Archive for 2013
Warning: Cliche - Everything Happens for a Reason
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| Credits to Olivia's blog for this photo |
Just a few months back, the pressure of having to study such a lot and the actual challenge to pass each and every exam given to us began to take their toll on me. I was losing my cool and I couldn't help but think about that day I could just lay down, watch a good movie and not worry about what else I have not or still need to read. Eventually, the community exposure became that light at the end of a very long, winding and dark tunnel and the thought of going to community sparked up a fire that kept me going. Aside from the fact that we would again be seeing the people we already learned how to love, the idea that I could think less about the academic side of a medical student excited me. It actually felt, for a moment, like I was living such a sedentary lifestyle that I could no longer manage to give time for myself to even just breathe. But the thought of the community drawing close made me actually realize that there could be a break from such a monotonous routine.
A Very Worthy Welcome
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| Picture taken from Google |
At last, the long wait was over. We took a trip down memory lane and reminisced the first time we had that long bus ride going to our community. During the trip, my classmates were quite noisy this time and I could feel that they also feel as ecstatic as I am that they could now have a break from having to read lectures and notes daily. We had the usual pit stops at Ipil, Sindangan and other municipalities, and after 8 long hours arrived safely at our community's Rural Health Unit where we were met by our Community Preceptor (Dr. Leigh Arouet Lluisma) and the other members of the RHU Team with a "Butung" Party. The smiles they had on their faces when they saw us and the hug they shared with us made us feel very welcome and at home - like they were sending a silent message of "We've waited for you for so long. Welcome Back!"
What Really Happened
I woke up, after 10 long hours of sleep, to the sound of my mother shouting at me, telling me to get up. I was rattled because it was only 6 AM and my class was not due until 9 in the morning which irked me a lot. But the sound of our radio made my stomach drop and I got quiet for a moment. It had been 2 years since my family last tuned in to the radio and usually if we did so, a horrible news was up front - and it was no different this time around.
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| Aerial Shot of one of the affected Barangays |
What me and a very good friend had been talking about and dreading for the past few months has happened. It was something I have never seen or gone through (as I really have no memories of the Cabatangan Siege) and it's definitely not a good sight to watch. There were rumors of hostage-takings, videos of men covered and bathed in their own blood, and a group of people who seemed to be tied to one another. The reporters from the news mentioned a few barangays and my mind shot several different questions at once - Are my friends safe? Have they been caught in the gunfire? How long was the situation gonna last before resolution? Is everything gonna be okay after everything is over? Will we still have class even with the situation at hand? My mind could not find all the answers it sought so I decided to break into prayer and asked God to bless and guide all the innocent. When my mind was cleared, I messaged my classmates who I knew were directly affected by the ongoing crossfire and got relieved when I found out they were all okay.
Even though when everything was building up and getting blown out of proportion, I couldn't help but still trust that the government could put an end to whatever misunderstandings, arguments or clash they had with the opposing team - that everything would be back to normal when I wake up the next day. I was deeply wrong. Instead of the resolution I so wanted to see happen, the "war" dragged on for quite a while, causing damages along the way. Innocent lives taken, houses burnt down to the ground, several properties and belongings stolen or ransacked. The big question on my mind was "Who did what?". I could not really answer it so I settled with the fact that TIME might tell me soon.
A Pause for a Cause
Not surprisingly, classes were suspended until further notice and curfews were imposed. A sports complex and a few schools too served as shelter for more than 120,000 people from 5 to 6 barangays. What I think the "war" did to most of us was just instill fear and apprehension. For that matter, I stayed most of the 28 days at home doing my part of guarding our house (mostly just staying up until the early hours of the morning surfing the net) for fear that our barangay will be affected as well. The challenge too of the exam that was yet to come never left me so that the mental warfare that I have been struggling with intentsified.
