celebraTINg exisTENce

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“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”

Before we left, I was not sure if it was the right decision to join a Medical Mission to Leyte when: 1.) It was Ilocos ver. 2.0 that I was looking forward to. 2.) I only know two persons in the group. 3.) I am not a healthcare professional.

But so as not to confuse the universe because this year's hashtags are #explore2015 and #othersbeforeself2015, Leyte it is.

Arrival link: here.
Afternoon Medical Mission link: here.
Whole Day Medical Mission link: here.
Kalanggaman Island and Sandbar link: here.

This was my second fly out for 2015. I have some (some kasi baka may madagdag pa) more so keribells. Make it work nga, diba. Hahaha.

MY TOP 5 MOMENTS IN LEYTE:

1. No internet. Alam mo 'yung ngayon pag bored ka na, pag gusto mo lang ng kausap o makatakas sa isang awkward situation, kukunin mo lang 'yung phone o gadget mo tapos okay na. Pero pag wala, we're forced to be in the moment and actually try to get to know the people we're with. On our second night, we gathered outside the house and shared stories. Seryoso, sobrang bihira na lang ng ganung eksena na sa isang grupo e wala kahit isa ang may hawak na gadget. To tell you, we even got thrilled while watching lizards plan on how they'd attack a praying mantis. Also, I'm thankful for the people I went there with. Kasi kahit dun lang nila ko nakilala, they were all accommodating.

2. Fiesta. Hindi talaga celebration ng fiesta but we never ran out of food. Bago kami pumunta, iniisip ko na kung paano kaya kami kakain pero bakit nga ba ko nag-alala? E may mga nagluto ng pagkain namin, may namili sa palengke nang naka-Sunday dress pa para lang maipaghanda kami ng pagkarami-raming pagkain nung pangalawang gabi namin, may mga hindi natulog para lang may baunin kaming lechon baboy habang nasa Kalanggaman Island kami at may nag-bake ng cake at mga nagbigay ng pampasalubong. I was really touched but how the locals treated us. It was the first time to experience such thing. Lahat nang 'yon for free eh kaya lalong woah.

3. Water. The house we were staying at did not have its own water supply. Pinagi-igib pa kami para may magamit lang but since we were more than ten, nakakahiya magpa-igib ng tubig kaya problema kung pano kami maliligo but on our first night, may nag-offer na dun na lang kami maligo sa bahay nila since they have their own water pump. On our second night, nakiligo kami dun kay Ate na namalengke ng nakapang-simba mapaghanda lang kami ng marami. We were strangers but they treated us as if we were friends who've known each other for years. Kapag kulang ka a lot of people would be there to help you at times but it's still better to find solution on your own. 'Cause on our third day, we bathed at the water source. Yep, dun kami naligo sa bundok kung saan galing 'yung tubig. Sarap maligo. Masagana sa malamig tubig. Fresh. Parang buhay lang natin diba, hindi dapat lagi na ma-mroblema kasi pakiramdam natin kulang kasi kung hahayaan mo lang sarili mo na mag-isip ng paraan and to let blessings pour in, lagi naman enough at minsan pa nga, sobra. Wala naman talagang shortage ng grace sa universe; hindi lang natin agad mahanap 'yung source. Hahaha. #ansabe

4. Language Barrier. I felt ashamed. I can converse in English because English is still my second language kahit ganito lang level ng English ko. HAHA! I can somehow converse in Korean and I am a level 2 basic TOPIK passer. I can introduce myself and count from 1 to 100 in French, Spanish and Japanese (Sino-Japanese). Pero wala naman masyadong relevance, gusto ko lang sabihin skills ko. #yabangkainis HAHA! But in all seriousness, I felt ashamed not knowing any Philippine language apart from Tagalog. I've been to a lot of provinces but in all those places, Tagalog-speaking persons abound or so I thought. I forgot to take into consideration that in all those provinces, I was a tourist who only went to famous tourist attractions and that's the reason why conversing wasn't a big problem - marami sa mga taong nagt-trabaho doon sa mga lugar na 'yun ay bi-lingual o multi-lingual din.

"Tagalog lang."
"Ah galing pala kayo ng Manila."

"Tagalog lang."
"......."

Wala. End of conversation sa isang hand gesture na nagsasabing hindi nila maintindihan.

Ayun pala 'yung pakiramdam kapag pumasok ka, hindi lang 'yung titingin ka lang mula sa labas. 'Yung pakiramdam na kasama ka kahit panandalian lang kesa 'yung napadaan ka lang sandali. Pero alam mo 'yon, one thing I noticed is that during the priest's homily, I didn't know every word he used but I somehow managed to understand what he was talking about by picking up the familiar words and applying context clues. Nakakatuwa rin na kahit wiz ako sa conversations, naiintindihan ko ng kaunti pag may nagk-kwento. Balang araw, matututo rin ako ng ibang wika sa Pilipinas. I also want to adjust to the locals as much as they are adjusting to me.

5. Quotes.
"There is always something to be thankful for."

"Whatever is worrying you right now, forget about it. Take a deep breath and trust in God."

