Quite the Experience

Throughout the entire semester, my time with NAPC, as well as my fellow group mates and the members of the group working with us under the same institution, was a fun and insightful one. Sure, there were times where all we did was talk about DRRM and exchanged opinions on topics, that our coordinator felt we needed, that were all related to disaster reduction and the like.

There was also the time where I thought we’d never get anywhere and that we’d just have discussions on DRRM, then we were suddenly bombarded with these plans and initiatives on what we were supposed to be doing with NAPC, the reason why we were there, that got me really thinking, and participating along as well.

Let me tell you that participating actively was never in my comfort zone. I felt so insecure discussing within that NAPC meeting room. I know that I’m a college student, but I’ve survived the previous year with little talking that I thought I wouldn’t need it here at all. I was confronted with reporting our findings, as well as conversing with those who I normally don’t converse with, for example very important people, very.

Then we were finally doing what we had planned, taking trips, doing interviews, among many other things. It was a new and a fulfilling experience. For this, I thank all those responsible for making this possible, as well as those people who I got to meet, to speak with, and especially those who made my time quite the experience. (I might miss a few so I’m not going to name anyone, but to those who felt the appreciation, I genuinely direct this message to you!)

– Audrey Agustin

Taxi Rip-off

Have you ever rode in a taxi before? If you have, did you consider yourself being cheated on the price you had to pay for your time and effort on riding in one? I have ridden in taxis way too many times than I can count, from my place in Pasig to UP Diliman and of course vice versa. I have never experienced anything that can be counted as one of the “evil” or “bad” deeds that taxi drivers have been notorious to commit. That was, until that one trip to Caloocan city for our audit in Barangay 12.

It was they day of our trip, we were supposed to arrive at our destination by 1pm. It was 11:30 in the afternoon. We planned on leaving 15 minutes after, since there were a few things we had to go over because we hadn’t had the chance to talk previously due to our conflicting schedules and lousy internet connection, and then there was also lunch to consider.

We talked about what mode of transportation to use, and we were all deliberating between commuting and taking a taxi since it was our first time travelling to that part of Caloocan, or for the most of us, Caloocan and the cities north themselves. There was also the much talked about “traffic armageddon,” where EDSA will be covered in heavy traffic due to the construction taking place that day. We then decided to take a taxi, and by the allotted time, we were hailing for one.

It took us quite some time before we got in a cab—it was a sorry looking thing according to myself—, but it was a few minutes past twelve, we didn’t want to take any chances. On the way, the taxi driver told us about taking a longer route due to the expected traffic, and complained about the hot weather. We were complaining about the hot weather too. It was so stuffy in the car that we asked the driver to crank the AC up, sad to say it didn’t help much. Not to mention the times when we felt like the interior itself was reeking when he made an adjustment that allowed the air from outside in.

There was that time when we were stuck in traffic, and it was twenty minutes before one. We were worried about when we’d actually get there. We decided to eat lunch by the time we arrived, and we felt that the trip might take too long and asked the driver if he knows any drive-thru’s nearby to save us some time. He said we were nearing our destination quite soon, he kept saying the same thing more than hour after.

We were hungry by the time we got off, that we asked him to take us to the Jollibee that I spotted in the distance by its sign. He instead parked off on the other side of the road saying he’s not allowed to make the turn, and he might be caught if he did so. After we got there, the payment amounted to more than 350 pesos, and we paid him 400 for his claimed troubles. When we got out, we were expecting the air to be hotter outside than the one in the cab. To our surprise, the air was cool, and there was a gentle breeze.

It was way past the time we were supposed to arrive. We were sweating bullets inside the cab that we rushed in the building for much needed good air-conditioning. We complained to one another how everything was a rip-off; bad aircon, dirty interior, the stuffy and reeking inside air, as well as broken window handles. When we left Caloocan, we commuted back to UP, and it only took us 30 minutes or so. Maybe it was the frustration, but I swear, I’ve never felt that cheated once in my life, and this by a single taxi rip-off.

The First Time

I had blogged, during the first of the semester, about the lax times in my group’s weekly meetings. After such times, we had deliberated on what to do for our project. We then decided on doing something akin to fieldwork. Having done our initial preparations and the like, I looked forward to finally doing our so called fieldwork.

This activity involved an audit that we were supposed to do in Barangay 12 in Caloocan city. We have to go around, interview point persons, as well as some of the members of the common people in the society, on questions regarding their system of management in disaster risk reduction within their community, and then we were to give recommendations based on what we saw during an earlier trip to Barangay Banaba, with the community having a good system of DRRM.