What I liked though was that amidst the chaos and heavy emotions, people found time to offer the little things that they have to those affected and that gave Zamboanga the ray of hope that at the end of what seemed like years of famine and danger, a new beginning awaits. In our little way too, the Potentia Domus (ADZU SOM Batch 2016) class offered what we had by giving out several family hygiene kits that we felt the evacuees needed to avoid certain diseases brought about by poor hygiene practices. We could not have our community exposure too so we were most welcome to render our voluntary services to the ever growing population of the evacuees. Surprisingly, several of our batch offered their services even during the active phase of the crossfire. Most of us though were not allowed by our parents to leave our homes for fear that we could be victims of stray bullets and other forms of danger. But one thing was for sure - all of us were one in praying that the situation would be over soon and that no more innocent life be sacrificed or wasted.
Despite that desperation of not being able to go back to the community and have that 'mental' rest I have been wishing for so long, I was thankful that even with what had transpired, me and all of my classmates were safe. Many may have lost homes, properties and some have lost their loved ones along the way, but one thing I can be certain of is that every single one of us still has that HOPE inside of us.
Now it's been about a month since the end of the crisis, but the real challenge has just started - the challenge to start anew. We may not know or fully understand why these things happened, but we know that "Everything Happens for a Reason".
KEEF
In Action
To begin with, we were exposed to the birthing center where we went on duty during the night for 12 hours (7pm-7am) and were given the privilege to either manage or assist on a delivery, which was supervised by a trained Public Health Midwife. From the accounts of my classmates though, it was unfortunate that among the 10 rotations during the April 2013 exposure, there were only 2 instances that a laboring mother gave birth on our watch - it would either be that the expectant mother has a prolonged labor that by the time she gave birth we were already off duty, or the better possibility would be that we have fallen asleep and was so deep into it that the delivery took place without us.
Overall, the rotations to the Rural Health Unit was all worth it despite the fact that it would mean US (those going to duty) leaving the rest of our group members. This personally made me worry about what they might be eating, or would they be okay back home - a feeling only a FAMILY would feel for each other.
Ang Paglalakbay
Ang Paaralan ng Medisina ng Unibersidad ng Ateneo sa
Zamboanga ay isa sa mga natatanging paaralan ng Panggagamot sa bansa. Isa sa
mga dahilan kung bakit siya naiiba ay ang pagkakaroon ng tinatawag na
"Community-Oriented Medical Education (COME)" sa kanilang kurikulum.
Ang COME ay isang stratehiya ng paaralan kung saan inilalagay ang kanilang
mag-aaral sa isang mahirap na komunidad sa rehiyon upang makatulong na
masolusyunan ang mga problema ng naturang lugar. Dito nagagamit at naisasagawa
ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang mga natututunan sa paaralan upang higit
Sa Ngalan ni Allah, Ang Pinakamahabagin, Ang Pinakamaunawain. Ang lahat ng kaluwalhatian at pagpupuri ay kay Allah lamang, ang Panginoon ng lahat ng mga nilalang. Pagpapala at kapayapaan sa lahat ng mga propeta kabilang na sina Adan, Moises, Noe, Hesus at sa huling Propeta na si Propeta Muhammad at sa kanilang mga kasambahay at mga kasamahan.
Ako'y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa Allah at nabigyan
ako ng pagkakataon na mapabilang sa Paaralan ng Medisina ng Unibersidad ng
Ateneo sa Zamboanga. Bilang baguhang mag-aaral ng naturang paaralan, ang daming
tanong ang sumagi sa aking isipan lalong-lalo na ukol sa COME. Makakayanan ko
ba ito? Magagawa ko ba ang aking tungkulin bilang isang sumasampalataya sa
kaisahan ng Allah (o tinatawag ding Muslim) habang nasa komunidad? at marami
pang iba.
