The following is a multi-part article reflection on the experiences of students from the Yong Loo Lin School Of Medicine on a community service trip to Manila from the 13-22 December 2012. You can read about the experiences of the previous group who went in Jun/Jul here.
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By Aera Kee
The trip was amazing.
Although it was physically tiring, it was spiritually fulfilling. Having experienced the joy of giving, the privilege of serving and the laughter of good company, we could not help but come back with hearts filled to the brim with gladness and gratefulness for the moments of inspiration and newly forged friendships with the people of Manila.
As a team of 7 medical students from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine comprising of four M2s and three M1s, we were indeed blessed to bless. It was our honour to have had the opportunity to render medical treatment to the sick, give gifts of love in the form of gift packs, food and infrastructure such as water filters and a toilet we funded for the Mangyan Tribe and contribute in the offering of spiritual support for the various communities.
Key in the achievement of these goals and endeavors were many mentors and co-workers, who provided for us, guided us and ensured our safety throughout the trip (not to forget overcoming the language barrier for effective communication). We would like to express heartfelt thanks to Philadelphia Christcentred Fellowship, founded and headed by Pastor-Dr. Don Cua. The Church has been our primary link to the communities, and its members laboured alongside us in preparing logistics, scheduling and ironing any hiccups we faced. We were especially encouraged by the cheerful demeanour of the bible students and the church members who helped us, having made the sacrifice to be away from their family and loved ones to serve the poor. On top of their technical support and help, their immense compassion for the sick and the needy left a deep impression on us and spurred us on toward love and empathy.
The first community that we visited was the North Cemetery which stands at 54 hectares – one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila. It houses many large gravestones, among which the homeless and the poor make their homes. It is hard to imagine how one could make a home out of gravestones, but the underprivileged have adapted them – coffins are being used as their beds, the stones have become a platform for washing and cooking, and the cages that enclose some graves now serve as shelter for them. It is a vivid picture of the stark social divide that exists in the City of Manila, where the poor live among the remains of the rich.
This can be seen more clearly in the Aetas and Mangyan tribes, which are further from civilisation and are thus left on their own. Although they are self sustained by crops they grow, lack of proper nutrition and sanitation results in many falling sick. The lack of finances prevented them from going to see a doctor or go to the hospital for serious cases. We were able to conduct clinics for more than 400 patients in total, including many from neighbouring villages who had walked for hours to seek medical and dental treatment. In addition, we provided water filters, gift packs, meals and health education for them, with the goal of reducing incidences of preventable disease. We were one of the few teams who visited them, and they were surviving on what little they had. It was saddening to know that those with illnesses such as tuberculosis, heart failure and chronic lung problems just accepted what they had, living each day without knowing when their days might end.
We also carried out medical clinics in the church itself, Matutum squatter settlement and Correctional Institute for Women (CIW). What we saw in common was poverty and the suboptimal living conditions of our patients, with a family having difficulty raising enough funds for proper burial of their dead in Matutum and overcrowding in CIW. Patients presented with a wide range of illnesses from respiratory infections to diabetes, compounded by poor lifestyle habits. In spite of their poor living conditions, many of them were upbeat and infectiously joyful.
The joy of the Filipinos was epitomized by the young and elderly in the Foundling Home, Boys’ Town, Girls’ Home and Home for the Aged complex. The children were boisterous in their welcome for us and we enjoyed sharing their joy in playing games with them (designed to teach them about hygiene at the same time). Even the elderly got their game on, having fun dancing alongside us in a game of Stop-Dance to the tune of upbeat music. It brought a smile onto our faces seeing how much they enjoyed themselves and the meals we provided for them, with a hotdog being considered a luxury. It made us reflect on the many things we take for granted here, and how there are so many people in need.
Weeks have passed since we’ve returned from the trip and yet, the laughter shared and the tears shed as we visited the communities remain etched in our minds. This trip certainly shaped our eyes to see and our hearts to feel the greater needs that exist around us and we cannot help but to feel blessed by all the comfort and security we have in our own homes. We are truly grateful for this amazing experience that left our hearts burning with much passion and inspiration to serve, and we hope that many others would join hands with us in reaching out to the poor, neglected and sick in our communities.
North Cemetery – A Visit
Also known as Cementerio del Norte, North Cemetery stands at 54 hectares – one of the largest and oldest cemeteries in Metro Manila. It houses many large gravestones, among which the homeless and the poor make their homes. It is hard to imagine how one could make a home out of gravestones, but the underprivileged have adapted them – coffins are being used as their beds, the stones have become a platform for washing and cooking, and the cages that enclose some graves now serve as shelter for them. North Cemetery is a vivid picture of the stark social divide that exists in the City of Manila, where the poor live among the remains of the rich.