We were quite surprised—I’m not really sure if we were all surprised, since I have no idea on what my fellow group mates were thinking at the time, but I definitely was—to learn that there have been nothing of the sort in that cramped barangay. Sure, there had been efforts in the past on disaster preparation and mitigation, but they have been minutely felt and expressed throughout the times disasters struck.

I’m sure that given the situation, it was quite understandable. When knowing of the facts that the previous barangay captain had done nothing that was effective enough to consider, had not tended to the system, and had left it just as it were. After such a long time having had the position, he left it to a group of people who were just starting out under new management that was only a little over two months old, with them deciding to have a different priority other than fixing their system on DRRM, it is quite understandable.

But having interviewed a barangay official, and having their thoughts on the matter, as well as those from the organizations of the civil society, they all claim that it is a problem with having the lack of funds, people, and permissions from officials that have to provide them. I have thought that they have a problem that needed prioritizing entirely different from that.

I have voiced out my opinion, during the “review” on my group’s recommendations. Instead of problematizing who is responsible to give the lacking, it is better to assign someone reliable for a while to a separate department dealing solely on DRRM in their community and worry about the official things later, seeing as their officials have other priorities.

I feel that it was naïve for me to say it, for I’m sure there are other problems they might cross. But I hope I got my point straight. They had to start with something, and bickering about politics was not going to get them anywhere, even if it was the first time they have ever tried, if they did, something like that.

– Audrey Agustin

Finding Out

Being with NAPC, I still don’t have a vision with regards to what I and my fellow group mates are supposed to be doing in this NSTP at all. I’m sure the rest of them may share in my sentiments, but despite the lack of vision, we do have our expectations. We all know that partaking in this program with NAPC entails us to be doing projects that would aid the people experiencing poverty through the part under the disaster risk reduction management that is disaster mitigation and preparedness.

We are to create a module that would hopefully be used in NAPC’s endeavors for such, but so far all we’ve done is research on the available modules and hazard maps provided by the government and other abled institutions. In doing so, we now know what our group would be dealing with and what we should be doing. Despite the knowledge, it is quite difficult for me to envision that our group would be able to accomplish the ultimate goal that we have set, creating a module that would actually make a difference for what it is needed.

We went on this excursion that involved visiting a certain barangay located in San Mateo, Rizal. In this excursion, I have learned many things regarding the barangay and this certain local group that has been exerting effort since a time ago for the cause of sparing their barangay from the damage caused by the onslaught of floods during storms, fires in the neighborhood and many other things. The one thing that was prominent among all the things I noticed and learned in this excursion was one thing, initiative.

This local group, BuklodTao, has been aiding its community, as well as those outside, as much as they can through their own means with the determination on not relying on waiting for others to aid them. They mostly start, create, and invent things with the current resources they have and accept aid when it comes when they need it. This group, though small at the beginning, flourished to one large organization. Through its members’ determination, resilience, and perseverance in spite of some of the obstacles that hindered the group’s then undiscovered capabilities, it has evolved into the current state it is today: aiding its community economically, environmentally, and spiritually.

One thing is for sure, because of this excursion, I have more to look forward to in regards of our group’s performance in creating our very own disaster mitigation and preparedness module. And although I still have no vision yet, I can only hope that when I do, it would lead to something that is as capable as the feats of that certain group in a barangay from San Mateo, Rizal.

– Audrey Agustin

Expiration Dates

Why is it that there are things that have an expiration date? We do know that all things come to an end, but doesn’t it bother you that the things that are supposed to last way longer expire? Main examples are licenses. I’m always bothered of the fact that licenses, especially driver’s licenses expire usually in two years.

Why is it so? I know that information pertaining to this is stated in the law but is there an unwritten protocol regarding this matter that is only known to license makers or license givers?  I personally think that it’s better for driver licenses to not expire at all. I don’t know all the consequences regarding this but I’ve always had this idea of unexpired licenses, similar to those used for games or software (although there are certain software licenses that are needed to be renewed during a certain period).

Wouldn’t it be better to provide drivers with licenses that never expire, but just the kind that needs to be renewed on certain conditions? I was thinking that it’s better to provide the drivers who only think they’re inexperienced and unsure about their driving and those drivers who are usually involved in repetitively committing traffic violations the re-examination for their license. This way, less hassle for those who are necessarily involved and don’t necessarily needed to take the examination.

