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Anne Sharmaine P. Cortez
3-ALM
Learning is not only centered within the four corners of the classroom; it is
extended outside those four areas. And the best way of learning is learning from your
own experiences and from other people’s experiences too. But learning is best retained
from one’s memory if it is made not only by hearing or seeing something but also
through extending help to those people who are in need.
It was during the first days of the semester when I first heard about having an
immersion as a final requirement in our theology class since its focus is Social Justice
and Lay Apostolate. Professor Leal introduced it to us when he was giving us a brief
discussion of what to expect throughout the semester in Theology 05. So upon hearing
about the immersion, I suddenly felt excited about it because of the thought of
socializing and dealing with other people, hearing their different stories and helping
them in our very simple, yet best ways possible. This is an activity with a two-fold
purpose: to learn while having fun.
At first glance I thought having an immersion is plain simple and easy but when
we were about to start it, I was completely wrong. We have to undergo first an
orientation, apart from those done inside the classroom by our professor, wherein we
would be given some guidelines regarding the proper ways of conducting an immerion.
Also, from that orientation we’ve come to choose and decide a venue for our activity
from which we have chosen the Gawad Kalinga situated at Brgy. ------ Another thing
which made our immersion difficult is the time because the class which we were about
to have an immersion with was scheduled for a 7:30am-10:30am. This is the only
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schedule which is convenient for our group since two of our members have class by
12:00pm. Thus, we have to sacrifice some of our sleep because we need to meet at
Santolan Station as early as 6am in the morning for us to be on time.
During our first visit, we were oriented by Teacher Fanny, the one who is in
charge in teaching the children, together with Teacher Lourdes. We were oriented of the
do’s and don’ts in dealing with the kids equipped with proper conduct to be shown
towards them. We made ourselves at ease with the environment, and of course to the
kids. On our second visit we had story telling with the kids through role playing which
the kids loved because it was different from the usual way of how their teacher read
them a story. Also, we taught them an action song where the children participated
actively. We also helped the kids in making the seatwork given to them by Teacher
Fanny. For our third visit, our group really prepared something for the kids that they
would really enjoy. Me and Bimbi read a story for the kids entitled “The Ant and the
Grasshopper,” and we also conducted easy Math board works for them. Alyssa, on the
other hand, together with the other members, taught the kids two new action songs.
After which, the kids took their own seats and opened their own books for a seatwork.
Our fourth visit was our last one. We prepared a 3-hour program for the kids wherein we
made environmental talks with them, taught them simple catechism through action
songs entitled “I Love You Jesus, Deep Down In My Heart” and “Who Is That Man,” and
after those we have parlor games with all the dancing and singing. We brought some
lunch for the kids and their parents, and to those present in the area. We brought with
us some tokens for each of the kids which include a pencil, a notebook and a cd which
contains kiddie songs. Also, we left some charts for them which would greatly help in
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their learning and better understanding of their lessons. And for the two taecher, we
gave them a token of appreciation for their warm welcome and accommodation.
All of our sacrifices and hardships in making this immersion possible are worth it.
Seeing the faces of those kids, their warm welcomes whenever we enter their room, the
smiles painted on their faces during our story telling times, the laughs we all shared
together, all these are very heart-warming. This immersion we had is such a success!
Not only that it served an avenue for us to learn but also because we have shared
ourselves to these young children of our generation and that we have lend a hand in
building their future even just for a little time.
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Gianina Marie N. Jugo
3-ALM
Gawad Kalinga (GK), which means to “give care” in Filipino, is a Philippine-based
poverty alleviation and nation building movement. GK is building empowered
communities by people with faith and patriotism; driven by a culture of caring and
sharing, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity.
When sir Leal told us that our finals is about doing an immersion, I thought that it
would be a new and exciting experience not only for me but also for my group mates.
Interacting with playful children, travelling and knowing more about my group mates,
and will learn new things through my own experiences made me feel so excited to do it.
Our first encounter with them was last September 14, 2012 (Friday). I was so
excited to go there and finally meet the children and their teachers. We didn’t
considered the time and distance as a valid excuse to change community. As we
reached the place, they were so warm in welcoming us. The playful children greeted us
with their cute smiles and cheerful greetings. I was shocked that they only had two
teachers (teacher Fanny and teacher Lourdes) which they handle three sections of
playful children a week. I don’t know how can they be so patient with them. And during
their break time, we had the chance to talked and play with them.
So after that visit, we continued it every other day. We had their whole attention;
we thought them to write alphabets, numbers and church songs. As we spend more
time with them, and as they become closer to us, we can feel that we’ve somehow
touched their hearts.
