Simply Francis: Social Awareness

Training on Assessment ( 8-29-12)

For someone who was born in the city, going to a remote place to see the verdant mountains and to find time to reflect is very purposeful to us. It's a new experience and we usually call it GREAT ADVENTURE!

After the training yesterday for the Humanitarian Action Plan Assessment we geared up ourselves for today's what we called "The Great Adventure" to Brgy. Kalilangan, Iligan City - a very far away place from the city where only motorbikes can reach. And, so as we keep this story moving, let's all say, "KALILANGAN! HERE WE COME!".

Team Kalilangan Composition:

KII

Chrismalyn Pasco (ERDAC; Team Leader))

Jade Pondang (PRC)

Observation

Jonalyn Tamyat (ECOWEB)

Rolando Abejo (RMP-NMR)

FGD - Men/Boys

Niel Gonzales ( RASFI)

Francis Alain Ebardo (HOM)

FGD- Women/Girls

Connie Derro ( ECOWEB)

Jonie Jane Pesons(ERDAC)

So let's take a view through google map on how far it is from the main city of Iligan . By the looks itself, we are going to bypass mountain ranges in order to reach the area. It's going to be a very challenging ride filled with surprises and excitement.

Quick Info:

Date Created: Dec. 1, 1987

Population:821

Area: 3,500 ha.Distance (from the city):19 km

First Stop: UN OCHA

We gathered as early as 7 am at UN OCHA office for some orientation and final briefing before going to the field/area. Checking on the forms at hand to be used for the assessment and we also brought some food for the locals in Kalilangan. For the record, it's a very tasty Malaysian Rice ( c/o Niel of course) and a box of noodles provided by the Red Cross in Iligan CIty (c/o Jade).Now, finally, team Kalilangan is COMPLETE and ready to GO! :)

Second Stop:Brgy. Mandulog

We rode a car until Brgy. Mandulog where the motorbikes were waiting for the NGO partners who will also be going to other barangays like Brgy. Lanipao and Brgy. Dulag. Everyone seems to be very excited for the run and their smiles shows their happiness because of the opportunity to be able to work with enthusiastic individuals who has great heart for the people of Iligan.

Third Stop: Bamboo Raft

After few minutes, we reached the raft that is used to cross the Mandulog river. The bridge was destroyed during Sendong and people living on the other side finds it hard to transport their goods to the city for selling. Also the children who goes to school couldn't reach school when a heavy rain pours because of the rise in the water level. There is a metal wire where the raft is connected to prevent it from being drawn by the river's current. Four men are also pushing it so that it will be able to move to the other side. Are you up for this kind of adventure?

Fourth Stop: The Rough and full of Suspense Road

After crossing the river, we have to travel to a very narrow road wherein on the right is a very high cliff and on the left is the solid side of the mountains we are trying to bypass in order to reach Kalilangan. The real challenge is just starting and with full excitement as we ride our motorbikes, we all say - woohooo!

Fifth Stop: Stop, Walk and Ride in a Roller Coaster journey

As we draw nearer , there were trench-and-little-river-like formations on the road that it becomes hard to maneuver. We have to stop and go down for a walk and then ride again. Down-sloping was fun but the Up-slope was very tough and so does, we need to do the Stop-Walk-Ride dance move. We don't have to mind being under the scourging heat of the sun because indeed VOLUNTEERING - It's more fun in the PHILIPPINES! :)

Sixth Stop: KALILANGAN!

Finally we reached Kalilangan for more than two hours from the City. We conducted the assessment and had some fun time together with the locals.

Seventh Stop: Expose.Explore. Experience. Kalilangan

Basic Education School for Grades 1-4

We had a tour around the area and found this very old school. Road accessibility is very crucial for it does not only give them opportunity to buy and sell products in the City but also to have further education and access to basic and emergency health care services. Locals desire for a additional facilities, teachers and furthering of the service up to grades five and six and if possible secondary school.

Barangay Health Center

The old barangay health center that needs repair. Being a far flung area, health workers finds it hard to visit Kalilangan but those assigned to these areas does their best to provide healthcare services at least once every two weeks or less.

Eight Stop: Lunch treat of Brgy. Captain

We ate in one of the locals house for lunch and I say it's very delicious. I forgot to ask the name of the dish but its very tasty. There were slices of fish mixed with yellow colored coconut strips. If I'll be back in Kalilangan, I would like to savor its taste again. :) It filled my empty stomach ( I actually forgot to have breakfast).