– Audrey Agustin

Sparing Change

We all know that we have to aid the poor, and the most common way that people do it is by giving alms, especially for teenagers like me. I’m a very giving person. But there are times when enough is enough. Beggars can’t be beggars forever. They have to do something about their lives themselves and have to stop relying on asking around people to spare them some change.

I’d like to give as much as I can as the next person, but I know that I can’t keep giving my spare change to young kids who beg all the time. I am easily moved, especially when I see kids who are obviously hungry and have no money to spare, I give them some of mine. But I realized, after doing this for a long time, I could’ve saved up some of my money instead of asking my parents for more just because I lack a few due to alms giving.

It’s a selfish thought. It’s a selfish thing to do. The world can be cruel, I just hope that the times I do give help kids like them would help them improve their lifestyle and more.

– Audrey Agustin

What Makes A Hero?

Is there actually a guideline for being a hero? What aspect or characteristic of an individual do you consider heroic? Should something be done in order to be heroic? And if there is something to be done, why does it always have to be based on the usual cliché of saving lives and taking the damsel-in-distress-away-from-danger kind of job? The main question though is in the act and what do people nowadays consider in that act to be heroic?

Well for me, there are three things that should be met for something to be considered heroic. First of all, a hero is someone who doesn’t necessarily have a good attitude. Even if they don’t necessarily have to have a good attitude, they should at least know when politeness, etiquette, and propriety is called for. No one is perfect and it’s hard for a person to be a thorough goody-two-shoes but that’s the least that they can do. Second, they don’t call for attention, they aren’t bothered by it. They welcome the attention but to a certain extent. They do a good deed just because they want to and accept the gratitude that comes with it. That’s also the third thing, doing a good deed. A good deed is something that is done out of sheer good heartedness.

As long as someone does these, they are heroic enough for me.

– Audrey Agustin

The Need for Martyrs

Why do we need martyrs?  Is it really necessary for only a select group of people to die or sacrifice themselves for a supposed greater cause? Why can’t there be a collective contribution in this aspect? Wouldn’t it be better if the entire community supporting or involved in their cause contribute to the said cause equally?

All is supposed to be fair share in the game. It is really sad if a person is chosen to go and die for the sake of many. The many should band together for the sake of that person and for themselves. One burden shouldn’t be left to be carried alone on the shoulders of a single person. If the many from before have strived for more than just a simple write-off of a person, even out of respect or just for the sake of the greater good, and came up with a better solution than sacrifice, then the lives of those martyrs could’ve been spared.

– Audrey Agustin

The Cooler Shade

During summer, what do people crave for when out in the open other than cold snacks and cool refreshments, especially for those who have the unfortunate chance of not being able to afford those when they want to? They want shade. They want respite from the heat that the rays of the hot blazing sun provide. Not only that, they try to avoid the hot humid air that comes along with it.

So here’s the main question, where to get that shade. Well, since we’re in the city, it’s easy to find those in the shadows of tall buildings, under the roof of a waiting shed, or better yet, under the shade of a tree.

Why is the shade of a tree better? It is because you can’t have the same soothing and somewhat cooler feeling that you’ll have when under the previous two mentioned. Maybe it has to do with its leaves, or the air around it, since it gives oxygen. But whatever the reason is, it is obvious trees are a better choice.

– Audrey Agustin

Heroes among Heroes

Isn’t it funny that heroes of the Philippines nowadays are only considered heroes when they have already passed on? The same goes for the rest of the world. A hero is only recognized when their time in this world has ended. I haven’t heard of a hero, largely recognized for his/her deed, who lived during the time that deed was recognized.

Maybe it’s because people are picky. It may be because people have their own opinions of what heroes are supposed to be like. Or, it may be that the people who give the recognition, usually people in offices, are too stuck up and would have to make the family of the hero file for lots of paperwork for sufficient evidence that what that person did truly deserves the recognition.

Why go through this process? Shouldn’t it be enough for those who consider a person a hero to have a mindset of: “I don’t care what they say. Whether they recognize him or not, he is still a hero to me.” But for people who think that the person truly deserves that recognition, they ask for more.

Maybe this means that there are a lot of heroes, and not all of them are recognized. That just goes to show that there is a distinction among them. Those who have moved and touched more people’s hearts than others are those who are truly recognized as the heroes among heroes.

– Audrey Agustin