Last Saturday was an adventure for me. I didn't know that Fr. Reji would be bringing me to Teresa Rizal together with Sister Jessie, Ama and Father ..... (I'm sorry, I have this bad habit of forgetting people's names). All I know is this priest was the one who gave the last sacrament to Francism. He happens to be the chaplain of Medical City.
Father Reji (second to the left) and Sister Jessie (first from right) were my classmates in DLSU.
I was recruited by Father Reji as a translator/ interviewer to help him with his thesis (Oh gosh! I should be starting with my own concept paper!). Due to his difficulty with the Filipino language, he asked me to interview two participants in his study. These were adolescents whose parent is suffering from mental illness. I was totally surprised with the turn out of the interview. The twelve year old kid was so straightforward in telling me how this kind of situation or relationship with his mom has affected his childhood (academic, personal, and social aspects). My belief was validated that children, indeed, tend to express candid emotions and are specially vulnerable to the quality of parenting being extended to them. I just wish that this study will be successful and it will pioneer efforts in helping children cope with this kind of family set up. Whew!We left the Sisters in Teresa afterwards while the Fathers and I had our dinner back in Manila.I still remember my first trip in Teresa back in 1998. I was a newcommer then in Antipolo. I hanged out with my friends for a day in Sampaguita Resort (the cake-like swimming resort on a mountain). It has a majestic view of Laguna lake... I hope to be back soon....
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