Jonalyn Jaen

My Reflection about Community Immersion Experience

      “Experience is the best teacher”, this quote was one of the best quotes that could express and explain my feelings about the great and marvelous experience that I had when we had our Community Immersion at Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras last January 6 to 11, 2013. As an aspiring future teacher, this Community Immersion experience of mine made me see the real pictures on how the school and community are being linked together which is indeed really important in the educational process. In fact, through this kind of activity, I have realized that teachers play a very crucial role not only in school but also in the community because they were not only promoters of literacy and good values to students but they were also facilitators of some activities in the community and eventually, serve as religious advocates. Furthermore, I came up to realize also that preparing and planning for this Community Immersion was not just an easy one because we had really planned out all the activities that we are going to conduct before we went to Brgy. Calaya. This includes the programs that we are going to conduct, the projects that we are going to offer for the school and for the community, our demo-teaching, our interview to some of the people of Brgy. Calaya and the things needed for our culminating activity.

            Despite of the fact that we had worked under pressure during those times, still I find it exciting, unique and a challenging experience. As a leader of our group (The Tributes), I have learned how to handle and manage things better and how to sustain a positive attitude towards work especially in the midst of hard situations. In connection to this, I am happy and grateful as well that we had developed cooperation and camaraderie within our group and with our other classmates. With an almost one week stay at Brgy. Calaya, I was able to develop more my social trait towards my group mates as well as with our other classmates and towards other people. As a whole, this Community Immersion made me see how wonderful and how exciting teaching profession is. It was one of the very best experiences that I will never forget in my life as an education student at WVSU. 

Micah Momblan

           

                        

NATIVE BAGS

        Pandan leaves, a palm-like shrubs have a gofragrance. Some people used the syrup of pandan as a flavoring for sweet delicacies and use in rice to have an aromatic flavoring. Pandan leaves are also used in handicrafts especially in weaving. The leaves are cut and dried under the sun. The weavers used it as a major material in making native products like mats, hats and bags. It is very useful in people’s way of income especially to those who are very creative.

                   One of the popular products of Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia Guimaras is a bag made of pandan and pineapple leaves. It takes a long process to finish a bag. The leaves are dried and sliced in fine and thin strips and sorted for further processing; after that the leaves are rolled into pandan ropes. They put dyes on pandan leaves in order to be colorful. Thereare different persons who make the bags. One person weaves the bottom of the bag and another one weaves the body of the bag. The lining inside the bag was made also by the other person.  It was also varnished in order to look presentable and elegant one. Weaving a bag is the source of income of some people who lives in Calaya.  They are the ones who produce native bags in Boracay Island and many of their finished products are sent abroad. A bag made of pandan leaves is durable.

                   Pandan leaves are very important and helpful. It is just not good in flavorings for cooking but also for making such handicrafts.

Lyra Bayona

Pandan Bags

       Pandan leaves look like a simple plant that we can see anywhere. Simple but it has many uses like putting it while cooking the rice so that its aroma will mix with the rice.In Brgy. Calaya Nueva Valencia Guimaras, pandan leaves serve as a source of income for them. Do you know why? They made bags out of pandan leaves, any kind of bags that we use like the sling bags, the bag packs and many more. They have this process in making these bags. There are people who are making the bags just using their two hands. Every person has his own task in making the bags. One person in weaving, another person in lining and another person in varnishing the bags. In this way, they can produce a number of bags in a day and it helps them in their daily living as a source of income. They made durable bags out  pandan leaves that according to the owner of that business, they are already exporting it internationally.

To other people, pandan leaves is just a simple plant, but for the people of Calaya, they are their source of income and they are thankful for that.

Cyril Sontillano

Origin of the name of barangay Calaya

In this picture we interview one of the elders in the barangay Calaya named Mang Keriko. He is telling us the history of his barangay. According to him, the name Calaya means withered, for every summer almost everything in that place is withered, and his elders says “this place is so Calaya for almost everything here is withered especially the grass”. That is the origin of the name Calaya. 

Belief of the Elders

During the interview we asked him about his belief in aswang, Kama-kama, tikbalang, fairy, kapre, sigben, and other kinds of demonic forces, and he said that he didn’t believe those things unless he will see it with his naked eye. We asked him also of his rituals before he did something like making mat or farming if he did a prayer, ritual, or “orimus” and he says that doing work is not a matter of rituals, but a matter of hard work, discipline, and dedication. In short he didn’t believe those things. We interviewed lot of elders in Barangay Calaya and almost of them don’t believe in superstious beliefs. 

