Tuesday, April 2, 2013

I ♥ Lola Olen

It only takes a heart to love and it only takes an effort to care, and that is what happened last March 30th when our group, PBO(Pinoy Bloggers Outreach) held our second outreach program at Bahay ni Maria, a home for the aged and abandoned youth at Calamba laguna. Personally, I was pretty much excited about this, since elders has a huge influence on my life. I woke up early, which it too rare for me haha and then did some preparations and went to church to ask GOD for some guidance throughout the event.
It takes quite some time to reach the place, and the hot weather makes the journey even worst but then what I had in mind is my interaction with the elders. Honestly I was expecting myself to cry during our conversations, but then, unfortunately a certain group had a program ahead of us and they took most of our time too.
So as we were waiting for our turn, I mingle with some fellow bloggers. Aside to the outreach program itself I was as well excited to meet this bloggers that inspired me to stay on this field; I mean if it wasn’t for them I would probably be gone long time ago.
When our program started, I tried to talk on various elders, I help feeding some too which reminds me of my duty back in those days when I had to take care of my granny. But then , the interaction I had with lola Olen was the most memorable of all.
 Olen Francisco Ernia

Well, the conversation starts usual, I asked her what she wants, if she had eaten of if she wants to drink, but then she said she’s full already. I was avoiding to ask for some information regarding her story and her family, because I know that would make her feel sad and that’s not the aim of the event we had so I just plainly asked her if she’s happy but her response just bothers me, she said on a sad tone “Masayang, malungkot” (happy and sad) and she started stating her health problems, and from that I almost cry, the good thing is a dance number somehow divert the sad aura we had back there. She told me that she’s having a hard time pooping and in the middle of the night she’s coughing continuously that she can’t sleep. She even coughed several times during our conversation. Well since I saw that the conversation was being quite a torture to her I divert it by asking her about her favorite music, and since I knew a lot about old song because of my father’s everyday playlist I had some things to share too.
When ate Mitch talks to lola Olen that is when we get to know some of her background. She told us that she don’t have a child because her husband who died a long time ago was barren. She also mentions names of her relatives and I promise her that I’ll be searching for it online. She even told me not to say to those people that she asked for me to find them, as if she’s scared that they might get mad of her or something.

Aside to lola Olen I also met this lady named, Rina, she has some mental issues I guess, She gave me one of her drawings actually she gave us all, in return I gave her a rosary I bought in baclaran. She told us that she will pray for us and she wished for us to visit again. Rina asked me if ever I’ll go back there again I might bring her a notebook, for her to draw and since I do have a notebook on my bag I just gave it to her and her smile just blow me away.
The event ended and goodbyes were the hardest thing to say on these elders and on my case most especially to lola Olen. We wave goodbyes to them with a promise that we would come back again, I just wonder how many times they heard this promise before us.
Later that night, we went on a private resort or whatsoever it was called for our group’s bonding moment, which was really enjoyable.


I would like to thank, all my fellow PBOers for letting me to be a part of such meaningful event despite of me not being so helpful in terms of fund raisin haha. And I am so glad to meet you all.

(Photos were stolen from Zai ang Glenn)

56 comments:

  1. touching post... mabait ka talagang bata ka... Ang sweet lang ng, "...she had mental issues I guess.." hindi ka sure? hehehe

    Kitakits sa next outreach ah!

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  2. so nice of you and it's a good cause too..

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  3. awwww at may touching post ka din like nutty... di kasi namin (ako, toshi at kelly) makausap ng ganyan si Lola Emilia kasi ang emo nya nakakataranta sya kapag nagtanong ka umiiyak agad kaya di na kami nagtatanong, kaya pinasaya na lang namin sya..

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  4. Ah this program of yours sounds
    like making good causes c: The
    story of this elder makes me
    sad, reminds me of my own
    grandma :c
    (Reply: I can't believe you don't
    like tea :P)

    xx

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  5. What a extraordinary day! It's a wonderful thing to visit people who can't get out. You are a special person!

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  6. Bait talaga ni mecoy. congrats ulit PBO

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  7. Great job Mecoy! I guess you're the youngest in the group, right? Ang dami na din ng PBO.

    I really feel so much tenderness for old people. Pero aminin din natin, medyo makulit sila. But they've been through to many things in life, and growing old can be bitter especially when you're in a hospice.

    Kasama ko ngayon ang grandma ko. She's 75 and I showed her your pics. She asked me kung artista ka daw ba, and I told her, "Malapit na po maging artista yan." Hehehehe...

    Ang bait mo daw kasi inaalagaan mo yung mga oldies. And we are really blessed to ready your testimony about the outreach. I do pray that may your heart be bigger for those who are in need of love.

    God taught us to look after the orphans, the widows, and the old and helpless. Great rewards in heaven will be given to you.

    Great job mecoy and God bless!

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  8. I like how you open your first few lines: "It only takes a heart to love and it only takes an effort to care". - seems these lines summed it all up.

    The moments you have had with the oldies are one of the moving mementos that you can share to anyone. You really knew how to mildly interact with Lola Olen and showed great sensitivity over topics which could trigger loneliness in her face.