Finally Going back to ILIGAN:

Its even tougher going back because the up-slopes are higher. More stop-walk-ride dance moves to finish, but, VOLUNTEERING! It's more fun IN THE PHILIPPINES! We wear our smiles even though we almost fell into the cliff. Almost ran out of air grasp because we have to walk through the up-slopes and those trench-and-little-river-like formations on the road. It was a great adventure for us. The challenges we faced and the things we have to accomplish.

Looking into its Scenery:

Looking at the skies and the view of the mountains around the place awed and stunned me for minutes. The beautiful scenery different from what you see in Urban areas. Seeing their livestock like horse which is used for transportation of their harvests. The two-hour travels pays off with such beauty and grandeur!

FINAL STOP:

We went back to UN OCHA office to encode the data we have gathered during the assessment (Arrived around 4 PM). These information will be shared to the local government and will be endorsed for evaluation if it will qualify for the Humanitarian Action Plan for 2013.

It must have been a GREAT Adventure indeed to be able to survive riding a motorbike, crossing the river through the bamboo raft, traveling to a very narrow road near the cliff and finally seeing a very exquisite and mesmerizing view of nature. But for the locals who lives in Kalilangan, the road we traveled is a necessary risk they have to take in order to get medicines to care for their sick, to go to school and be educated and to sell their goods to buy some clothes or basic commodities. My travel reminded me of LANTAD, MISSAMIS ORIENTAL wherein they also experienced almost the same difficulties. But these developments doesn't happen overnight and it takes greater cooperation between the Locals, the Government and those who are gifted with the resources who truly cares about sharing to those people in great need. For us it's a GREAT ADVENTURE But for them, its a GREAT VENTURE.

Videos taken during the travel:

Stop-Walk-Ride Move as we go back to Iligan City.

Going back to Iligan City (Motorbike ride)

Going to Kalilangan through the road near the cliff.

Beautiful Scenery in Kalilangan.

Crossing Mandulog River through The raft

The trench-and-river-like road in going to Kalilangan

The up-slope and down-slope of our journey.

VOLUNTEERING! IT'S MORE FUN IN ILIGAN!
Visit Iligan City Official Page

1 Comments

From lower right to upper right. Kaye and Daphnie

It's a very fine Sunday to go for a Medical Mission and I'm going to meet Dennis from the College of Medicine who will lead the activity in Brgy. Tipanoy, Iligan City. We have turned over the medicines of Health Organization for Mindanao (HOM) which we had during the Joint medical mission last May to International Organization for Migration (IOM) which will be used for the IDPs on Transitory Sites , and, some were used for today's medical mission. My friends Daphnie and Kaye (Volunteer Nurses in an NGO) joined me to take part of this weekend outreach adventure. So now, were off to Brgy. Tipanoy! :)

The Site:

Where exactly is it? It's actually around 30-45 minutes jeep-ride from Brgy. Palo-o in Iligan City because of the rough road. Here are some of the facts:

Point A - Brgy. Pala Point B- Brgy Tipanoy

Date Created: Sept. 5, 1966

Fiesta: 3rd Sunday of January
Population:4590
Area: 664.8 ha.Distance (from the city): 5.3km.

Our partner is a Fraternity for Medical Students in MSU-College of Medicine, Iligan City. The founder Dr. Alvarez is a kindhearted person who used to visit far flung areas and bring them medicines, educating them on how to take good care of their health and that was during his time in Medical School. According to his story, he used to stay and immerse in the community for few days and without fear he travels through unknown roads just to send medical aids to these areas. Serving their fellow men is their utmost goal for their brotherhood and I was so inspired of how their organization has grown through the years! For the record, this is their first medical mission as an organization. Dr. Alvarez traveled all the way from Tangub City just to join this momentous event of sharing ones expertise to the community and inspire the future doctors of our country.

Karen Coronado on your Left Most and Kuya Jarred wearing Blue

4rth Year Medical Students were also present in the area doing their 2-months of community work as part of their training in Community Medicine. I was all the more blessed to see my friends Karen Coronado , kuya Jarred and my Santa Claus - Ate Milfe (4rth Year Med Students). As for me, I facilitated the kids while their moms were on their lectures and check ups. It was fun playing with them.

As the dusk is nearing, we have to call it a day. We have served 96 Patients for 4 hours including Children and Adults. And, as we go home a bit tired and exhausted, we carry with us our smiles knowing that we have made other people's lives better using our God-given talents and abilities.

Snapshots during the Medical Mission: