On Being Isolated
Amarillo, Gelle Kalayaan Gatdula
Communication and Social Change
Department of Communication
MA – Com I
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” – Mother Theresa
I drove for miles and miles only for the reason that my job is to save people, people who are in need of my helping hands despite my tired body from all the travelling, places who doesn’t seem like its too far and remote that it can slowly eat my rationality. I have been a doctor for two decades now, always ready to aid people who are in need, to heal them in the most impossible way that a man can, to cure others who asked of me over and over in the most isolated provinces in this wounded nation.
But all of these can disappear from an instant blink of an eye. The whole nation is desperately in need of healing, to be quite frankly. It is hard to think of a proclamation of Jesus that is harder to understand – or believe – than “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’ because truthfully, from where I am standing, I don’t quite see it at all.
I’ve seen death in everywhere I go, pre-school children died from being exploded by a bomb of the Abu Sayaff conflict in Zamboanga, a sick mother who died after giving birth to a twin because his husband who happens to be a conductor in a bus company can’t afford a proper three-day meal for the family despite his almost 24-hours shift. And just like last week, I’ve seen a woman who
was stabbed by her own sister-in-law out of jealousy. I bring this up in the context of considering that poverty is everywhere, that no matter how much we think about the ‘tuwid na daan’ it won’t bring the Filipino people in good condition.
I believe, as a Doctor, health is one of the most important elements in society. It takes a great deal of effort to come
Communication and Social Change
Department of Communication
MA – Com I
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” – Mother Theresa
I drove for miles and miles only for the reason that my job is to save people, people who are in need of my helping hands despite my tired body from all the travelling, places who doesn’t seem like its too far and remote that it can slowly eat my rationality. I have been a doctor for two decades now, always ready to aid people who are in need, to heal them in the most impossible way that a man can, to cure others who asked of me over and over in the most isolated provinces in this wounded nation.
But all of these can disappear from an instant blink of an eye. The whole nation is desperately in need of healing, to be quite frankly. It is hard to think of a proclamation of Jesus that is harder to understand – or believe – than “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’ because truthfully, from where I am standing, I don’t quite see it at all.
I’ve seen death in everywhere I go, pre-school children died from being exploded by a bomb of the Abu Sayaff conflict in Zamboanga, a sick mother who died after giving birth to a twin because his husband who happens to be a conductor in a bus company can’t afford a proper three-day meal for the family despite his almost 24-hours shift. And just like last week, I’ve seen a woman who
was stabbed by her own sister-in-law out of jealousy. I bring this up in the context of considering that poverty is everywhere, that no matter how much we think about the ‘tuwid na daan’ it won’t bring the Filipino people in good condition.
I believe, as a Doctor, health is one of the most important elements in society. It takes a great deal of effort to come