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In our last day with them, we spend a fun Sunday morning with them. Full of
surprises and games for them. Their smiles and laughs made our weariness all worth it.
Those children really enjoyed what we prepared for them. It was such a great joy seeing
them wearing those lovely smiles. Their parents, who have been watching them do the
activities, were also happy.
The whole experience was something worth remembering. I never thought I
would be doing it in my college life. I’ve learned that every small good things you show
to children, will surely be appreciated. What they really see to us, is what they think is
right. For the teachers, I salute them for being so patient to them, no matter how hard
headed and playful their students are. I really hope that this kind of organization would
expand more so that our country’s literacy rate would increase.
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Dhenchelle Las
3-ALM
When I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to grow up so I can do everything I want.
But now that I’m a grownup, I want to go back. It seems that life was way much easier
when I was a kid that life is just like a fairytale. There are always a happy ending for
everyone but of course it gets more complicated eventually, just like what we’ve
encounter in our immersion these past few weeks in Gawad Kalinga in Taguig.
On the first day of our immersion, I was shy to interact with the kids and even
with my group mates but later that day I became more active and involve. The kids are
fun to watch even though that they are noisy and some are doing their own business. I
can tell that the teachers, Teacher Fanny and Teacher Lourdes, are having a hard time
to keep everyone’s attention on the lesson. It was a small class, twenty students more
or less. We are always exhausted because most of the time, we are singing, dancing
and teaching educational songs, reading stories and doing exercises with our fullest
energy. The classroom was small but it was beautifully painted, the ventilation was
neither excellent nor poor and there is no running water in the comfort rooms. There are
also school supplies which are provided for the kids for their learning.
I can tell that the place was full of love and hope. The people behind it and the
people in it want nothing but good for every child that is enrolled. I can see that in the
faces of the parents, how much they love their child and how they want to involve
themselves for their future. I have learned to value and cherish what I have right now
after our immersion. I was touched by the kids and I became very close to some of
them, I even thought of them as my siblings. I will miss them for sure, that’s why
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whenever I have a free time I will pay them a visit and help them in the very best that I
can. I became more matured and less self-centered that the earth doesn’t only revolves
on me. There are more complicated problems than what I have right now. I planned to
treasure and embrace what I have become after this immersion and that is having a
more positive and mature outlook on things.
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Alyssa Anne Bernadette J. Limboc
3-ALM
At first, we found it hard to look for a location where we can have our immersion
but as we tried our very best we found this community, know as the Gawad Kalinga
Sibol at Brgy. Pinagasama, Taguig City. Group of children ranging from 4 to 7 years of
age were there.
In line with this, before we started to have our immersion, we first planned for the
easier way on how we can go there and meet those kids. We did have our schedule
based on the availability of each member. We wanted to go there as a group and feel
that we are doing it as one. On the first day we went there, we tried to observe the
location so we can plan for our next activities. We met teacher Fanny and teacher
Lourdes, they were the assigned teachers in the said location. They let us first observe
the student's behavior in order for us to know the proper way how to handle them. We
found the kids with full of joy and happiness. They were so active and cheerful. I thought
that, these kids would not accommodate us, but that was a big no. These kids were so
friendly and sweet to us. They asked a lot of questions but in the other way it really
helped us to get their trust. On that day, it seems that we met for several times already
because they welcomed us with their warm hearts. Even the teachers assigned
accommodated us very well. When we left the place, one thing that i realize is the big
difference of being a child than as we reach our maturity. You cannot see any problem
in their faces. You can only manifest the true meaning of happiness and no worries
when you look at their angelic faces.
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Honestly, it was very hard for us to handle our schedules because aside from
doing our immersion we are also thinking of our other subject, waking up early in the
morning after we slept late at night, but seeing these children made us alive and gave
us energy. As we were trying to gain their trust, it seems like we are not after the time of
how long we stayed their for a day because while teaching them, we found ourselves
enjoying. Teaching them actually is not that easy, although the lessons and the topics
are easy for us , we still need how to plan the ways on how we can get their attention.
We did a lot of creative ways on how they can easily learn the lessons. We taught them
some children songs.
In this immersion, i realize that teachers do their jobs whole heartedly. Obviously
it is very hard to handle kids at the ages of four to six, but when i saw teacher Fanny
and teacher Lourdes, they do their jobs patiently. There are times that we found it
difficult to handle these kids because they were so active. When we met the nursery
students it was like that we are in a public market, kids were all shouting and teasing
each other but in the other side, as we tried to control them they still listened to us. It is
really heartwarming in the other side seeing them happy when they see our presence.
