afterSTEPing

"S-T-E-P" if you want...

2006-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

"Life is not always ok!" This was what I realized during my stay in Taiwan, while I was in my bed pondering. We and our love ones get sick, get old, we sometimes face emergencies and inevitably face the worst "the dying scenario."

So what I thought of I should do is to be physically, mentally, spiritually prepared and to S-T-E-P.

We have to Stop and leave the busy world sometimes then Think ahead and Expect the worst so we could at least anticipate possible things that may or could happen, and by that we could Prepare ( for the future).

I enrolled last September 2005, a month after I came back from Taiwan in a short course that could help me prepare (in a way) for my self, for my family and (maybe) for my future family. And also to overcome some of my fears in handling babies, little moody children and old people (sick and dying). I know too that this is one way to be in the service to others.

"...and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they maybe light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn, yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort..." (Mosiah 18:8-9)

" By this shall all men know that ye are my disciple if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)

Now I have finished all the trainings and I'm more confident now. I've passed the Assessment exams too. I want to thank you all for the prayers. It did helped me great!

Red Cross Training

2006-10-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

I have to wake up and prepare as early as 5:30 am to be at the Red Cross Training Hall before 8am. It's more than an hour (with traffic) or an hour travel from our place. We underwent Basic Life Support training and First Aid training.

At the Red Cross Training Hall.

The trainors and trainees.

Learning to immobilize victims by bandaging and splinting.

As victims during a scenario.

Hospital OJT

2006-10-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

I just finished my Hospital training this October and I've learned a lot, more than what I've learned from just sitting and listening inside the class.

The small hospital where I had my training.

Me together with some of the staffs of Saint Jude Family Hospital.

This is Baby boy Palis. He was strangulated with his own umbilical cord during his delivery. He's the first baby assigned to me. I'm monitoring his vital signs here.

The second baby assigned to me at the hospital. She's Baby girl Fernandez, premature (born 7mos.)

I'm greatful for my training in the hospital and I was able to meet and serve old people I know.

Home for the Aged OJT

2006-10-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Last June 27, 2006 we went our way to Carmona, Cavite for another tough training. This was another 150hrs of On-the-job training. We experienced many tough and yucky things here! But though I was able to test again my patience and my stomach.

I've learned that babies are soft and oldies are brittle. Handling children needs a lot of patience and handling old people needs lots and lots and lots of patience!

From left is Maricel, me, Bryan, Leila, and Joyce at Tahanan ni Maria , Carmona Cavite, Philippines.

At the back is the small chapel located inside the institution where grandpas & grandmas held their morning and afternoon prayer and also Sunday Mass. Everybody is required to attend even if you are of different faith.

Us together with some of the grandmas of the institution. Some can still speak and some just staring blankly in the air. Oh if only I could read their minds and know exactly what their thinking of!

Every afternoon this is how their time is spent. We interact with them and some has good stories to tell about their past and some don't.

I find it very boring for them and for me it's like as if they were just waiting for their own time to be taken from the earth.

This is Lola (means Grandma) Celing. She's from Bicol region and for me she's the grandma who has the sweetest smile here. I'm taking her Blood Pressure.

We check vital signs morning and afternoon.

This is Kuya (older brother) Andrew. He's intelligent and have many things to share about his life but he's not the type of person who starts the conversation. He also doesn't want to be called Lolo.

He still can walk with the help of his prostetic feet and canes.

One time he asked me, "What have you learned here?" then I said, "Many and I was able to see my self a few decades from now." Then he was quiet.

We still exchange messages through our cellphones.

The Grandmas and Granpas of Tahanan ni Maria. Many have died already a few weeks after we had our OJT.

It hurts me to think that most of them were abandoned by their own family and relatives.

I just hope and pray that they will leave this earth with happy memories and with the love of all those people who took care of them.

Orphanage OJT

2006-10-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

It was not really an Orphanage but a Children protection Center where everybody has different stories to tell. Including one mother, Nanay Liza. They here are those who were abandoned, lost, were doing rugby sniffing, physically & sexually abused, neglected, and others with different cases. At first and by just looking at the place, I was uncomfortable and I felt unsafe. But thank God we were able to finish our training here well and I've learned a lot and I've overcame some infirmities!

John Michaelle, as he was named by the staffs of the DSWD in San Pablo City. He was the first baby we took care of during our On-the-job training in CWPC @ San Pablo City, Philippines.

They said that his mom was a hunchback, who died after delivering him a few weeks after. He has a very irresponsible father and that's why he was placed under the care of CWPC.

I was able to meet his father who's now living with a new wife.

From left is me, John Michaelle, Leila, some of the kids at the Center, Joyce, Nanay Liza, who said to be left astrayed by her daughter-in-law, and Maricel.

Maricel, Leila and Joyce were my co-OJTs and Bryan who's not in the picture.

All of the kids here has their own bitter stories to tell but they were blessed to be placed here for protection. We were able to help them, share them some things, and made them happy because of the care and love we've shared them.

Last day of the 150hrs On-the-Job training. Here are the staffs and children of the center. We played some parlor games, ate foods that we prepared for them, and took some pictures together. It was fun and everybody enjoyed it. We also gave them some give aways like school supplies and things that they will need everyday.

Before we left some of the children gave us hugs & kisses and a small folded paper, a letter of thanks to each of us OJTs. They said they were happy and greatful for the things we've shared them. The foods, the happy moments, the laughter, the gospel, and helping them with their homeworks and many more.

Our training here was really a great experience. I myself was able to test my patience when it comes to dealing with different attitudes of children, and old people as well. From taking care of baby John Michaelle to Nanay Liza and to the different attitudes of the staffs!

Well, all people has their own attitude anyway... but good thing i'm flexible! You just have to be more understanding. By the way Nanay means mother.