Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

In response to Teacher Sol's questions

Teacher Sol invited me to participate in her Interview Game, in which she asked me five unique questions. Here are my answers:

1. What TV show best resembles your life?

Maalaala Mo Kaya--because I have a dramatic life. You could seriously make several episodes about my life.

2. Were you ever afraid of something when you were a kid? What was it? Why?

I was afraid of the dark. I had to sleep with the light on and I went crazy during brownouts--especially if I happened to be taking a bath at that time. I don't know why I was afraid of the dark. I guess I was afraid of ghosts and other bad things that could happen in the dark.

3. What made you decide to make a difference in the lives of the women inside the correctional?

That's a long story, hehe =) During my stint as a program officer in Ateneo's Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI), Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) was one of my areas. I took a group of freshmen there for an exposure trip in July 2001, so I had to visit the place beforehand. I was initially afraid and uncertain about how to interact with the inmates so I was surprised when I felt at home with them from the start--even if the ladies I met happened to be on death row. Ang gaan talaga ng loob ko sa kanila. They were and still are normal people, after all. Some of them may have done something wrong (related to drugs, most of the time), and many others got framed up or implicated in the offenses of "significant others" (like a boyfriend and/or a family member). But they were still people, regardless, and deserved to be treated as such. I wanted to get to know them better, and I got a sense that having visitors meant a lot to them--especially since one inmate asked me if I could go back there at my own convenience, even if there wasn't an exposure trip. I also had a crush on someone who was on death row at that time, so that was an incentive to visit CIW. =)

And so I went back to CIW several months later. I tagged along with my contact at Philippine Jesuit Prison Service (PJPS) whenever he went there to do paralegal work or bring volunteers/visitors. Later on, I ended up going there by myself to run errands for him or just to spend time with the women. I got really close to the women on death row, for reasons I can't explain. All I did was hang out with them, listen to them, and smoke cigarettes and play tong-its with them. I became close to them without realizing it. I came to consider them as my friends and even my surrogate older sisters and mother-figures. It was a sad day when I said goodbye to them to pursue graduate studies in the States. I knew it wasn't easy for them, but they were strong for me at that very moment and encouraged me to push through with my studies, assuring me that the years would go by so fast. Several inmates also told me how my presence itself meant a lot to them and thanked me for it. As one inmate said: "Akala mo lang wala kang ginagawa pero alam mo, 'yung pagpunta mo dito, malaking bagay na 'yon sa amin. Kinalimutan na kami ng mga pamilya namin." Her words really touched me.

Actually, I believe it was the other way around--the women in CIW made a difference in my life. They've been instrumental in drawing me closer to God (AS IN!) and in teaching me by example to be strong, to trust in God in the face of adversity, to value my relationships with others, especially my family, and to count my blessings. They've helped me become a better person and realize my calling in life. I've always been passionate about working for the poor and underprivileged in society. These women are among the poorest of the poor--as it is, they're socially disadvantaged on account of their gender and socio-economic status, and their incarceration has added a new dimension to their experience of poverty. That's why I see the urgency of working for and with them and seeking justice on their behalf. I continue to keep in touch with them and visit them whenever I go home--even if it means sacrificing my gimmicks or time with my other friends. Strangely enough, my being oceans apart from them only made me closer to them. Napamahal na sila sa akin at hindi na sila naiiba sa akin. And that is why I remain committed to making a difference in their lives.

I told you that was a long story, haha =)

4. Who among the women superheroes can you identify yourself with?

A lot, actually:

St. Agnes; St. Mary Magdalene (my patron saint); Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ (my idol); Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo, SPC; Annie Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher); Helen Keller; Lualhati Bautista; the character of Sr. Stella L. (in Mike de Leon's movie)

5. How do you define success?

I define success not so much in terms of what I have or what I've achieved (of course, those things matter, but they're not the end-all, be-all goal of my existence), but in terms of the extent to which I can serve others, touch lives, and work for justice.

And that's the end of this dissertation! Hehe =) Thank you for including me, Teacher Sol!

Peace out, y'all.

found herself @ 11:47 AM