As i remember, they started their class already when we arrived and when they saw us
other students hugged some of us, it seems that they already missed us. Even though
we were so tried traveling from Mendiola to Taguig, seeing them so close to us made us
realize that those hardships were all worth it.
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We divided our group and was given a specific task regarding the lesson plan.
Other members of our group were assigned to do the mathematical problems, some
were tasked to do story telling, others were to teach them children song and a lot more.
We were so thankful that the said two teachers entrusted to us some of the days to
teach those children. I remember when i was a kid, i used to participate on our class so i
can gain a lot of stars. Teacher fanny told us that we might observe those kids and
compare to ourselves when we were at that stage and that was so true. All i can say is
that i agree on what Tom Stoppard said, If you carry your childhood with you, you never
become older.
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Narag, Jhoanna Steffany G. Narag
According to the genius Albert Einstein, “Only a life lived for others is a life
worthwhile.” You may be called dumb or weak or stupid when you sacrifice
yourself for others. Some may think that you will lose freedom if you devote
yourself to living for the sake of others. I don’t believe it. I know that there is joy in
living for others. And real freedom is doing something that makes you happy.
There are some who might derive their joy at the cost of others, by harming
them. This is not the joy that Jesus wants us to feel. That is what I have
understood while on the road of immersing. Our life itself can be a source of joy
to others if we only live being aware that there are people around us who might
need our love, care, service and acceptance. Living for others is ultimately not a
burden or a sacrifice. For those who have reached the goal of life, those who are
blessed, and those who have the motivation to give, serve, and love others flow
spontaneously from their inmost being. They wish to give and serve for the sake
of the other, without seeking any benefit for themselves.
There are preparations of course and brainstorming before the actual
immersion in the area. I was surprised seeing my group members feeling excited
and being cooperative during meetings. Honesty speaking, at first I felt that they
may be discouraged or get bored when we plan but always expect the
unexpected. And with that, I really felt happy to know that I will work with people
like them, ready and wholeheartedly open for great experiences and adventure! I
will be a hypocrite if I will tell that we didn’t face any problems on this project.
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Even before starting, we already experienced some difficulties and problems like
the area of immersion, scheduling for the itineraries, social justice issue to focus
on, meeting and planning and the hardest part is to gather the group knowing
that not everyone belong to the block section. During the immersion, the only
problem we had was waking up literally early, meeting up at 6 o’clock AM and
going to GK stay there until 2 to 3 o’clock PM and rushing back to school for our
class. But on the second time of our immersion, we didn’t treat it as a problem
anymore but rather enjoyed it and felt excited while on the roadtrip. We laugh in
the car, joke around, go sound tripping, talk about any stuff and we were actually
bonding.
During the immersion, one would think about wealth, money, success and
or fame. I’ve been quiet thinking about what the GK coordinator told us, Mr. Raul
Ramiterre about the Povedan students. He told us that a lot of people would say
that Povedan students are “maarte, maluho at mayayaman” but do we realize
that these people took a big part in our nation building? Povedan students are
one of those few that started a community of GK in Taguig City. They
participated in the building of houses and what is more surprising is that they
gave up their promenade and instead donated the money for building the
houses. In my point of views, these wealth, money, success or fame are not what
makes us really happy. The best things in life are not things and they are always
free. What is important is that what you are doing reflects your real emotion or
feeling towards something. If you are happy in helping, then do it and don’t be
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shy. Some people tend to be timid in doing things because they are afraid of
what people will say about them.
We have chosen civil kids. It is exciting to handle cute little babies. They
are ranging from 3 to 4 years, 4 to 5 years. One thing I learned from this
immersion is that seeing, judging and acting mediations are applicable even with
these children. Seeing them at first, getting to know them and being used and
comfortable being with them and identify what they need. After identifying, we
were ready to judge or realize what this kids need or what do they lack or what is
the issue that we saw then set out the possible solutions. Then we act. We tried
to solve the issue or at least prevent it. Week or days of immersion period is not
enough to cover everything. It is just a stepping stone, a start of a bigger
challenge that we could face as champions of GK Nation Building.
I also want to commend all my group members for being cooperative, patient and
uncomplaining while doing the immersion. I am proud that I never heard any
complaints or saw them having attitude. I am glad that we all worked hard for this
not just for compliance but I see that we were actually enjoying what we are
doing. We went there not as students from San Beda College immersing to get
the required hours but we were there enjoying and feeling like a kid. We were
going back to childhood!
