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.