Monday, July 18, 2011

5 years

June 22 marked my 5 years in “public” service-well, not as politician but as one of the countless people who undoubtedly looks for the well being of the underprivileged. Five years of multifaceted yet productive and enjoyable years of experience dealing with different people from all ages. 

I remember my first year when I was tested and seemed to have been weighed by most individuals around me. Being new at that time, it was such a challenge working on gaining everyone’s impossible conviction. Of course their rejection was the biggest sample I received and I was left alone coping with everyone. Fortunately, after months of trials, I earned their trust and was able to establish good rapport with them especially to the youths through courage and determination. I learned a lot from my associates, from strengthening leadership skills to working systematically and efficiently which were well supported by all the people concerned, and through them, I found out about my potentials which brought confidence in me.

Succeeding years came by for another tricky but thrilling situations which affected the established rapport amongst everyone, most unlikely to those who have been considered as powerful and supposed to be sufficiently responsible in overseeing majority’s convenience. Personal interactions went sour even if everyone said it was only for the sake of work. Negative vibes were felt inside the four corners of the work place and obviously, even outside. Nevertheless, the recipients’ bubbly company surmounted the ill atmosphere just enough to make everyone continue working on one goal-to bring the lost spirit back. Social gatherings with colleagues through video karaoke over a bottle of beer or going to places went effective in releasing stress. Then, the organization’s surprisingly greatest turnover for the decade took place.

My new assignment was not far from what I did in my three years in vocation-or so I thought. It was actually the same-teaching, but in a totally uncommon situation. Having an open “room” with unique children who live almost the same lives on street, made me aware about the realities happening everywhere. I am confronted with different people-drug pushers, drug users, released prisoners; people suffering from schizophrenia; all kinds of diseases-tuberculosis, Hepa, influenza; and polluted environment-air and noise pollution especially.  I join them during their blissful moments; listen to them when they confer their problems and pleas and offer advice if needed.  I consider all these as challenges that made me stay for two years and counting. However, there are events which do not appear to be challenging anymore. Repetitive actuations and self-centered base decisions of certain individuals  lead me (and the others) to feel uninvolved and poker-faced when encountered with new situations which sadly, usually, severely misjudged. It affected everything when in fact; it should not be considering the general welfare of everyone. I feel like I am more likely to deteriorate than to grow on that part. Still, outcome falls on the recipients’; hence, everyone do their best to leave behind those issues to succeed on one goal-to give back the smile to these unique children. 

Sunday, July 10, 2011

PGT Season 3: Jeziel Dimagha-Ong

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Common Diseases of Children Living on Street

Following are among the diseases common to children living on the street. 
skin disease
Skin Diseases
skin disease
A child's infected hand
sore eyes   
Sore Eyes due to viral infection
Sore Eyes is the inflammation of the thin covering of the eyeball and inner eyelid. The inflammation is brought on by a viral, bacterial, or allergy infection. Extremely contagious, it spreads easily by eye to hand to eye contact,a
runny nose or cough, or when people come into contact with a contaminated surface or object. If severe enough or long lasting, it can eventually lead to corneal scarring that can cause glare and decreased vision. Experts recommend not going to work or school if you have sore eyes or symptoms of sore eyes until symptoms are relieved and treatment  is successful. 
                                                                                                                         

Sore Eyes Symptoms

  • Redness of the eyes
  • Discomfort
  • Burning
  • Gritty sensation
  • Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
  • Pain
  • Difficulty opening eyes after sleeping
  • Eyelids stuck together after sleeping
  • Water-like discharge
  • Soreness
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Lymph glands are sore (lymph glands are your body’s defensive filter, they are located behind the ears)

stye
Sty
Sty is a common infection results from blocked glands within the eyelid. When the gland is blocked, the oil produced by the gland occasionally backs up and extrudes through the wall of the gland, forming a lump which can be red, painful, and nodular. Frequently, bacteria can infect the blocked gland, causing increased inflammation, pain, and redness of the eye, and even redness of the surrounding eyelid and cheek tissue. The medical term for sty is hordeolum.



Due to lack of medicine for sore eyes, our RN gives one droplet medicine for at least 3 to 5 children knowing that droplets must be administered every after 2 hours.She advised the parents to bring their children to the nearest clinic if possible.


                                                                                       
                                                                         
skin patches Eczema  which is also called dermatitis.                                                                                      









                        













Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Tooth brushing

Brushing teeth is one of the many importance of hygiene taught to everyone especially to the children. One of the main reasons is that it is an essential part of oral hygiene to prevent several forms of dental problems like cavities,  gingivitis and bad breath. Therefore it is a must for everyone to clean their teeth daily even children who do not live what they call the  "normal lives". 

In our case, children brush their teeth after eating. Tooth brushes are given mostly to children who attend activities regularly. Children who come occasionally have tooth brushes also but most of the time they are not around to use it. Each tooth brush is labeled with the child’s name and must be returned after using it to be used every time there is activity.

The steps in tooth brushing  like the following is taught to them which do not take not longer than 5 minutes.