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Jose Miguel T. Platero
3-ALM
“It's never too late to have a happy childhood.”
Tom Robbins in his novel entitled Still Life with Woodpecker said that “It's never
too late to have a happy childhood.” As the youth, perhaps including the children, will
serve as our nation’s hope like what Dr. Jose Rizal have uttered during his time, I think
it is only correct to say that the kids deserve all the best things that life has to offer.
If I were to ask random people on what does it take to have a happy childhood,
undoubtedly, a lot would answer that it is about playing all the games which a normal
kid would play and having that unending fun with your playmates. Indeed, this would
make some sense, yet I would like to believe that the definition of a happy childhood is
something more than this. A happy childhood should not be limited to the enjoyment
from adventures or leisure in life, but should also include the bliss that could be rooted
from the experience of having enough and proper educational experience – a basic
need for every kid. I am proud to say that this was what our group did in our
immersion... to help children of Gawad Kalinga take pleasure in their school... to help
them appreciate education… to help them realize that they are our tomorrow’s hope.
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September 14, 2012, marking our first day of immersion, served as our getting-
to-know time with the nursery and kinder students. As the days go by, I was able to
spend hours in the place teaching the children with basic lectures like the alphabet and
mathematical processes such as addition and subtraction. Although innocent from
realities of life, I could see in their eye the eagerness that they have towards learning
and that what struck me most. Noticing those angels happiness while participating in
our mini discussion of abc’s and 123’s made me appreciate everything that I am at the
moment brought by my education which my parents had never failed to provide for me.
More than the discovery of the real essence of education, I have also seen how
teachers Ms. Lourdes and Ms. Fanny would dedicate their time just to be instruments of
knowledge and understanding especially to the kids who belong to the unfortunate
families in our country. This wouldn’t be possible if not for their passion to serve despite
the call of bigger salary and more opportunities they could get in moving to another job.
San Beda had always been famous with two words “Ora” and “Labora” which
would mean prayer and work, respectively. Indeed, it is prayer and trust in the Lord that
gives us strength in achieving our goals in life. However, God himself will not put his
trust on us and bless us for our everyday yearnings if depend everything to him. A
prayer said, but is not accompanied by an effort or strive of turning wishes into realities
will never be answered by God. If want to help other people to learn the beauty of
surviving life even in the midst of trials, we should not merely pray for them. We should
set as good examples, and even through the smallest act we could do, give some help
by working with them so that they themselves will uplift their own life.
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Our immersion had been a simple, but satisfying experience for me. Without it, I
will not realize how lucky I am to be blessed with God’s gifts in life. I have understood
that anyone could be God’s channel of love if he/she will open himself to other people.
With this, I am not only more encouraged and devoted into serving others and bringing
new meaning into their lives in the best way I can. I can say that I have also added a
happy and wonderful experience to my “childhood” – I call it childhood because it’s
never too late.
FELIZARDO L. ROMANO I
3-ALM
Every human being in the universe has passed through childhood. This were the
time of our lives that molded our well being and the result of what we became to be in
the present. Every bits and pieces of our childhood are like diamonds that will never
vanish and will be forever cherished and remembered.
Some may have a dark and undesirable experiences in their childhood and some
may have never cherished their childhood but this scenarios in the past was the reason
why they became strong and firm in whatever challenges or obstacle they face along
the path of reality.
It has been said that a child is like a ball of light that illuminate a home. They are
those who give smile in every face of every member of the family. Every move they
make and every step they take or even in the simplest movement and swing of the
hands are like a spell that binds happiness and joy that fills every soul and heart. Every
child are truly blessed of a skill that only them embody and that is innocence.
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In the immersion we conducted in a Gawad Kalinga Village located in Brg.
Pinagsama Phase 2, Taguig in their program of GKSIBOL, childhood has once again
reigned in our heart and soul. It felt that we came back from our past and very young
years as we mingle and interact with day care children having the age that ranges from
4-6 years old.
As we get to know the place and the surroundings, the thought of being bored
and other negative thoughts were not attendant in the midst of our minds but rather the
excitement, enthusiasm and the challenge of teaching and playing with the children
were the superior idea. Excitement for the reason that personally being the youngest
sibling in my family, I was the one being taken cared of every time and the one who get
the attention and time of every one more often but this time around the cards were
rearranged and the places was shifted, now I will be the one who will take care of this
children and the one who will allot reasonable and prosperous time to this children.