Gino A. Villacampa

“The History and Livelihood of Brgy. Calaya”

       In this picture, we are interviewing a resident of Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. We are gathering information about the origin of Brgy. Calaya and its history. According to him, Brgy. Calaya exists even before his grandfather was born. Its first settlers came from Guimbal, a municipality in the province of Iloilo. He told us that during World War II, the Japanese soldiers never reached the said barangay. He also told us the reason why they named their barangay “Calaya”. It is because according to the people there, during summertime, all the grasses and shrubs there withered that is where they got the name of their barangay. Besides their history, we also interviewed him about the industry their barangay is famous for. He told us that they are into farming and weaving mats before. But now only few households are making mats. He said that Calaya now famous in making native purse and bags. 

“We are on the top of Brgy. Calaya”

In this picture, we are on the top of a large boulder found in Brgy. Calaya. According to the residents who lived there, this boulder is only small before. As time goes by, it begun to “grow” bigger and bigger. According to one of our interviewees when we ask him if the stone is truly alive, he answers us jokingly. “ambot kung buhi guid man na. Kung magsaka ko daw wala man na gagiho” (I really don’t know if it is alive. Every time I go up there, it is not moving). There are two big boulders located in Brgy. Calaya. They named it “Bato Lapad” and “Bato Taas”. According to the residents there, many of their visitors never missed the chance to climb on the two boulders every time they are in that place. When you are up there, it is truly a wonderful view because you can see the islets located in Guimaras.

Sarah N. Ebay

“Experience  is the best teacher”

As a future teacher we have a preparation and training for us to grow and develop.

As part of community immersion, we should have a demo teaching. Our first students are the IV-b of Calaya National High School. We taught them Economics about “ Mga Institusyong Pinansiyal: Bangko, Bahay-sanglaan at Kooperatiba.” The first teaching experience is our first exposure in the field. We apply our skills and knowledge that we learned from our previous year, how to manage our student.

"At the Beginning"

Memories play an important role in people’s life. Some may bring them happiness while others had  left them with a painful one.

The school and the community are the mainsprings of effective and powerful forces that can create a wholesome climate for mutual gains and betterment. The one week stay and observation at Brgy. Calaya Nueva Valencia, Guimaras is the one of the best experiences that can be used as a training ground for us as a future teacher. A teacher who had a personal philosophy and moral conviction, who will make a difference in the classroom and in the community. We observed the community and the school how they interact with each other. We observed that the students, the teacher, and the Barangay officials are actively participating in every community and school activities. They help each other and they are willing to take any responsibilities for ensuring for the sake of the people. The school helps the literacy program of the community. The community plays an important factor in learning; it serves as a rich source of instructional materials that can help in learning of the students.

The full cooperation between the school and community will yield bountiful harvest by creating and establishing a conducive learning environment in school and an orderly and peaceful community.

Ma. Imelda J. Gabasa

“A good teacher is like a candle- it consumes itself to light the way of others.”

A teacher is the most significant instrument in molding the young to be a better individual. And having community immersion, as one of the prerequisites of our subject, gives everyone a hands-on experience both in the community and in school. It’s one way for us to practice in school----- to be an effective teacher. As we entered Calaya National High School for our demo teaching, I’d just view on my mind on how to become a teacher someday. Every time I’d passed by and met students, I feel being respected because they were very courteous, respectful and they always greet “good morning to all”.

We held our demo teaching January 8, 2013, Tuesday in the afternoon under the advisory of Mrs. Agnes Jean Gonzaga, a MAPEH and Social Studies teacher as well. In our demo teaching, I’m the one assigned to deliver the lesson that our group have chosen. It’s nice to feel as a student-teacher that my students listen to me attentively and they were very focused on the discussion. Everyone share their ideas on the topic and there were an intellectual exchange between the student and me. I’d appreciate their active participation in the activities given and in the discussion as well. For this little time given to us, I am very thankful because this is the chance to show who would be me as a teacher someday. The comments written by the students to us would be a great help on how we will going to maintain our teaching strategies and use a variety techniques in the discussion. As what we’ve done, I realized that it’s not easy to become a teacher, unless you think and feel that you give the whole knowledge and teach the good values that would satisfy, pursue and learn by your student. Because a little part of their life, of who they are came from our teachings.

What I’ve done in Calaya National High School, is just a foot step towards teaching as my profession. This encouraged me more to finish my studies and give my best because many young individuals want to learn and gain more knowledge. Not only those cognitive levels that we can share but also teaching them different skills that could enhance and develop the physical aspect of their life and to be a wholesome citizen of our country.

