Many people believe or think that it is the officials’ duty to make their area a better place, but the citizens clearly stated and admitted to themselves that it is also their responsibility to help their community. For example, regarding the foul-smelling sidewalks of Malis, the concerned citizens cleaned their area to have a pleasant and satisfying surrounding.
Figure 1: Manila Bay Clean-up Drive
Another problem that was mentioned in my past blog, is those stray dogs that are roaming around Malis. A warning was announced that if a dog is seen outside, it will be held by the officials and will be given to those people that can take good care of those good pets. Because of that warning, the owners now learned how to love their pets. A program was also created that aims to give anti-rabies vaccination to help the fur-parents, especially those who can’t afford to go to pet shops.
Figure 2: Rabies Free Brooke's Point
We identify what are the problems that Malis is facing, what are the struggles, and what are the suggestions of the citizens within the community. These people brought back their voices to call out the difficulties that they notice, therefore, the higher-ups heard their call for help.
“Sa ngayon puro pag papagawa ng karsada (kalsada) at kanal kc dba (kasi diba) lahat ng lugar dto (dito) sa atin bibihira ang d(di) binabaha.” – said by Gloria Grisola Calasagsag, a mother leader of Malis.
Figure 3: Mrs. Gloria Grisola Calasagsag
But the biggest and heaviest issue that was mentioned by those people that I interview, was teenage pregnancy or also known as adolescent pregnancy. The two Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen both mentioned teenage pregnancy and they are both hoping that the barangay officials would create a program that will help and teach every teenager. I said in my latest blog post that I will interview first the officials, most likely the mother leaders, and will ask them what are the solutions that they made to lessen or to handle this kind of problem. Mrs. Calasagsag stated “Kinakausap sla (sila) ng mga midwife at inaalok sla (sila) ng family planning kung ano gusto nilang kontra ceptic (contraceptives) hal, pills, injectable, o minsan d (hindi) hiyang sa katawan nila widrawal n (withdrawal na) lang e minsan nakakabuo prin (pa rin).”
Based on psa.gov.ph, one in ten young Filipino women age 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with first child.
Figure 4: Shows one in ten young Filipino women
This is a good example that barangay officials are not capable of every problem within the community. Sometimes, it is also the citizens’ fault that they end up in a certain situation. The only help that they can give is to let them hear their advice and it is up to them what will they do next.
The second that I mentioned was to ask someone who experienced this problem, Rubina Butulan, a mother when she was just 18 years old, said that life was tough, especially since she was just a teen at that time. She also said that she faced a lot of criticism from other people and she also took all the blame that her parents told her when she confessed that she was pregnant. Now that she’s 31 and has seen how her daughter grew up beautifully, she wasn’t ashamed of what she did because God sent her a gift that helped her through thick and thin.
Lastly, I asked Rubina’s parents how hard it is for them to accept what happened to their first daughter. They told me that it was heartbreaking for them since they want their daughter to finish her studies, but still, they’re thankful because they had their grandchild when they were still strong. They can still spoil their grandchild’s needs and wants. Financially, they weren’t stable, but they said, because of their granddaughter, their lives became colorful.
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