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see."
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

I have stopped telling myself that I am lost. I am on my way and I am enjoying my journey now more than ever even if I do not have a definite destination yet. I have learned to be grateful and to stop worrying even if I feel that I am not good enough or I am not suitable for something. I have learned to do things for others without expecting something in return.

Last but not the least, I am convinced, that in this lifetime, I am not only destined to go places but I am also made to influence and share stories with others. Kaya nga nagb-blog ako eh. Charot. HAHAHAHA! Pero uyyyy, universe sige na please! Marami pa please!! Paka-Dora the Explorer forevs please. Hala ito na naman ako, sabi ko gagawin ko 'tong seryoso. Haha! Pero ang lifestyle peg ay maging isang traveler at hindi lang basta basta turista. Haay, funds. Ginusto ko 'to eh.

I'll be forever thankful for the three days I spent in Leyte because they proved something... possible pala. Kahit anong gustuhin natin, pwedeng mangyari. Naniniwala ka ba???? Hehe. OO YAN! GO. PUSH. KERI! :)

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I had plans for my Leyte posts.

Sabi ko when I was there, I'll share the pictures of the persons I was with for three days but now that I'm in the process of composing this, I realized that I still can't do it. I really can't bring myself to post pictures or to write a lot about the people I am with in all my posts... maybe someday. Maybe someday when I get to announce that I blog. Maybe someday when I feel comfortable in exposing all aspects of my life online. Maybe that time will come, maybe that time won't come. Bahala na.

Second day started really early because we had to catch the 6 AM Sunday Mass.

I had a different "assignment" during the second day. Importante na ginawa ko. As in super important. Ako lang naman, A-K-O nagbanlaw ng mga dental tools at nag-disinfect ng mga ito. O DIBA!!! E kung wala kami ni Ate na kasama ko?! Wala. Kung importante ang mga doktor, importante rin kami!!! Hahaha. So ganito na nga, syempre kailangan din itaas ang self-worth.

Habang nakikipag-usap ako kay Ate, sabi niya sa'kin, "Bukas, dun kayo pupunta oh." Sabay turo sa isang isla na medyo malayo. Tanong ko, "Saan 'yun?" Sagot niya, "Kalanggaman 'yan. Lilipat pa kayo ng Palompon tapos magba-bangka para makarating diyan." ^TAMA BA 'YUNG NARINIG KO?! KALANGGAMAN ISLAND?! OMG.

Gusto ko lang ipakita sa inyo ang mga dental tools na hinugasan at dinis-infect namin. BWAHAHAHAHA.

During the afternoon, I was asked to stop disinfecting and start taking pictures again. I gladly obliged because it meant that I will be able to roam around the vicinity again.

Thank you, Colgate-Palmolive for sponsoring the toothbrushes that were given away.

And Lamoiyan Corporation for the Happee Toothpastes.

Isa sa mga batang nagmamadaling tumakbo papunta sa palikuran dahil pinapapila na sila sa mga tutuliin.

Hindi ko alam kung sadista lang talaga ko pero 'yung mga batang tinutuli ang pinaka-paborito kong pinapanood at pinapakinggan.

Nakakatuwa lalo:

1. 'yung mga magkakaibigan tas kahit na may gusto ng umiyak, hindi pa rin siya iiyak kasi makakan-tyawan siya.
2. 'yung mga ngiting tagumpay ng mga batang bumababa pagkatapos tuliin sa taas kasi natapos na sila.
4. 'yung mga tatanungin ko kung kinakabahan ba tas hindi kami magkakaintindihan, buti na lang e merong iilan na marunong mag-Tagalog.
3. HAHAHAHA. Sa lahat ng natutuhan kong salita this my favorite. :))))) "PATYON TAKA!!!!" na ang ibig sabihin daw e, "PAPATAYIN KITA."

Kahit na pinipigil na nilang umiyak e may mga bata pa rin na hindi kinakaya kaya umiiyak nang sobrang lakas. Pag nangyari 'yon, lahat ng nasa kwarto e iiyak na rin. Pag-akyat ko, may isang batang nakahiga na sumisigaw sa doktor na, "Patyon Taka!!" Pagbaba ko, naririnig din pala ng lahat ng tao 'yung sigaw nung batang 'yon kaya tinanong ko agad kung anong ibig sabihin... Ah, 'yun pala. Patyon taka!

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MEDICAL?!

IZ DIZ FOR REALZ?

Who would've thought that in this lifetime, I'd have a chance to be a part of a "Medical" Team.

A lot were already waiting for us when we arrived at the area.

I didn't even notice this when I took this picture but some of them were smiling. Hahaha! If someone took a picture of me while seated there, I won't even look at the camera.

The town of Villaba is a coastal and mountainous town.

I've heard a lot of stories about Yolanda through news reports but it feels a lot different when you hear it from someone who experienced it first hand. Only one died in this area but it was indirect (heart attack) but almost all houses were destroyed. It took three months before electricity supply was restored but until now, they have no proper water line. They still had to get water from the mountain if they can't afford to buy their own water pump.