Obligasyon ng bawat muslim ang magdasal ng limang
beses araw-araw sa nakatakdang oras at lumayo sa mga bagay na hindi kanais-nais
na makakapagpalayo sa kanya sa pag-alala sa kanyang Lumikha. Ayon sa Dakilang
Qur'an, ang librong naglalaman ng mga literal na Salita ng Allah na ipinahayag
Niya sa huling propeta na si Muhammad (sumakanya ang Kapayapaan at Pagpapala)
sa pamamagitan ng Anghel na si Gabriel,at sa pinakamalapit nitong kahulugan:
'At hindi Ko (ang Allah) nilikha ang mga jinn at mga tao maliban na lamang na sambahin nila Ako (ang Allah)' Qur'an 51:56
Kaya sinisikap ng bawat naniniwala sa kaisahan ng
Allah na sambahin Siya at huwag magtambal ng iba pa sa Kanya. Ito ang pundasyon
ng relihiyong Islam. Ito ang sinisikap kong gawin sa bawat araw ng aking buhay
at ito din ang pangunahing nasa isip ko sa pagpunta namin sa komunidad.
At noong buwan ng Oktubre 2012 una naming nasilayan
ang baranggay - Baranggay Pangulogon sa Roxas
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sa probinsya ng Zamboanga del
Norte- na aming tutuluyan sa susunod na apat na taon, kung hihintulutan ng
Allah. Naging mabuti naman sila sa pagtanggap sa amin at hindi naman kami
nahirapan makihalubilo sa kanila. Pangalawa naming bisita ay ito lamang
nakaraang buwan, ika-22 ng Marso hanggang ika-15 ng Abril 2013. Hindi mo
masasabing ilang buwan din kaming wala sa lugar sapagkat hindi pa rin nagbago
ang pagtanggap nila sa amin at ngayon ay masasabi kong mas napalapit na kami sa
kanila. Hindi naging madali para sa akin ang simula lalo na
ung mga oras na nagbabahay-bahay ang aming grupo upang makuha ang panimulang
datos na kelangan namin, pero sa awa at tulong ng Allah ay nalampasan ko at ng
aking mga kagrupo ang mga pagsubok na dumaan. Tunay nga ang sabi ng Allah sa
Kanyang Dakilang Qur'an at sa pinakamalapit nitong kahulugan:
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'Ang ‘Deen’ ng Allah ay madali at walang kahirap-hirap. Na kung kaya, hindi ipinag-utos ng Allah sa Kanyang mga alipin ang mga bagay na hindi nila makakayanan. Samakatuwid, sinuman ang gagawa ng mabuti ay magkakamit ng kabutihan; at sinuman ang gagawa ng masama, ay masama rin ang kanyang makakamit na kabayaran.' Qur'an 2:286.
Katotohanan na hindi lahat ng bagay ay matututunan mo
sa paaralan. Sa daang tinahak ko upang maging isang doctor, naniniwala ako na
ang komunidad ay may hindi matatawarang kontribusyon para hindi lamang maging
isang doctor na may alam sa panggagamot, pati na din ang maging makatao na may
responsibilidad tumulong sa iba at maging doctor na may takot sa kanyang
Tagapaglikha.
Naway patnubayan tayong lahat ng Allah sa matuwid na
daan at bigyan tayo ng sigla, lakas at kaalaman upang magawa natin ang mga
obligasyon natin dito sa mundong ibabaw, makagawa ng kabutihan at makatulong sa
kapwa para lamang sa Allah.
Thumbs Up for Bottoms Up
In diagnosing a
community one of the most crucial points along the process is the problem
identification and prioritization, as these will serve as a better room in
finding solutions and interventions that can contribute to help the community to
become self-reliant and determined.
Prior to conducting the community diagnosis, intensive planning was done by the
team Pangulogon as this will be the first major activity that would not only
diagnose the community but would also permit the community people to get to
know the medical students and as well as for the students to be more acquainted
with the people that they will be serving for 4 (four) years.
The Team Pangulogon
resolved to apply the “bottom’s up
method” using the Multi-Voting technique. In the said technique and method
the views of the community people were gathered first and followed by the
opinions of barangay officials. Subdividing the community people according to
their purok (1-4), we then requested them to come up with their own top 15
(ten) problems separately, while the medical students came up with their top 10
(ten) problems using the Maglaya
Prioritization Method among the problems identified that were taken from
primary data surveyed from the previous exposure. These problems were combined
to form a master list of 15 problems and from these, each community people were
asked to vote on paper their Top 10 perceived problems, which was immediately
tallied by some of the group members of Team Pangulogon. At the onset, we had
10 common problems, but the group felt that 2 of them were beyond our capacity
and was, in one way or another, not health related. The following are the TOP 8
problems as per the community people:
1.
