ENRIQUEZ, Van Leoric U.

1. How do you feel about the physical & social environment of the institution?

- When we first entered the institution, there is no sign or feeling of unease given by those
people in need being help by the institution and the staff are kind and helpful to those they
are helping. When we usually see poverty-stricken family, we usually feel unease because
we sympathize with them. But the institution made sure that when they help, they bring
dignity to them. They make sure that when they give help, they do not let those in need feel
that they are pitiful. The physical environment of the institution is in good condition and it
looks like it is well maintained by the staff.

2. What about the life stories shared by the staff/residents struck you the most? In what way did it
affect you?

- Bro. Jorem shared some testimonies and life stories of some people they helped to get out
of being drug-dependent and poverty. Bro. Jorem shared the story of Cristy, Louie, and Ruel
and all of them are in their 40s and 30s. These 3 are drug-dependent and the institution
helped them. They helped them by rehabilitating them and giving them education to help
them improve their situation. Now, the 3 of them are helping in KALINGA.

It affects me in a way that it helped me sympathize to those drug-dependents who wants to

change. In our today’s political and societal situation, drug-dependent people are viewed as
wicked and people who brings society down. The government’s solution to eradicate drugs
in the Philippines is by killing those who are using it instead of prosecuting the drug lords
who are selling drugs. I sympathize with them because they are not given a chance to
change, they are not given the chance to correct their mistakes. I believe that if we give
them a chance to change their lives and an opportunity to help them get out of poverty,
they will grab it whole-heartedly.

3. What could our government and other concerned agencies do to deal with the said issue/s?

- As for the government, they should do something to lessen the burden of the poor since it is
their responsibility to help those in need. The government should also give an opportunity
to our fellow countrymen stricken by poverty. By giving them opportunity, they can improve
and get out of their situation. Since the government already have an agency to help the
poor, I think what they can do is change the system and put a good leader on that agency.
Many of the government agencies are involved in corruption and have a flawed system. It is
the government’s responsibility to oversee and change those agencies.
4. How can you strengthen your faith in humanity?

- Maybe I can strengthen my faith in humanity by seeing good in everyone and see them do
good to other people. It is in our nature to sin, but it is also in our nature to manifest God’s
goodness to everyone. By manifesting this goodness, we can share and spread God’s grace
to everyone.