    You're such a smart young man Mecoy! Your sensitivity and smartness combined will bring you places and will be your main gun in your very bright future. You're breathing a positive air to the people you come across with, interact with, and brush off shoulders with.

    Indeed, PBO is way so glad that you're being part of it now. Your sensibility and mild mannered personality is an asset to a socia cause like PBO.

    God bless you and your family :))))

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  9. kakatouch naman.... siguro maiiyak ako kapag nariyan ako.... di ko kaya kapag ganyang events.... malambot kasi puso ko hehehe madali akong maiyak.... saka nakaka miss....

    Congrats sa inyong lahat!

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  11. So sweet of you to get involved in such things. While my daughter was waiting to be posted to a school, I got her to volunteer to help teach at a centre here for children with special needs...for free. God is all seeing, all knowing...

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  12. isang makabuluhang gawain ng kapwa blogero ang muling naisakatuparan dahil na rin sa suporta ng bawat isa.

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  13. happy for what you did here bro... i wish I have a chance to visit Bahay ni Maria too

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  14. Salamat sa suporta parecoy. COngrats ulit PBO. :)

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  15. If there is one thing I regret about going to this outreach it's the fact I didn't have a granny to attend to. Your post about lola Olen is very touching and I know that in your own little way, even for such a short period, you were able to ease her burden.

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  16. Huge Congratulations for the very successful out reach program of PBO at Bahay ni Maria in Calamba, Laguna. You guys really deserves a big big hugs!

    Kakaiyak naman ang heart warming story mo parekoy tungkol kay Lola Olen ;(

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  17. well done for PBO!! you have been doing great to care about the elderly and abandoned children!! awesome~~

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  18. and it's great to know that this was your second outreach program, and i think it has been a successful one, and there will be more outreach programs coming in the future..

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  19. yeah, i think you kind of need some "skills" to talk to the elderly, as there may be things that are very sensitive to them..

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  20. but i think you have been doing well in taking care of the Olen (does that mean old lady in Tagalog??).. i am sure she was very happy to talk to you..

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  21. and i also think the elderly like to share their stories with young people, their history and experience and lessons learnt, those are really valuable things that we can pick up from them.. :)

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  22. again i would say the Pinoy bloggers are so united for the charity.. i hope we have something like this too in Malaysia.. maybe Twilight Man can setup something over here, haha~~

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  23. till then have a great day and happy blogging Melvin.. take good care and may god bless you :)

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  24. Good thing you had that much interaction with the other lola.. Ako isa labng yata. At nag iisa sya sa so I used up my time talking to her. Sayang I wasn't able to know other lolas aside frm Rina na ang baet.

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  25. I have commented here ng kasinghaba ng kay Mr. Tripster at kasunod pa niya yun but I don't know what happen Mecoy, nang balikan ko ulet ang blog mo today, wala na ang comment ko. Kinda sad kasi ang ganda pa naman ng mga sinabi ko doon :(((. The not so good part is di ko na maulet kasi mahirap mag choose ulet ng mga right words to say.

    I saw it published pero bakit nawala siya? huhu. Anyway, minsan may mga ganyang instances talaga siguro hehehe!

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  26. I know the feeling....malungkot na masaya. Minsan i-di-divert mo na lang ang pakikipag-usap sa mga masasayang bagay. I'm happy for you at na-experience nyo ang ganyan!! God bless the elders!

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  27. What a touching post, great works!!! =]

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  28. congrats and good job kuya Mecoy!!!

    *see you soon*

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  29. May kanya kanya pala talaga kayong lola don, sana marinig ko din yung story ng iba with their lolas. buti nakasama ka mecs! :)

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  30. does Olen means Grandma or auntie?

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  31. oh my...you are sure a tall chap....can see from the photo

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  32. sometimes old folks just need to talk

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  33. if you are there to listen to then and they will be happy

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  34. meantime happy blogging mecoy!...

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  35. Nakakaiyak ang mga kwento nila no? Ako din, naway makabalik doon...

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  36. wow how great doing this stuff, naalala ko si lola kasi ako nag alaga sa kanya nung napilay sya. way back college days. mahal na mahal ko yun. i donk know what people think kung bakit iniiwan nila yung mga magulang nila pag matanda na.. well walang mga puso yung ganun. :)

    just continue this things. sana makasama ako sa ganyan :D

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  37. Sayang di ako nakasama..

    baka maiyak din ako kung andun ako :3

    PBO is Love :)

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  38. kay bait mo naman mecoy. inspiring :)

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  39. wow.. ayus tong ginawa niyo ah...

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  40. ang nice, sana makasama din ako sa mga ganyan.. :((. sana mahanap mo yung family ni lola olen

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  41. nice
    like your template changes

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  42. again thanks sa pag sama at pagiging part ng PBO :)

    I'm sure natuwa ang mga taga BNM at ang lolas especially dahil kahit paano napadama natin ang love natin sa kanila. Til next event Mecoy :)

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  43. Ang sweet sweet mo naman! And at least napasaya mo sila... Yung companionship talaga big thing na yun... So congrats for having such a wonderful event! =)

    And touched naman ako when you gave your notebook...

    -Steph
    http://traveliztera.com

    ReplyDelete
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