Poor
access to a quality health care facility
Situated nearly 6 kilometers away from the main Poblacion and with the status quo revealing the absence of a health center in the barangay, access of the residents to a quality health care facility is deemed difficult by the team Pangulogon. With the wildly steep and rocky road, access to the Rural Health Unit situated at the Poblacion is also difficult. This has indeed been a concern for most of the residents in the community, as they find it either difficult or too bothersome to go to the health RHU, entailing them to spend for their fare. As a result, a lesser proportion of the community people seek for professional health care.
Proposed Solution: Putting up of a Health Center
2. 65%
of households falling within or below poverty line
Being immensely dense with hectares of coconut trees, corn and rice fields, Pangulogon is considered to be agricultural. There is no doubt therefore that most of the residents are farmers and depend on the yield of their crops for their day to day income. Unfortunately more than half of the households interviewed by the team seem to not have enough income to meet their daily expenses. Most of them too, according to the standards set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development fall on or under the poverty line.
Fortunately, the barangay is endowed with so much resources that opportunities for economical growth is in all ways possible. There are also other ways in which we could exhaust the community's manpower, since most of the female counterpart of the farmers stay at home. Being one of the community's priority problems, the group saw it fit to include this in their list of Comprehensive Plan, and with the community people's eagerness to have this solved, sustenance of the project is indeed highly achievable.
Proposed Solution: Use of alternative sources of income such as maximization of the use of the plant Coconut.
3.
Poor
nutritional status among children under 6 years of age
Contrary to the belief of other people that children who are underweight are the only ones considered to be malnourished, it is also true that children who go beyond their expected weight are also malnourished (over nourished for that matter). It is quite alarming to note that one child is poorly nourished - as this will expose the child to countless diseases. Moreover, it is more alarming to note that not only one, but roughly 70 out of 75 children are undernourished in one aspect or another. 
On the survey made for the nutritional status of children under 6 years of age, it was found out that 95 percent of them were either stunted or wasted. Through the WHO Anthroplast, which automatically computed for the children's respective BMI and comparing their height and weight versus their age, it became apparent to the group what we really needed to do.
Nutrition is vital for a child's overall growth and development. This can be achieved by giving proper diet and nutrition. To say that a child is nutritionally stable or balanced, his height or weight should be appropriate for his age. The community people seem not too aware of the condition that their children are in, although some seemed to be bothered, but the group found it quite important to include it in the listed problems so as to be able to address and stabilize such condition through the participation and help of the parents.
Proposed Solution: Series of nutrition classes and lectures with return demonstrations.
4.
High
incidence of tuberculosis-related mortality and morbidity
In the advent of medical technology, prophylactic treatment and immunization, tuberculosis should have been a highly controllable disease. Moreover, it is a disease that is highly treatable.Unfortunately, knowledge deficit on treatment and isolation practices increase exposure of the afflicted with those who are TB free. Fortunately though, what was once considered a 'rich man's disease' have been conquered and drugs are given free at health centers.
Giving a hint to the residents that this disease may not be as benign as it seems (that is without treatment), due to them witnessing several deaths related to Tuberculosis, it prompted them to include this problem in their list. The team on the other hand, backed up with medical knowledge, sees that the death from disease is highly preventable and it is primarily this that they accepted the challenge to help the community in increasing their awareness of the disease.
It is a bit unfortunate though that a disease with similar manifestations as TB exists. Paragonomiasis - which is also rampant in the community will be discussed in the next problem.
Proposed Solution: Increasing of awareness and honing Health Team's skills on case detection and reporting.
5.
High incidence
of Parasitism
Home to some very aggressive parasites, Roxas has become a good study area for some UP Professor for the identification of some nematodes and filariaes. Capillariasis, Paragonomiasis and Filariasis are just some of the many parasites that infests the waters and food of the residents of Roxas.