“A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living.”

Serving the community would be a great help to maintain cleanliness and orderliness of our environment. As what we’ve done in Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, I’d realized that it is very important to help preserve their nature which would also reflect of who they are. For the two days that we’ve cleaned their surroundings, I think I gave my effort to save our mother earth and gave justice to our environment. Giving our little help in maintaining cleanliness of the community would be a great help, so that the future generation would enable to see the beauty of their nature and they be enable to appreciate it as well. Furthermore, they would realize how their ancestors tried to conserve and preserve nature for the next generation to come.

Arbie Jane T. Bordeyos

Real life event: My gear for the future.

                “Experiential learning is the best teacher.” Sounds cliché yet it is a real life event that once failed could not be drawn back to make it successful instead it is a lesson learned- a gear for the future!

            Community immersion gave significant experiences in my life as a teacher-to-be. I was able to meet different people, to face complicated circumstances, and to make sound decisions. All of those were added in my treasure box of sweet memories. But our immersion was not all about serious matters and not just all about mind-pressuring field works, we also had fun!

      One thing that really etched in my heart is the time we did our demonstration in front of newly acquainted students of Calaya National High School. I found myself responsible for their learning that very moment. There I was able to feel that I am bound with my profession and that I was BORN TO BE TEACHER. And as I go along with their comments and personal messages to our group, I was filled with gratitude from all their heartfelt thanks. That is the essence of being a teacher- loving your students and they will love you in return. No matter how hard we worked with our lesson plan, how hard we worked to beautify our visual aids, and how hard we think of a better motivation our hardships were eased by a simple thank you and a smile painted in their faces. Simple things that only true teachers can appreciate. 

A big real life event such as this community immersion helped me in developing my skills as a teacher. It is a memory that deserves not just to be reminisced but a memory worth living for. Another chapter of my life was revealed!

Mark Palencia

“DEMO TEACHING”

                “Experience is the best teacher.” This community immersion teaches us different experiences which we can use in the near future. I adopt their culture, I adjust with them and see I learned. Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras is a perfect place to unwind but the goal of our community immersion is to help the community in our own little things, and also to inculcate knowledge to the students. As a future teacher, those experiences will help me to become a better and productive teacher. One of my memorable experiences is when we conduct our demo teaching. That demo teaching took me to my wildest fantasy and that is to experience how teaching is done inside the classroom. It was the best experience I have felt because it made me think on how to deal with the students, think of suitable strategies that will suite them and also it made me think on ways on how to discuss our lesson in a funny way. Through demo teaching, I can say to myself that I am ready to face the challenge of becoming a teacher.

 "MEMORIES"

One of my unforgettable experiences is when we have our bonding. It’s funny to remember those funny things that we keep on promising to wake up 4:30 in the morning. Sad to say, that only one of us did it. It’s funny to see those lazy persons doing our household chores. Fetch, fetch and fetch this word always fill my mind. One would say, “Fetch for me ‘cause I will take a bath” and the other would say, “Fetch for me, I will wash the dishes’, Oh my God! I’m sick doing that stuff but see I learned from it. Also, I reminiscing the memories of our bonding. I can’t believe that my group has special talent in making punch line. I tell myself that I choose the right group to be with. Those unexpected words that came out from the mouth of Dolly Kristel Rae Chavez and Christine Mae Zubiaga freak me out and make me laugh. I can’t imagine that those words would come out from their mouth. All memories, good or bad, will always remain and I will keep forever.

Christine M. Zubiaga

 Interview Getaway!
It’s the fourth day of our community immersion and it’s the interview day! I was very excited and we are all excited! It was my first time to be in an interview field and I’ve got mixed feelings about it. I was also nervous but it didn’t get in the way. We started at the marketplace since it was their market day that time. During the interview, I discovered a lot of things which are new to me. After that, we’ve decided to go to the nearest houses and we’ve interviewed some folks there. Our first interviewee was Manong Boy, as what the folks would want to call him. We were thankful because he was very accommodating. He’s very enthusiastic talking of things he knew. He talked about his life there in Calaya. How he managed his daily life is admirable. As we entered his backyard, we were astonished by the chickens, ducks, and white mice (*gasp*). He told us that he enjoys taking care of these animals because it’s his hobby. He even showed us the well where he get water for drinking and everything! It was huge and very deep. We can hear our echoes coming from the well. I remembered one movie and the title was “The Ring”, a movie about a girl who was murdered and dropped into the well then became a ghost (creepy). Okay! Enough of that already.Manong Boy gave us also some star apples (it’s so sweet), sugar canes, and a tour at his place. We went to a place where we saw this beautiful view of the sea. So memorable, not to mention the snake we encountered before reaching the place (so scary). But it was all worth it, we have arrived safely (hehe).

