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 30^th 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)

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