It was a Saturday, the 26th of October when a typhoon hit Metro Manila. No one thought that it would be that disastrous. It was not like any other typhoon that came unnoticed since everybody in the Philippines are used to typhoons because of our geographical location.

Quite a number of typhoons passed since the year started but Typhoon “Ondoy” left the biggest scar in Philippine history specifically here in Metro Manila and near-by provinces. It was the most aggressive and devastating typhoon that came to our country this year.

Who would have thought that business centers, known universities, malls and the famous EDSA would be flooded by water? Everything happened so fast that all of us couldn’t believe it. In just a matter of minutes, breaking news revealed that most places in Metro Manila were flooded. At that moment, all that filled our hearts and thoughts was fear. How the heavy rains will aggravate the situation and how things will end up after.

Vehicles were stranded on the streets as well as people who were trying to get through the floods to get home. It rained all day and night and all we can do was pray that the rains would stop to ease the situation.

The next day, it stopped raining and everyone started to check out if relatives, friends and love ones were alright. We expected the worst because of what everybody went through, but the saddest part was to know that a lot of people lost their lives.

It was announced in the news that there will be no classes in all levels and that everyone was advised to stay home for their own safety

The next day, foundations and charities were searching for ways to help those who were affected. Our school was already organizing an out-reach program which, we students are eager to participate in, because we are very much willing to help in anyway we can.

With proper coordination with the SASN management, faculty members and students of St. Augustine School of Nursing together with our School Director carried out a medical mission to reach out to those in need of help.

On our first medical mission, everyone was at our meeting place by 6am. We brought our boots, extra clothes and our medical gadgets. We were off to Cainta, Rizal as it was one of the more affected areas of the typhoon. We were expecting that the place was still flooded.

After a brief orientation It was time for us to move and start our mission. We rode a truck with our school director and felt like we were on to an important mission and were filled with eagerness to help. We brought with us medicines and volunteer doctors who would help us make this medical mission successful. It was a bumpy ride on our way to the place and I have to admit it was scary to ride a truck especially when the driver suddenly steps on the brakes.

As we reached Don Mariano Village it was now time to help, but we were all surprised as we were kind of expecting that the area was still flooded. We felt a little disappointed because some of us even bought boots and to be honest, we were expecting that the medical mission was some sort of an adventure while we will be helping the residents there. But despite that, we came fully prepared to take on our mission and be able to give hope and extend a little help to the people in Don Mariano.

We started setting up the tents, tables and chairs to start the registration for all those who want to have a medical check- up. People piled up faster than we expected. Seeing children sick made us feel so sad, and while we were taking vital signs, we saw helplessness in the eyes of the mothers seeing their children suffer while they cannot do much except hope for the best. Old men and women including ones who were pregnant looked at us in a weird way that I can’t explain. I felt that they were sad, curious, happy or maybe just confused. This gave me the urge to talk to some of them so I could understand them better. I talked to a woman who was with her baby and before I could ask her what they went through during the typhoon, she was already teary eyed and the first word that came out of her mouth was “salamat po”. I was so touched and kept talking to her. I found out that we were the first ones to extend help in their place which is why they felt so thankful and blessed.

And so I went around talking to other people found out that the floodwater went almost 7 feet high. It was really terrifying. People there said that almost everything in their houses was still wet and they can’t do anything but wait for help to come. A mother whom I spoke with told me that they no longer have a home to live in but she said that it was alright because during the typhoon she almost lost her son, and at this time, she would rather loose a house again and again than loose a member of her family. Everyone I talked to had similar unforgettable experiences during the typhoon. Being able to help in the simplest way we can played a big part in bringing back hope to the residents of Don Mariano.

In the afternoon, the Mayor came to distribute relief goods to the residents of Don Mariano. Everyone came out of their houses hoping that their names were enlisted. We started packing up as the doctors finished checking all patients and as we were about to leave, we were thanked by the mayor for conducting a medical mission in such short notice. We then took pictures and bid goodbye. We left the place with much joy in our hearts knowing that we were very much appreciated by the people we helped. Though we were all tired, there was that feeling that we can’t wait until the next out-reach program that we will be conducting. It seems that you never get tired when you know that you are helping others. It feels good to be a part of new hope after what such tragedy in life brought us.

In our next medical mission, we became more inspired and excited. We arrived in our meeting place earlier and than our call-time. We are not aware where we are off to this time. We ate breakfast and got ready. And then we heard that we will be with media member of GMA Channel 7 going to Pililia in Tanay, Rizal. A lot of us have never been to that place and with what we heard; it will take 3 hours for us to get there. No wonder our call-time was that early. We rode the jeep and on our way we were all anxious because there was another typhoon coming and this time, the weather disturbance coming will be a super typhoon. We were all hoping to be at the venue as soon as possible so that we could still go home and not get stranded because of the typhoon.

During our trip, we saw how the typhoon affected all other places outside of Metro Manila. In the other towns we passed through, we saw relief goods being given away. There was thick mud everywhere and so much garbage on the streets. On our way to the site of the medical mission, we were equipped with medicines and vitamins to give to those who are sick, especially children. We brought t-shirts as well to give away. We arrived at the place around 11am and as we got there, we immediately took our posts and started right away. The number of people there was twice the number of people in Don Mariano. We also conducted the medical mission in tandem with the GMA – 7 caravan. We felt so tired later as there were too many sick people in Pililia. We conducted the mission in the covered court of an elementary school. We were with 4 volunteer doctors. Helping the people there was so fulfilling. Everyone was so exhausted because of the number of patients but seeing them put a smile on their faces after being given treatment filled our hearts with joy. We still remember all the old men and women who came to us and complained about their athlete’s foot, some were complaining that they were finding it hard to breathe while most of the cases we treated were coughs and colds. But there was this one patient who got my attention for she has leukemia. She was still young yet she faces the reality that her illness won’t let her live long enough to experience the brighter side in life. I felt bad for her but I can’t do anything to change reality. I just thought of finding way to divert her attention and give her the best treatment our team can provide. She flashed a smile before she left our table and we thought that we have not seen the worse, but we are thankful we are not in their situation. We came there not only to provide medical assistance to those people who need treatment, but to make people feel that there is more to life. God gave us these challenges in our lives. It means that there is something better to come.

The people there were very appreciative and hospitable, the faculty members of the school prepared food that we had for lunch. While eating we were thanked by the school staff for extending our help to their place though we still came from Metro Manila. We were also thankful to them for taking care of our needs while we conducted the check-ups. After lunch, we went back to what we were doing and were a bit in a hurry fearing that the typhoon would come as we could get stuck there. It started to rain as we finished. At around 2pm we were done with all the patients and were just waiting for the doctors to finish prescribing the medications that the patients should take. And as they finished, we also started packing all unused medicines and left-over shirts. We were all in a hurry to go home, and before we rode the jeepneys on our way home, the people thanked us for helping them. It made most of us realize that it felt so good to help. The happiness we felt was incomparable, what we did will be something that will remain in our thoughts as good memoirs. And how the people whom we helped appreciated us and made us feel true happiness that each of us can keep for the rest of our lives. It made us realize that though the typhoon caused all these heartbreaking situations, it is when people come together as one and act on these horrible situations that make it a heartwarming experience.

As the medical mission ended, it was then clear to us that we will always be here together with our AMA family, and will never be tired to help save lives.