The Bond

This immersion had brought us so many experiences that we will never forget. What was that again? Just kidding! Our experience at the house where we stayed for the week was full of memorable moments. All we did was work, cook, fetch water, eat, talk, and laugh all the way. We never had a dull moment when our group were together. Sharing stories are our way to kill the time. Since there is no television to watch Princess and I (haha) so we just talked about random things. There are so many happy moments happened during our immersion at Calaya. I don’t have to write everything here. I’ll just show it through these pictures:

Lorlyn T. Galiemba

Reflection

 One of the subjects that education students need to take is Field Study 3 or Community Immersion. This subjectrequires students to participate in school and community activities.

            We gained more knowledge during our community immersion because of the different charateristics of Brgy. Calaya. People in Calaya are very approachable and the students are very courteous to us. They have a simple life but they are happy together with their family.

            Calaya is too far from the market where they can buy their foods and other materials that they needed. That’s why every morning there is a fish vendor passing by Calaya so that people won’t waste their money going to the market.

            College students live in Calaya, studied in Iloilo city. It’s too far to travel from the Island of Guimaras going to Iloilo. Some College students in Calaya went home daily despite of long distance to school.

            People in Brgy.Calaya believed in “Aswang” (witch), and they still use herbal medecines and traditional food preserving like tahong(seafood).

Cultural Memories

            Brgy. Calaya still had their composo songs and binalaybay. Many young people of this generation had forgotten already about this kind of cultural memories but lolo’s (grandfather) and lola’s (grandmother) preserved this kind of literature. Composo song tells us about love, environment and values. Binalaybay is a part of the cultural memories that is still practiced by the people of Calaya.

Composo:

ISDAHANON

By: GREGORIO GALVEZ (85 years old)

Dinhi nakon usuyon, bida sang isdahanon

Senyores inyo pamatii ining malip-ot nga ambahanon

Ang tanan nga mga isda, magapuyo sa kadagatan

Ang iban may opisyo pareho man sang tawo

Didto namatay ang omang, tinyente mayor ang kagang
Kasag ang napriso, inaway sang alimango

Malasugi ang gwardiyamonte sa suba ang San jose

Didto nausisaan si Parangan naalagan.

Pugita ang presidente

Lukos ang bise

Pasayan ang maestra

Hipon ang mga eskwela

Bagis ang maestro

Bagungon ang Obispo

Sapsap among pobre

Wala’y tambo ni Juang pirme.

            This song tells us about the different kinds of animal species under the sea like shrimps, crabs, squids, and other kind of fishes where people can sell in orther to have income.

Chrizl D. Funtanilla

“Historical Background”

                

    Every place has its own story. A story of its own existence where culture, costumes and traditions were being developed and that is what we call…History.

    One of these places is Barangay Calaya at Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. Calaya was formerly named Baladiao due to so many Baladiao birds flying in the area and later it was changed. Calaya was adopted due to conditions of a pale. At that time the area was full of cogon grasses wherein, at early part of a dry season, the grasses turned to brown and had an appearance of dried grasses or “laya” in local dialect. The name Calaya was adopted as dried or laya.

    Each place has its own landmark where the tourists could visit. Barangay Calaya has two tourist spots; two big rocks in sitio Poblacion II where when you climb up to that rock you can see the beautiful views in that place. Some ancestors said, the two big rocks grow bigger and bigger as time passes by. For some residents of that Barangay, the two big rocks is the best place where the lovers can spend time with each other. Next is the Taras hill at sitio Taras where you can find it relaxing. The hill is the place where you could see the beautiful sun rise.

 “My Reflection About 

My Community Immersion 

Experience”

               

     Last January 6-12, we had our community immersion at Barangay Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. That community immersion experience made me realize that the community and school help each other to improve their place and the community is important to the school. It made me exposed to the reality on how teachers or educators fulfill and do their roles and responsibilities as educators.  Our immersion gives me a feeling of excitement because it was a privilege that you can stay in the place where you can mingle with other people. It is a challenge for us as future educators on how we face or handle a certain situation inside the classrooms, on how we can communicate to our students and on how we can treat other people around us. It is a big challenge for us also on how we can finish the activities attached in that course. This includes the program that we are going to conduct inside the school of Calaya, the demo-teaching, the project that we are going to offer to the school and to the community and lastly, the interview with the oldest of that place.  These activities help us to prepare as a better teacher in the future. 

