matangtubig...

I can’t remember the exact date but it was one of those Saturday where my friend Karla sent me a message to go with her to meet up with the sisters to check out their adopted baranggay. One of Karla's officemate who works as a Translator is an apprentice of DOLSH or better known as beige sisters. I was hesitant to go to the place because I remember I was on my state of solitude that day and I prefer to stay at home than go to depressed areas fearing I might get more depressed with their situation. After several exchange of text messages and reasoning out why I shouldn't come my friend wins. So I went up to meet with her reluctantly hoping she'll change her mind. Evil(hehehe). So we arrived late, I think it was around 2:00PM and we walked about a mile along E-Rodriguez together with the sisters. It was very hot that day but we managed to arrive at Matangtubig on tricycle. When we arrived at the place, some people were staring at Karla and me maybe thinking who's the strangers(I say pretty strangers.hahaha.). The kids know the sisters since they've been under their program for quite a few years now. The kids asked for the sisters’ hands to 'mano' and to my surprise they also did the same to us calling us “sister” as well. They thought we were their apprentice. :)

The place is located near a river. When I saw the river, I imagined it was a beautiful river back then. If the rocks could only talk. It such a shame the river now is nothing but a dumping area for them and the nearby residents. Then I thought maybe that's why the place was called Matangtubig because it’s situated near a river. Nobody can really tell me exactly that time why they name the place Matangtubig. Perhaps, they don't also understand why I really wanted to know. According to Sister Carmen, it was probably the first settlers who decided to call the place that. There must be reason for that name I thought. It just intrigues me because personally I like the name. It is 'watery eye' if you translate it in English.

We went to visit some of the houses of the residents there. We heard some of their happy and sad stories; it was mentally and emotionally draining for me that day. I had a headache that day because of the heat or I guess I wasn't prepared to see the reality of their situation. The houses there are usually built in scrap materials, I doubt if it could ever withstand a storm, to my surprise Sister Hannah said it does. After going through house to house and checking the condition of some residents there Sister Carmen looks worried. She's worried that we're not going to volunteer for them anymore after what we've have seen and heard.

Squatters area and its people is not new to me after all I grew up in one barangay where my school used to do outreach programs . What I'm worried that time is that will I won't be able to keep my word once I said "yes" and who will do my part if I won't be able to carry it out. Thank heavens we were able to work out our schedule and I was able to gain friends with the other volunteers and the OLSH sisters. Initially the plan was every other week however with the number of kids, we decided to come every Saturday along with Lyra, Kathy and Heba. My Saturdays were never the same again. :-)