Enthusiasm for the reason that this experience will make me even more understanding
of the things that I used to know about children and this is like an eye opening for me
because I know that in some way or another this children that I will be mingled with will
teach me lessons that I don’t know. Lastly, Challenging fro the reason that I may not be
good in dealing with children such as teaching them how to read, write and other things
that might be helpful to them and especially communicating with them mainly because I
do not have the experience in approaching and interacting with children in the home
that I grow up.
But in the end, the experience of teaching, story telling, playing and interacting
with this young and innocent children were priceless. Every laugh and smile they paint
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in their soft and gentle faces every time they draw images of thing, color a book or race
their hands in the discussion were the reasons we keep on being motivated to go back
like a magnet that drags our feet back to their classroom.
Yes, I will admit that it was never easy for me to just step there and do what I
have to do. Interacting with children takes a great weight of courage, tons of patience
and mountain of energy and this are the things that this children taught to me and to the
rest of the members of the immersion.
Ronne Kendrick C. Uy
3-ALM
Our first encounter with the children at immersion was on September 14, 2012.
We went there to observe the surroundings and the people we are going to be with for
the rest of our immersion hours. On our first few hours, everything seems to be perfect
and everything seems to be normal. But as time flies by, we became tired and
exhaustion comes to the scene. We went there from early in the morning to afternoon
so that our time would not be wasted because we still have classes starting at 4pm.
I am not used to those kind of environment so at first it was kind of hard for me to
encounter or to react with the people over there. But as we used to go there every now
and then, I felt something that I have not felt before, the feeling of helping other people.
My mom always told me that “it is better to help other people, than other people helping
you”. I just realized and personally saw what my mom truly wants me to realize about
the statement she said.
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For just little amount of hours teaching or helping the teachers, Ms. Fanny and
Ms. Lourdes, we really got tired from all the shouting, teaching, and chasing of children
another factor was that, they only have 3 electric fans to circulate the air inside the
classroom while there were almost 30 students inside. We just handled the student for
just few hours in a day and we go there every once a week so that it would not be too
tiring for us student, but how do teachers manage all the hardships, sacrifices and
everything just to get to school, teach the ____ students, and earning salaries which is
just enough to make a living for day to day problems.
I also realized how lucky am I compared to other people or family, having a
complete family, enough to have what is needed for everyday, having the chance to eat
3x a day without getting starving. While they are working like a horse, but still their life
could not be better and cannot earn enough to support the everyday life of their family. I
really learned and realized a lot from this immersion. And I know my parents would be
so happy hearing this kind of reaction or comment about the immersion that I have been
doing throughout these past few weeks. This is a kind of learning that teachers could
not teach to student until the students themselves learn and see at their own eyes the
true events or happenings in other people’s shoes.
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Mike Solomon Vardeleon
3-ALM
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel
loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” -Dalai
Lama
The first thing that struck me when I heard that we were going to do an
immersion is the thought that everything would be tough and that what we are about to
do would exhaust not only our strengths but also our finances. At first I was anxious and
a bit withdrawn to the idea that we will be extending our time and efforts to those people
whom we never met and knew, but as the days go by I seem to realize the true essence
and the true meaning of having to experience life outside of our comfort zones.I have
come to see thing in a different light and in a different perspective. I started to recognize
that I was blessed more than anything else for what I have is much and much more
adequate than what I truly need.
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Our first encounter in the area of our chosen organization, the Gawad Kalinga in
Barangay Pinagsama, was a bit of a surprise for us because what we originally planned
was just to actually introduce our selves and familiarize ourselves to the place and to
get to know the coordinators and the children, but it turned out to be way different than
what we expected it to be, when we arrived at the area what we did first was to see the
kids and when we saw them we fell in love with them instantly and from then on we
never left their side because they were just too cuddly and huggable to be left with. With
that of course we also helped them in their daily activities in school giving the teachers a
helping hand in facilitating the kids.
As we went along with the immersion in the succeeding days I felt a deep sense
of fulfillment in what we are doing even though it amounts only to little things, but for me
I felt a deep feeling of happiness and contentment that I have given time, effort and,
myself to actually help those who are less fortunate. I have come to realize that it is not
the worldly things that make a person but it is his character and passion to seek what is
righteous and what is good for the others that make him worthy.
With this activity I fully understood why it was called an “immersion.” It was to
throw and absorb ourselves into the situation of others. Even thou the experience that
we had was tough still if given the chance to actually do what we had done I would and I
will still do it for the second time around because now I can truly say that what we did
was worth it.