01.03.07

immersion

Posted in Four Corners at 12:20 pm by erald17

Esmeralda C. Balita

L2A

Ecclesa

Reflection on Immersion at Barangay Talisay

Dec. 8, 2006

 

True enough, the unexpected happens. I thought sadness would dawn on me once I arrive at the house of our foster family. But upon carefully examining how the people from that house lived, I cannot help feeling the gladness and amazement at how they managed to survive with the little that they have. Indeed, they have tiny piece of land where they cultivate fruits and vegetables, a small nipa hut where they quietly reside, a simple sari-sari store in which they invest money and labor, but it is the attitude of the residents that makes these small things bigger than any hacienda, mansion or supermarket that I have seen.

 

When I entered the doorstep of Itay Cesar and Inay Julie, questions began to form in my mind. Many of which have something to do on survival, satisfaction, comfort and fulfillment. It was then that I realized I do have a lot of things, far more than what I actually need. It is so ironic how students like us complain so often about many things that we want to have. But in fact, we just can go about life with a few things and even find joys in them. So is the case of our foster family.

 

At first, I felt a pang of discontentment having to bathe in a toilet covered by dried coconut leaves, to sleep on a papag which gets cold beneath in the middle of the night, to eat tuyo under the dim light of a candle. But upon hearing the full laughter and courageous singing of our siblings in Talisay, the feeling of discontentment was converted into gladness and peace as I realized that I have many reasons to be grateful, generous, humble and compassionate.

 

The happiness of our family there was not derived from any material wealth or possession. Such form of happiness is a shallow one. Rather, their dreams and hard work are what give smile in their faces and glitter in their eyes, a deeper form happiness that grows amidst simplicity and poverty.

 

It was my first time to participate in a painting activity, a job usually done by carpenters. While I was doing the job for the newly-built chapel, I felt as if I were applying color to the spirituality of the people living in Brgy. Talisay. The feeling was intensified by the presence of my schoolmates who are in unity in accomplishing the task. More so, there I have learned the value of cooperation and helpfulness.

 

By words I knew how it was like to live in poverty. But the learning has never been this strong when I got the chance to actually live with them, when all their daily experiences entered my mind through my own senses. It felt magically different – having slept where they sleep, having eaten what they eat, and will all hopes, having felt what they feel.

 

I cannot forget what was told to us before we went there. Immersion is more than a curricular activity; it is a calling. God gave us a mission to fulfill upon our encounter with these less fortunate brothers of ours.

 

This mission, I believe, is to bring about positive change. The process may take long but I do hope it will be realized in time. This positive change primarily pertains to my growth and betterment as a person, to my personal attitude, and then the change will have to go out to the people around me, to my society.

 

Humility, generosity and compassion are some of the values that I can instill in me through this immersion. We are all equal in the eyes of God; hence, I should learn to reach out to people whose economic status can be considered lower than mine. To be humble is to see myself equal to my fellow human being. Giving something to the poor will not hurt me. More so, giving serves as blessing to both the giver and the receiver. If I live by receiving, why can’t I give something back? I should also bear in my mind the big difference between pity and compassion. Pity is simply the feeling of sympathy toward a needy or oppressed. Compassion is doing something about it. That is more important.

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