Tropang Pilar

October 2011 Exposure Calendar

2011-11-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

2011-11-02T03:12:00.000-07:00

REALIZATION AND FEELINGS

Being able to take part in the lives of the people of Pilar, Diplahan. We came to realize that it is our calling to serve the people who are in need of our service. We believe that there is a reason behind everything. It is God's way of teaching us something important to value what we have and to use our gifts to help touch lives. In the end we found ourselves eager to return to Pilar. Our hearts are telling us that leaving is not the end but the beginning of a wonderful journey toward God's purpose.

-Tropang Pilar-

During our first exposure, I felt excited. However, I started missing my family afterwards. However, this was masked by the presence of the people in Barangay Pilar. I enjoyed being with them. I had fun learning their language, especially with the senior citizens who were like our very own parents. During our second and third exposure, I got used to the ways of the people. Our bond and connection with the people grew deeper. Leaving became so difficult. You would see tears in their eyes while saying, "Mingaw na pud mi diri. Waay na mu." (We are lonely now that you're leaving.) It really is a wonderful feeling to know that they wanted us to stay there; to know that we are being loved by then.

-Joy-

It was my dream before to become a doctor but later on it changed because of the idea that it's expensive. Fortunately, it is God's will for me to be a part of medschool, so here I am today. Community exposure sounds fun, exciting and great because of the notion of travelling to a new place and setting aside reading for at least a month.

Barangay Pilar is a wonderful place with fresh air, fog and chirping of the birds wakes you up in the morning although we're still looking for our soft bed and other things that we're used to in our comfort zone. During the stay in Barangay Pilar we were able to see the best and worst stuffs. Best things are the people of Pilar who are so accommodating and hospitals. They are so thoughtful and loving for they treat us as part of their family. It's really a superb emotion to hear them saying that their kids are asking if when we are going to be back and whenever they see the excitement in their eyes to see us again. Worst thing is the flood, in which there was an instance that it reached like about 3 feet.

The flood reached the office and our bathroom so we don't have any choice but to answer the calling of nature in the stairs. Tables and chairs are already floating. It crashes our heart to see from afar that there are some people trying to save their crops, some were'nt able to sleep because it already reached their houses, others stayed already along the road for they weren't able to traverse. This is the problem that is very difficult to address but with God nothing is impossible, by continually praying for them even though at the end of our exposure there will still be flood we believe that God has already planned on how to solve this problem. At least at other expense we can help them. Vacation was not really now our priority. It is to find means and plan for effective strategies that would address other problem in the community.

-Ugat-

The time we spent for ourselves is not as significant as the time we spent for others. As I have spent time together with the community people I have seen more to life than the things I own. The most valuable thing that a person can have is the gratitude of others. And truly it is a priceless feeling.

-Wilson-

Life in Pilar is all about bugs, floods, extreme heat, extreme rain, but despite all this, we have learned to love the community who took us in as family. We may have surrendered our hobbies, gave up our entertainment, even stepped out of our comfort zones, but at the end of the day, a residents smile and thanks makes up for all that we left behind, and more.

I love Barangay Pilar.

-Rentor-

"A Tribute to New Self"

Community life is a different life - physically, socially, etc. As in literally. No easy-to-reach water, no readily available transportation means, no comfortable beds. Thus, the self that is used to life in the city, will not apply to the rural community. Hence, you invent a "New self".

A "New Self" you invent should have to be two things. For one, it should have to be an elastic one - flexible enough to rise 5-6 am even when there's no major activity for the day, because everybody is up already. It should not be hard enough as to not eat ampalaya + rice for breakfast - even if you find it weird to eat. And it definitely should not be rigid enough to ride a habal-habal (seriously with the roller coaster like up-and-down you go through riding a habal-habal). You have no choice but to just go with the flow. Yes, like swaying with the wind, flowing with the river and not against it. So like thunderbolt it goes right, you right and like the speed of light it goes left, you go left.

The second thing is, the "New Self" has to be highly sociable. You have to smile always. Otherwise, your groupmates will think of two things: you're hungry or you have a quarrel with your boyfriend or girlfriend. And they will not stop teasing you about it. Either two of it...smile, along with laughter is also extremely beneficial when around community people. You wear it though when questions are directed to you - it wouldn't help. Trust me.