Pangulogon of course is not an exemption to the case. According to the survey that the team conducted, several cases of Paragonomiasis either caused the disability or death of some Pangulogon residents in the past 2 years. Unfortunately, we cannot take the words of the residents as sole evidence to the cases since Paragonomiasis share similar manifestations as Tuberculosis.
Pangulogon of course is not an exemption to the case. According to the survey that the team conducted, several cases of Paragonomiasis either caused the disability or death of some Pangulogon residents in the past 2 years. Unfortunately, we cannot take the words of the residents as sole evidence to the cases since Paragonomiasis share similar manifestations as Tuberculosis.
Alarming though that residents (especially children) are seen bathing in the rivers which are proven to be infested with parasites. Most of the residents too (adults included) walk around barefooted in total disregard of the mode and transmission of the disease. Others also admit to have eaten fishes or crustaceans from the river, with a few eating them raw (what the call the Kinilaw)!
Methods to control incidence of the different types of parasitism is already running (such as the Operasyon Pampurga), but the team sees it essential that more steps should be undertaken to rouse the community's concern and increase their knowledge on the causes and effects of parasitism.
Proposed Solution: Increasing awareness through lectures; activities that address to lifestyle changes
6.
Poor
solid waste management
Waste management is one very common area of interest of medical students - as it is a problem consistently present in almost all communities. With the advent of global warming and ecological destruction, it is but imperative that we find ways on how to manage our waste and dispose of them properly. We are lucky though that the government has been very active on the promulgation of the Solid Waste Management Act, RA 9003, which aims on the
By using these
methods we felt confident enough that we came up with reliable prioritized
problems and finding interventions to these problems will, more or less, be
easier to do. These interventions will also allow the community people to be
self-reliant and organized, which is the primary purpose of this community
exposure.
Paying Respect
It was September 2012 when we took our first step at the Municipality of Manuel A. Roxas Zamboanga del Norte. A warm welcome was initiated as we arrived by the RHU staff headed by our community preceptor Dr. Leigh Arouet Lluisma. We knew that day that Roxas will serve as our second home for the upcoming 4 (four) years as a medical students. As an initial step we must recognize and identify significant personas which will serve as a big help for us to accomplish our mission here and that is to make a difference.
On the very first morning after our arrival we attended for the first time the municipal flag ceremony together with the municipal employees. It was also during that ceremony that our preceptor introduced us to the entire Roxas community as a medical student. After the ceremony we got ourselves a tour at the municipal office and introduced us to different department head. And lastly after the short tour, we had our first meeting the municipal mayor Eduardo Yebes. The mayor was so accommodating as he expressed his willingness to support us on whatever projects and programs that we intend to do.
Women Empowerment - A Key to Effective Family Planning
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| The Problem |
Family Planning is an internationally proven strategy that helps
empower couples with the information and opportunity to plan and space their
children. This will not only strengthen the family as a unit but also optimize
care for children who will have more opportunities to be educated, healthy and
productive. Recent researches are shedding light on how family planning
increases survival, improves health, and helps achieve Millennium Development
Goals. Indeed, Family Planning is a smart, sensible, and vital component of
global health and development.
However, there are a number of challenges that stand in the way in
making contraceptives widely available and accessible. These challenges include
high cost of quality contraceptives, religious, cultural and knowledge barrier.
In rural areas, like in Pangulogon, modern contraceptives are often scarce, and
only few trained professionals are available to provide Family Planning
services. The distance of the place to the health unit also serves as an
obstacle. These are some reasons why there is a slow trend in reducing fertility
rate and increasing contraceptive prevalence rate, especially in far flung
areas.
