Touching Hearts

Touching Hearts: A day with the marginalized members of the community Leader: Maryjo Therese Castillejos Members:

Maria Feliza Abesamis Marie Em Clarisse Acosta Joseph Aleta Margaret Bartolo Anne Jillian Castillo Jermaine Kris Cheng Eileen Jicelle Co Justine Kate Concepcion

Before the Interview… There was a feeling of fear before we conducted the interview due to the possibility of rejection. Nevertheless, we were already prepared to be rejected because it isn’t really comfortable to be interviewed by people. At the beginning, our concern was to find our target interviewee and it was a little bit embarrassing for us to approach them.

During the Interview… • Our conversations went well as if we were just talking to a new friend. All our fear at the beginning were all washed away because our interviewees were very open to us, even up to the point of sharing their family problems.

After the Interview… • Finally, we were all satisfied for we have accomplished our task for the day.

ARIEL LATRERA Location of Interview: Rosario St. Corner Dapitan, Sampaloc, Manila Age: 30 Occupation: Fried calamares vendor Mother’s name: Baby Latrera Occupation: Farmer Father’s name: Mar Latrera Occupation: Farmer Number of Siblings: 1

Dreams and Aspirations in life…

“SIMPLY TO HAVE A HOUSE &

NENENG DULAUGON Location of Interview: Residence of Issa Abesamis, VS & F Compound, Winston St. Cor. Fortune St. , East Fairview, Q.C Age: 45 Occupation: House helper Mother’s name: Rose Anday Father’s name: Alvin Dulaugon Number of children: 1 Number of Siblings: 1

Dreams and Ambitions in Life… “To let his son finish college, to be able see her daughter in law and grandchildren in the future and to die happy”

RODEL BORJA Location of Interview: P. Noval, Sampaloc, Manila Occupation: Grade 2 pupil Mother’s name: Ningning Mariedo Occupation: none Father’s name: Noynoy Borja Occupation: none Number of Siblings: 12 Dreams and Aspirations in life… “To be able to finish my studies and become an engineer to be able to build a big house for my family.”

PABLO PALENCIA Location of interview: P. Noval Sampaloc, Manila Age: 62 Occupation: former security guard, recently has no job. Mother’s name: Josefina Palencia Occupation: NAWASA employee Father’s name: Jose Palencia Occupation: NAWASA employee Civil Status: Separated Number of Children: 3 Number of Siblings: 13

Dreams and Aspirations in life… “I don’t have any dreams anymore. But if I have to choose then I would like to be rich of course, build my own house and let all the poor people

DIOSDADO R. HERNANDEZ Location of Interview: Age: 37 Occupation: Tricycle driver Mother’s name: Fely Hernandez Occupation: none Father’s name: Crisanto Hernandez Occupation: none Number of Children: 4 Number of Siblings: 4

Dreams and Aspirations in life… “TO BECOME RICH”

Our realizations… We all felt thankful to God for the many blessings like food, shelter, clothes, education and loving parents that He has showered upon us and our families. We realized that we should give importance to each and every blessing that God has given us because not everyone is given the chance to live comfortably. We also learned how to value our family and thank our parents for their hard work, love and care.

Unlike Arnel we won’t have to live in other people’s roof, pray for people to give us food and money, and feel the loneliness of being away with our loved ones. The common denominator among our interviewees is that their simple wish is to have a house of their own, wherein they will be able to live freely and comfortably.

We realized that many people who have a lot of possessions and live comfortably in their own house still clamor on a lot of things. We too are guilty of that. At least now that we’ve seen and heard straight from our own eyes and ears we will strive to be contented with what we have. Our interaction just motivated us to be active and do good in this Literacy Training Service course because it will be our avenue in sharing our God given gifts like wisdom and knowledge.