Cutie. Haha. A lot of kids went to this part too. I don't know what they're talking about but it was still better than having no one there with me. Hehehe.

Dito lang may paunti-unting signal so I always went back on this part of the stage 'cause I wasn't able to text my mudra that we were there already. And, medyo nase-sepanx ako sa internet but to no avail, wala talagang mobile data.

On the first day, I helped giving vaccine shots. Give talaga. hahahaha. Alalay lang dun, taga- ng kung ano ano kasi malay ko ba naman sa injection and I was the one who took pictures because documentation was needed. Buti na lang!!! Buti na lang may nagawa kahit konti.

Natapos din so we rested for a while and I was able to catch the sunset.

Hayyyy, Thank You!!!!

So wala pa kaming ligo at wala ngang running water sa tinulugan namin but luckily, one resident found out that bathing was a problem so she offered her house and let us bathe there. Huhuhu. Buti na lang hospitable ang mga Pilipino. <3

When I put here that I want to help other people, I also put that I don't know how or I have no idea on how will I make it happen. After four months since I composed this blogpost (link), I was in Tacloban for a medical mission. Gusto ko pero hindi ko alam kung pano, pero ayan, nangyari. Huhuhu. So far so good tayo ah, 2015. Please continue being my miracle year. <3

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Yolanda. Haiyan. Storm Surge. Tacloban. Donations. Relief Operations. Pope Francis

One and a half year has passed since Yolanda happened... where are they now?

Asked to choose between an Ilocos tour and a medical mission at Leyte, I chose the latter.

But it wasn't an easy decision. Really. Not to the point that I had sleepless nights but it was tough.

Friends vs. Strangers
Leisure vs. Work

Ilocos used to be my dream destination but I was able to go there last 2013 so okay, fine. Tumigil na ko but it wouldn't hurt to tour the place again especially when going back meant creating new memories with different set of friends.

Tacloban, on the other hand, wasn't in my radar. It never occurred to me that I'll have a chance to go there. The opportunity just came all of a sudden. And, even if I were to go, medical mission 'yun eh. Anong gagawin ko?? I am not a healthcare professional and I don't even like the sight of blood.

But I wrote here before that I want to ride an airplane again and that I wanted to make this year less about me and more of others.

Wala kong kaalam-alam sa pupuntahan, ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong gagawin ko dun, at dalawa nga lang sa mga kasama ko 'yung kilala ko, pero para hindi maguluhan ang universe sa kung anong gusto ko, sige, tara, Tacloban it is.

Anyhow, this is my second fly-out for 2015. Hi, Tac. <3
(Baka ito pala 'yung lucky charm... second kasi may third, fourth, fifth, sixth and so on fly-outs pa. Malay natin, diba!)

O ako na magaling, pero nagulat talaga ko sa itsura nitong airport nila. I know for a fact that it was one of the greatly damaged infrastructures in Tacloban because it's near a body of water but airports are the gateways to cities so I feel that they should make extra effort in renovating their facilities.

It's a good thing that Tacloban Airport was scheduled to have a rehabilitation when we went there. Nabawasan nga kami ng isang araw kasi dahil sa rehabilitation nung airport at buti na lang din, sana nga, mas maayos na.

Return? Sussss. Kahit wag ka na bumalik. 👍 #leyte #tacloban #pinas #mcarthur

A photo posted by Tin Gallemaso (@xtintina) on Apr 10, 2015 at 5:51pm PDT

Because we were there, we just had to make a quick stop here at McArthur's Landing Site.

We ate at Andok's and beside it is this building that wasn't repaired and still show how great the damage of Yolanda was.

I can not imagine how strong the force was that it was able to do that. I can not imagine how difficult it was for them. I can't help but admire the strength of the people who have survived the onslaught.

But I don't understand....

I am sure that lot of help came pouring in and one and a half year has passed, pero bakit wala pa rin ata masyadong improvement? I don't have pictures of other places but the effects of Yolanda were still evident as if it just happened a few months back. I know that it's not easy to rehabilitate but with that much help that they received, I believe that the people of Leyte deserve better. I know that there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Hindi ko na rin masyado naisip na gusto ko mag-picture, tinignan ko lang hanggang sa nakatulog ako at pag gising ko, nasa Villaba, Leyte na kami.

I only had around 1 1/2 sleep prior to our flight so it's not surprising that I was so sleepy.
I slept the whole travel from Tacloban to Villaba which took around 3 hours. So even if I wanted to stay awake and see sight see, I can't help it but fall fast asleep.

Sabi ko nung hapon na 'yon, "Bakit kaya masakit 'yung ulo ko?"

Nalaman ko na zigzag kasi 'yung daan dahil mountainous area papuntang Villaba tas untog ng untog 'yung left part ng ulo ko sa bintana ng sasakyan. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Di ko alam kung matigas lang talaga ulo ko o parang mantika lang talaga ko matulog.

Anyhow, I arrived there not as a tourist but as someone who's taking part in a medical mission. Huhu. I did it. <3

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