Survey shows that in 2011, Barangay Pangulogon accounted only 32.7%
of contraceptive prevalence rate which is lower than the target of 70%. This
means that out of 58 couples in reproductive years, only 19 are using
contraceptive method. This is an alarming finding as this revealed that only
few couples used contraceptive methods and this reflects poor outcome of Family
Planning program in the place. This calls for an intensive campaign to make
contraceptive methods more accessible and available to the community. To bridge
the gap, the Team Pangulogon ADZU-SOM students spearheaded a Family Planning
Awareness Program among Mothers in reproductive years with the theme, “Responsableng
Maguang”, on April 12, 2013 at the Pangulogon Chapel. This was also our
response to the call of empowering mothers to make informed choices about the
use of contraceptive method and improve their quality of life. Fifty mothers
attended the activity and they were attentive as the medical students discussed
the goals, benefits, and Family Planning methods. Emphasis was made on the
effectiveness, side effects and complications of the available contraceptives
in the Rural Health Unit. It was also made clear that the lecture does not
enforce the use of contraception as the decision still lies in the hands of the
couple. Moreover, a consultation/counselling with a trained health professional
or a physician was advised before the use of any of the contraceptives
mentioned to avoid adverse side effects and complication. The activity was a success and we hoped that
we were able to give them enlightenment on Family Planning and the roles that
women actively play in its effective implementation.
Men and Women Behind the Limelight
BARANGAY
OFFICIALS
PANGULOGON
HON.
MELODENCIO E. MAGUINSAY - Barangay
Chairman
HON.
JUANITO C. BARTONICO -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
LORETO P. CULOT -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
ALBERT D. GUMIBOT -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
JESSIE A. POLBOS -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
REGINO B. JABIL -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
RODEVILLO B. ORONG -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
RICARDO F. CAW-AN -
Sangguniang Barangay Member
HON.
CRYSTAL M. MAGUINSAY - SK Chairman
MR.
RANDY C. LUMAT -
Barangay Secretary
MS.
MARIA RIZA G. ANTON -
Barangay Treasurer
Health and Knowledge is Power
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| Fig. 1 "Pag walang knowledge, walang POWER" |
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| Fig. 2 Doctora Lakibul during Prenatal |
Melting Pot - a Fine Mix
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| Fig 1. Men and Women alike. |
Inevitably, people
get into heated arguments or fights because of their differences in beliefs,
culture, practice or even just simple preferences. It is unfathomable somehow
how an extremely diverse group of individuals, with their own sets of beliefs,
religion or culture, can live together in harmony and peace. With such strong
community ties, it was not therefore hard for us, students of the ADZU School
of Medicine, to establish rapport with the community people and live among
them. The following data are pertinent to Barangay Pangulogon as of the year
2012:
Ø Total Population: 675
ü 260 Males
ü 415 Females
ü 132 Households
Ø Religion
ü 95% Roman Catholics
ü 2% Benevolent
ü 2% Iglesia ni Kristo
ü 1% Mormons
Ø Ethnicity
ü 83% Bisaya
ü 17% Subanen
Despite the
diversities in religion, culture and language, the residents still manage to
coexist and live harmoniously with each other. There is a church found in Purok
2 and most of the residents are active members of perpetual dawn rosary
organization and join the daily dawn procession to enhance their faith to God. A weekly get together is also done, which is supposed to be devoted to marketing and recreation for the residents. They meet at the Barangay Court every Saturday and play basketball, sell vegetables and fish, or have small chats with each other.
The vast area of green land in Pangulogon is composed primarily of hectares upon hectares of coconut plantation, a generous span of rice and corn fields, and the remainder of the land are filled with flowers, fruit-bearing trees and vegetable plantations.
Living With Complete Strangers
Waking up one morning and realizing that you live with 9 other people, not to mention 9 other personalities, is a lot for me to process. I already have the burden of adjusting to my new remote home for the next four years, I’m still not sure if living with strangers is going to make my life better or maybe worst. Well, let’s find out.
What’s the first thing that a
normal person would worry about when you’ll be living with strangers? You’d
probably say, “Could I trust them?” But if you’re me, you’d say something like,
“Would they like me?” I know its egocentric and all but I really have an
inclination to trying to please everybody. This led me on the roll in realizing
the three things that you need to have if you’d be living with total strangers.
This leads us to the next must-have
in your ammunition– PATIENCE. Like you, those 9 other people also have their
own set of quirky qualms. You have to play your cards right if you want the
relationship to work out smoothly. This means you have to endure a little when
the time calls for it. Waiting for a friend because he’s still not done
interviewing his designated family would go a long way in your relationship. 
