Saturday Showdown

My Saturday was a truly tiring one, but no regrets because it was filled with adventure from the time I woke up.

6AM, I was off to Barangay Socorro in Quezon City to participate in a medical mission sponsored by the Cuasay family. It was my friend Kat's dad's birthday, and for a different kind of celebration, they decided to organize a medical mission for the residents of their community. The day started with a holy mass then breakfast, then of course the medical mission.

Our group (friends from SMC composed of Bong, Alvin, John and Jaize) were assigned at the Pediatrics section. While they were assigned at the registration table, I was assigned at the nurses' station where I teamed with two other nursing students from AMA. I was tasked to get the temperature, height and weight measurements of the patients plus do a short interview to verify the patient's illness.

Boy, was it back breaking! Specially when the patients arrived in swarms! I've done a number of volunteer works in the past, especially when I was still in Philippine National Red Cross, but this was the first time that I really got into close contact with that many poor people in half a day. Some looked decent enough but a number came who looked like they haven't eaten anything in days. Some kids looked too malnourished and weak, and didn't have anything decent to wear. There was one who didn't even have footwear.

While I know that there isn't much I can do to alleviate their difficulties, I felt glad that I had the opportunity to do something, however insignificant it may seem. Plus of course I experienced it with the tulisans, and this is something we will remember for a long time.

Right after the medical mission, Lyndon fetched me because we were planning to watch game 2 of the UAAP games. Ms. Bong and Kuya Carlos dropped us off to Araneta coliseum where there was a huge crowd of students, alumni and school officials eagerly waiting for the 4PM game. We got good seats, thanks to Allan and Lyndon's friend Onjan from Araneta.


We were of course rooting for UST, with me being a Thomasian, and because of Allan Evangelista one of the star players of the UST tigers. Lyndon got him into the team many years back, and he has flourished into a very good player over the years. He always tell people how much he owes Lyndon for that opportunity to play with the Tigers. He's graduating next year and will soon be playing for the PBL and I'm sure eventually for the PBA.

During the game, I in m striking yellow shirt, was seated with Jen and Kathy (Lyndon's niece who's also a senior in UST) and other UST professors. It was like I was transported back to the mid 1990's when the UST tigers won championships 4 years in a row. The energy of the crowd was just overwhelming and my head was throbbing from yelling too much. I was on my feet, dancing and screaming at the top of my voice the whole time. Jen and I were also carrying huge placards that said "GO USTe" and we were gyrating to the drumbeat. After the game, we went to see Allan to personally congratulate him. He was so glad to see us there.

We had dinner at Dencio's afterwards and feasted on sinugba, sisig and sinampalukang manok. The dinner was in celebration of UST's victory that night and for Jen's birthday on the 5th. Dinner was of course spent discussing the game and Jen's blossoming friendship with Allan.

We got home at around 11PM and while my feet were killing me, I was exhilarated and smiled myself to sleep. Hopefully, my voice will come back by tomorrow. :-)

Good luck Tigers, go get them in Game 3!