part of an ethnic group or a tribe may or may not get in the way of planning for progress and it remains to be a stumbling block for our group to be able to work towards development without having to defy the values that they pass on from generation to generation. And though it’s a long shot, it would be better if we could work around these traditions through strengthening what is good for the overall health of the people and educating them about certain practices that are unhealthy and which could be modified to still fit their way of living. These and a lot more issues would then be discussed with the people, the council and the health care team to ensure that every element in this plan is well represented and to guarantee that no group feels left out in any way.

Though presented with a very diverse set of people and challenges we chose to perceive as opportunities, a wave of excitement brought about by some degree of uncertainty when we return continually circulates through our system. A lot of hopes and ideas are stirred by this excitement and we hope that it brings out the brilliant initiatives because the outcome of what we hope to begin investing on our return lies not only in the passion we all have for Mirangan. The endless possibilities that lure us into this journey should be shared with the people who live and breathe Mirangan, it is after all, a place they call home. The group knows it would all be worth it if even after we have left this community, activities and programs continue to be implemented year in and year out. And so, it is with a hopeful heart and an open mind that I end this entry with the dreams of sharing with you the future that beholds the beautiful uncharted territory that is, Mirangan.