We’re down to our last essential
virtue, but usually underrated, RESPECT. This one is a lot more complicated
than it sounds. Respect is something that is both given and received. It’s like
not having to cook pork because you live with your Muslim brothers and sisters or
not having to work on a holy week because it’s a time for prayer for the
Catholics. It’s an act that we do to others so that in
turn, others would have the same regard to us.
By now, you’d probably be set to
find your own remote place and a number of strangers to live with. It’s going
to be a hell of a circus but it would be a fun ride.
Contributed by:
Mary Antonette Torres
Away From Home - an Insight
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| Fig. 1 A welcome after 8 hours of travel |
Roofless bathroom, foamless bed, cable-less TV (if
there is such a word), not that I’m exaggerating or anything but add “less” at
the end of any household structure you could think of and voila, that would be
my home for the next 4 weeks. How far apart I was from the amenities of a cozy
home, the closer I am however, to touching the hearts of people of Pangulogon.
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| Fig. 2 Pressured to learn house chores |
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| Fig. 3. Titong |
I associate Barangay Pangulogon with GRATEFULLNESS. Grateful for the opportunities I’m blessed with, thankful for all the comforts that awaits me when I come home and not to mention appreciative of the hospitality that the people here extended to a stranger trying to make her way into life – finding meaning and finding purpose. I hope I’ll find it here in Pangulogon, the place I’ll call home for the next 4 years of being a medical student.
Contributed by:
Mary Antonette Torres
From The Roots
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| Fig. 1 Signage Signifying Start of Pangulogon Road |
Barangay Pangulogon, a haven amidst a seemingly lost wildlife was originally inhabited by 90% Subanen and 10% Visayans. Pangulogon derived its name from subanen words "Pangulo" which means leader, and "malogon" meaning grassland. It was Hon. Ildefonso Lagura, owner of a vast area of grassland in Pangulogon, who coined the term. Barangay Pangulogon was created on July 17, 1967 under the leadership of Hon. Eleodoro Itok, who at that time was appointed the chairman. The legal basis for the creation was Republic Act 5077. The first elected Barangay Chairman was Hon. Anecito Banua who served from 1977 to 1997 until his resignation in the first quarter of 1998 where he was replaced by Hon. Melodencio Maguinsay, who is still the Barangay Chairman as of the moment.
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| Fig. 2 Spot Map of Barangay Pangulogon |
Barangay Pangulogon is situated roughly around 3.5 kilometers
away from the regional highway and 6 kilometers away from Poblacion. It has 4
puroks and is surrounded by seven (7) barangays namely Barangay Pińamar, Barangay
Pińalan, Barangay Pongolan, Barangay Langatian, Barangay Minang, Barangay Piao,
and Barangay Nanginan. Barangay
Pangulogon happens to be in the center of these barangays. It has six (6)
creeks namely, Labuan creek, Sinuelan creek, Sibotak creek, Pongolan, Talayron
creek, and Pangulogon creek.Topographically, Barangay Pangulogon is 10%
mountainous area, 30% lowland area, and 60% upland area. Primarily an
agricultural area (about 80%), major products that the barangay are known of
producing are coconut, rice, corn, and bananas.
The center of the barangay is located at Purok 2, where the Barangay Hall,
Church, Day Care Center, Market, and Basketball center are situated.
The Rain Whisperer
The Rain Whisperer
Name: Mary Antonette T. Torres
Age: 22
Sex: Female
Birth date: July 10, 1990
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 50kg
Premed Course: Nursing
Place of Origin: Zamboanga City
AKA: The girl who can sleep in an
instant!
Known as the ultimate RAIN WHISPERER for her ability to summon rainfall just by washing her clothes. In an unbelievable sequence of events, every time she finishes her laundry and starts hanging her clothes, the heavens turn the shade of grey. Next thing you know, rain falls down hard. So, don't DARE wash clothes when she does or else yours will be forever wet (haha!).
instant!
