The Immersion

The class was divided into two. Half were at the hospital and half were going to

the immersion. 20 of us went to Bagong Nayon, Antipolo for our community immersion.

Before we go to Antipolo, we still have to attend classes in UE Recto, so all of us brought

with us already our big bulky bags on the way to school. We have to climb the stairs up to

fifth floor because there was no elevator available. Everybody has the questioning looks

why do we carrying such big bags. Even when we enter the school cafeteria, people were

all looking at us because one table occupies only our bags.

After class, we went walking straight to the LRT Legarda station, again all people

looking strangely at us like we were from another planet. But before entering guards has

to inspect our bags which make things even harder for us and for them. Anyway, it’s their

regulation so they have to do it after all. And then we finally had our ticket up to

Santolan Station. It was hard finding a ride to Cogeo but then we eventually find one and

we have completely occupied the whole jeepney because of our bags, so other passengers

have to go out in the front of the jeep. And eventually came to the place. We waited for

Ma’am Molo in the Health Center.

Minutes later, Ma’am Molo came and brought us to the staff house where we will

stay for 2 nights and 1 day. The house has 2 empty rooms, 2 sofas, 1 big dining table, a

dirty kitchen, 1 bathroom, 2 electric fans, and no water! We were asked to build

committees for certain tasks in the house. Some will go to the market to buy the food,
some will have to fetch water or “igib”, some will cook or help in the kitchen, others will

do the dishwashing, cleaning of the bathroom, and cleaning of the house.

We have brought our own dinner that night. But there was no refrigerator so we

have to drink no cold water. After dinner, Ma’am Molo said that not all of us could take a

bath that night but only half of us and the rest in the morning. I choose to take a bath that

night since we were out all day. And of course water is a problem; we still have to fetch

it for ourselves. We were on our second bucket when my partner fined out that there’s

water running out of the faucet of the health center. We came back to the house wearing

jogging pants which I’m not really used of wearing when I sleep.

Back at the house, we are all gathered at the living area to pray the rosary and

then talked one by one about our bad point and good points. After that, went to bed,

which we have to bring our own comforters. I couldn’t sleep very well because there was

very little space for us. Some has to sleep outside.

Morning come, all of us were all covered up because it was very cold that

morning. The half went straight to the bathroom to take a bath and some began their

chores. Our breakfast is rice, tinapa and scrambled egg with onions and tomatoes. I

volunteered to wash the dishes. Well, because I thought dishwashing wouldn’t be so hard

since I wash dishes at home. But when I finally see the sink, it was all dirty and nasty.

Even the rug was slimy and soiled. But then I thought I had to do it. What if I’m in the

hospital, I couldn’t be choosing my patients or whom I should be giving care. I took the
bar of detergent soap and wash the rugs; I clean the sink with bleach and soap and did my

dishwashing. But the dishwashing problem didn’t stop. There was no water at all. The

boys have to fetch water from the other block. And so we really have to be careful not to

waste every drop of it. I learned to think of other people because it was really hard

fetching water.

Then Ma’am Molo talked to us and said that we were going to interview in the

barangay and do the family assessment. We have to go in by partner and interview two

families. At first, my partner and I very scared since both of us are shy but we both

eventually overcome this fear and stop by our first house to interview. And then goes on

with the next house. We tried to be very careful with our words and be very respectful.

It was almost 1:00 in the afternoon, but we still haven’t eaten our lunch. We eat

Mongo and rice. I helped in the dishwashing but Ma’am Molo asked us to do our return

demo in public health bag so I have to leave the other dishes to the other dishwashers.

After the return demo, we write down the data we have gathered in the interview. And

then went back to the barangay to ask other questions we haven’t able to ask in the first

interview.

On our way back to the house, a man saw us carrying our BP apparatus and asked

us if we could take his blood pressure and we agreed. Before we knew it, all of the

tricycle drivers were all over us. My partner and I are scared at first but when they
finally talked to us, it wasn’t that bad after all. They were all kind. The drivers were so

many, good thing some of our male classmates helped us.

Back at the staff house, some have already preparing and cooking our dinner.

Some went to take a bath. And some tries finishing their family assessment. After

finishing my family assessment, I decided to take a bath. And unfortunately, there was no

water in the health center. We really have to fetch water. And again a miserable thing

happened, the place were we fetch water was close and we have to find other place were

we could fetch water. We found one and the fee was only one peso but it was on the

other block. I t a nightmare should I say. Two of us carry one pail of water and still we

couldn’t bring it steadily. It was really hard. Ma’am Molo I think was already annoyed

because we were very time-consuming.

We came back to the house, it was dinner time, and our dinner was sopas,

ampalaya, and rice. I’m not really eating ampalaya and this other classmate of mine and

dare each other to eat 3 spoonfuls of it. I guessed very challenging for me. At least, I’ve

tried. I couldn’t be picky of who will be my patient right? I washed the dishes that night

with 4 big cooking pots.

After washing, we again have a conference in the living area. We started by

praying the rosary. And then talked about our experiences in the community and how did

we learned from it. I have shared what have happened to us in the way back home when

all the tricycle drivers asked us to take their blood pressures and we were scared at first
and everybody were are asking questions and they were all shouting. I learned to be

patient and be valiant. The other one when I experience bringing a pail of water that it

was really hard. The moral is that one should strive very hard to reach such goals. And

that we should face hardship first before we could reach our dreams and goals. After the

conference, we went to sleep and had to wake up early 4:00 in the morning to catch our

7:00 am class in P.E.

What had happened to me is a learning experience. It would always be in my

heart and in my mind. I recommend to do this immersion to the coming years of those

who wants to take nursing as their profession. It would be very productive to them when

they finally experience this. It happened to me. 