Steps in Tooth brushing:
1. Holding their own toothbrush at a 45 angle against their gums (of course with tooth paste on the tooth brush)
2. Start brushing from one end and go to the other careful not to miss any spots.
3. On the outer or inner surfaces, vibrate the brush in half tooth wide strokes towards the gum line. 4. Do not scrub. 
5. Clean molars with back and forth motion.
6. Hold the brush vertically with up and down strokes on the inside of the front teeth.

A team member or any other older responsible child or at least 2 children needs to assist the children especially the younger ones in putting toothpaste on their toothbrushes and to fix the tooth brushes in the container box after using it.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sailing MV Mary the Queen

MBRS
We (Edith and I) planned going to Romblon Province after Christmas but the travel came 2 days earlier due to the ship's schedule. Yes, we traveled by water so we could experience the ride in a huge ship. I inquired about the trips and had our Manila to Odiongan reservation via phone. We thought we would not be able to make it to Pier 8 North Harbor where the MBRS cruise line was docked or so I thought due to the traffic jam along our way. We were received by the trained K9 dog of the harbor when we arrived there. The personnel conducted body check while luggage were examined by the police dog. Numerous people from all ages with their baggage mound to where they stood were already eagerly waiting for the ship which was yet to arrive. Our 5 o'clock trip was postponed to 8 o'clock but the ship finally arrived at 10 in the evening. It took an hour for docking and then 2 hours of refilling water, cleaning and boarding all the passengers.


MBRS ticket
We got in the ship and looked for our beds. The ship left Manila around 1 in the morning a day before Christmas. The ride was not smooth and it was not like what we thought. We found a bed and had a chat with our "neighbor" before we hurriedly went up to discover the inside of the ship. We came to a deck where there were a lot of good empty rooms. Those were cabins which were under repair. Their second class accommodation was almost the same with their economy class. Both class had air conditioner, double deck beds with foam.
K9 and its master checking the passengers baggage






BRS Ship is "new" according to our co passengers who like us were loitering at the upper deck. It  once belonged to Valencia, Spain and bought by the said shipping lines. The former name was Ciudad De Valencia. It was said that this line is owned by one of the prominent government official of Romblon.Below is an information about the vessel.

Name: Ciudad De valencia
IMO: 7915802
VESSEL TYPE: FERRY
FLAG: SPAIN
PORT OF REGISTRY: VALENCIA
STATUS: IN SERVICE
COMPANY: TRASMEDITERRANEA / ACCIONA TRASMEDITERRANEA
(OWNED UNTIL 2009)
BUILDER: UNION NAVAL LEVANTE VALENCIA - SPAIN
YEAR: 1984
GROSS TONNAGE (GT): 11513
LENGHT (m): 138,3
BREADTH (m): 20,5
DRAUGHT (m): 5,6
SPEED (kn): 21
POWER (kW): 13093
PASSENGERS: 982
LANE METRES: 480
NEW NAME: MARY THE QUEEN
SISTER SHIPS: CANGURO CABO SAN JORGE / CIUDAD DE BADAJOZ /
CIUDAD DE SEVILLA / CIUDAD DE SALAMANCA / DONATELLA
DABUNDO



Weekly sailing schedule were as follows:
  1. Manila Monday 5PM - Arrive Romblon 3AM Wednesday
  2. Romblon 4AM Wednesday - Arrive Cajidiocan 7AM Wednesday
  3. Cajidocan 8AM Wednesday - Arrive Masbate 12 Noon Wednesday Masbate 10AM Thursday - Arrive Cajidocan 2PM Thursday
  4. Cajidocan 3PM Thursday - Arrive Romblon 6PM Thursday
  5. Romblon 7PM Thursday - Arrive Manila 5AM Friday
  6. Manila 5PM Friday - Arrive Odiongan 3AM Saturday
  7. Odiongan 4AM Saturday -- Arrive caticlan 6:30AM Saturday
  8. Caticlan 8AM Saturday - Arrive Masbate 4PM Saturday
  9. Masbate 2AM Sunday - Arrive Caticlan 10AM Sunday
  10. Caticlan 12 Noon Sunday - Arrive Odiongan 2:30PM Sunday
  11. Odiongan 5PM Sunday - Arrive Manila 3AM Monday
Fare from Manila to Odiongan was Php425 for students, Php 525 for regular passengers. We added P100.00 each for Odiongan to Caticlan.

We spent 14 hours sailing and were almost in Odiongan port when our ship stopped because according to the management, there was another ship docked on the port and it was impossible to come in. Good thing we decided earlier not to stop in Odiongan as we planned due to the delay of our departure and the long time we spent in the vessel. We abruptly changed our itinerary and eyed Boracay as our first destination so we decided to stop in Caticlan. Nearly 2 hours passed yet nothing happened. Passengers who were looking forward to spend their Noche Buena with their family were getting irritated already. Loved ones who were at the port waiting were also mad and bombard the management with questions. A ranting lady passenger, who could not stand the delay and who also related the event to her marine captain engineer in another country,  went to the management's office and dared the officer. There was a violent disturbance but paved the way for the fleet to move.
It was past 9 in the evening when we reached Caticlan.
air conditioned economy room