At this point, some are already well adapted to their "New Self", some are still trying to fit in while others are yet to try it on. No matter what stage are you on, never give up trying to fit. Just as you don't give up studying to pass the exams or you don't give up living life itself, never give up on trying improving yourself. For the "New Self" you are trying to fit in, is not a totally alien being you created to adapt to the environment. Rather, the extension of the "real you" - that is, ever growing towards maturity, achieving full potentially and living life to the fullest.

-Ice-

To my tropang pilar pipz, even though I'm physically no longer with you in this journey my heart will always be with you guys. Nothing is impossible if you guys keep the bond strong! Keep on believing in each other's abilities. I can't help but cry reminiscing the days that we're still together working as a team. Hope I can visit ZC before this year ends. See you. God bless!!!

-Heart-

2011-11-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

2011-11-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

2011-11-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

2011-11-01T22:52:00.001-07:00

2011-11-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

Survey

2011-11-01T13:41:00.001-07:00

BHW Training

2011-11-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Iligtas sa tigdas ang Pinas

2011-11-01T12:42:00.001-07:00

School Children's Day

2011-11-01T12:41:00.001-07:00

General Assembly

2011-11-01T12:38:00.001-07:00

Senior Citizen's Day

2011-11-01T07:30:00.001-07:00

2011-11-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Realization

2011-11-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

2011-10-31T19:51:00.001-07:00

Geography

2011-10-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

Barangay Pilar, known as “Sitio Camansi” and previously a part of Barangay Paradise. Barangay Pilar is sited along the way from Imelda to Bayog at a low land area in Zamboanga del Sur under the Municipality of Siay. People of Sitio Camansi cultivated the area and planned to detach from Paradise and stand as another barangay. Later, on September 17, 1968, Sitio Camansi changed its name to Barangay Pilar for most of the people residing here came from Pilar in Capiz Province, Panay Island. It was still under the Municipality of Siay not until the year 1980, when Diplahan became a municipality, Barangay Pilar was one of those barangays that has been chosen to be under this municipality.

The total land area is 423 hectares, with an irrigated area of 263 hectares and 160 hectares of rain fed. It has 7 puroks namely: Dahlia (Purok 1), Santan (Purok 2), Orchid (Purok 3), Sunflower (Purok 4), Vanda(Purok 5), Rose(Purok 6), and SitioTalisay (Purok 7).

BARANGAY PILAR

2011-10-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

Our Second Home "BARANGAY Pilar" Slideshow: Tropang’s trip to Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippines was created by TripAdvisor. See another Zamboanga slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

9 strangers one GOAL...

2011-06-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

Entering the Ateneo de Zambonga School of Medicine I did not really know what to expect, I had some ideas of what the curriculum was and the one thing that struck me the most was the community immersion that we will be having and take note for one month. Imagine being in unfamiliar territories relying on complete strangers to help you in completing the tasks given to you. Mixed emotions arose, I was excited because it was a new experience and I have a thing for adventures and also I felt worried, worried in a way if everything would be ok, can we do this, can I trust them?

Then the day finally came, here we are 9 complete strangers. Then finally everything begun to sink in most especially the worry. But one thing I learned through my experiences is this; God does things for a reason, He has gone ahead of us and laid everything into place and all is planned by Him and all will happen according to His will. So I said to myself bring on the challenge.
Turns out that these 9 different individuals were so alike, one similar thing among others is that we are all united to one goal and that is to make a difference for the people. Above all other reasons is to serve God's purpose which is t serve others, inspire others, and show them how to appreciate life better. And what better medium to use than the opportunity the ADZU SOM gave us.

Everything happens for a reason. Our group is together for a reason. God has decided long ago that these individuals should help mold each other to be the person that God wants them to be. Challenges may arise, quarrels, tampuhans, misunderstandings and many more but we know this things come with the package, the package to be Life changers. Nine individuals united in one goal, with God we know nothing can stop us TO INSPIRE BARANGAY PILAR!

OuR JOuRnEy

2010-12-14T23:02:00.000-08:00

"In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps."

-Proverbs 16:9