Ma. Ecile Joy T. Nirza

"Products To Be Proud Of”

 Last January 6-12, 2013 , we had our Community Immersion held in Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. It’s been a great experience for me, the one week stay in the place. I discovered a lot of things about Brgy. Calaya and one of these is, Calaya is known for its industrial products such as wallets, bags, mats and even the making of their traditional costumes. Usually the products are made of pandan leaves and pineapple. Their traditional costumes are used by the students every “Rara Festival” to portray the livelihood, tradition and culture of the people in the barangay. The barangay is also rich in agricultural products such as coconuts, bananas, pineapples and the pandan.

“Cultural Memories”

        

Brgy. Calaya, Nueva Valencia, guimaras is rich in cultural memories like binalaybay and composo. Their binalaybays are usually about the lives of the people in the place and how they work for their living and also about nature. The composo is more on about the feelings of a man towards a woman.

        We had this opportunity to hear the binalaybay and composo made by the grandfather and grandmother of Joyce Torda, a resident of Brgy. Calaya.

MAISIE KATE V. RIZARDO

A GLIMPSE OF A RED-SOILED BARANGAY:

HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY 

and LIVELIHOOD

As our feet steps into the soil of the beautiful island of Guimaras, the cold Sunday breeze of January welcomes our heart warmly with joy, pride and excitement. We have travelled so far before we reach the red-soiled Barangay of Calaya, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. Its beauty was one of a kind and breathtaking. The people of Calaya welcomes us warmly.

It was our fifth day of staying in Calaya when we were tasked to learn and know the history of such a beautiful place. Barangay Calaya is about 8 kilometers away from the Municipality of Nueva Valencia and is located at the North Eastern part of Nueva Valencia which are bounded by the Municipality of Sibunag on the North East, Barangay Oracon at the North, Barangay Lanipe at the West, Barangay Igdarapdap at the Southwest and Barangay San Antonio at the South.

Barangay Calaya is composed of eight sitios namely Poblacion I & II, Taras, Dawo, Colanos, Salong, Natanud and Sitio Badiang. Most residents are engaged in mat and bag weaving and farming. One of the main attractions in Calaya is the two big rocks found in Poblacion II. Sitio Colanos has a wide portion of rice land and the rest are planted with corn, coconuts and wooden trees.

According to the oldest residents of Barangay Calaya, the barangay is formerly named Baladiao due to so many Badiao birds flying in the area but was later on changed to Barrio Calaya and it was changed to Barangay Calaya. The name Calaya was adopted as “dried” (Laya) due to the condition of the pale. That time cogon grasses were seen all over the place but on the early part of the dry season, these cogon grasses turned brown and had an appearance of dried grasses (laya).

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Last January 9, 2013, we had our school activity in Calaya National High School as we are tasked to make bulletin boards and signage. My team, Tributes gave each other hands as we do our task. I was assigned to make bulletin board with Chrizl and Imee while the others make some signage in school canteen and comfort rooms. We are pleased to do each and every task under the scorching heat of the sun. As the hours passed by, we didn’t mind that it was already past noon and we haven’t eaten our lunch yet. But we are still eager to finish the task as possible. 

We haven’t finished our bulletin board so we decided to bring it to our house and each of us contributed in making this. We developed a strong foundation of camaraderie and friendship, as we exchanged silly jokes while working around. It was another moment to be cherished of.

            In the morning, we deliver it back to school, where Ma’am Sarabia appreciated the beauty of our work. It was so heart-warming experience and such a relief because we stayed late at night just to finish it.

            I really do hope that someday we will see them again and shared every moment. It was really a great experience while doing the tasks given to us. In spite of some difficulties and obstacles, we still managed to do everything we can. I hope that every student who would see our work will remember the little things we have done for their school and also for their community.

Imee Roselene Redillas

Beautiful Spot

     
  Every places in our country has its own product and beautiful spots that can be proud of and this simply shows and describes how rich and beautiful this country.

Last January 6-12, 2013, we travelled along the beautiful island of Barangay Calaya, Nueva Valencia,

Guimaras and we’re so amazed of its beauty. Their rural life was so amazing and the people gave us their warm welcome. Our community immersion brought us there; helped us to adapt the livelihood and ways of living in Calaya where almost all of the people are engaged in farming and bag weaving. But the most attractive place was the “Bato”. The Bato is very huge and tall and when we went up, we saw almost all of Guimaras and all of us were shocked in that place because we didn’t expect that it’s so grandeur and we conclude that Philippines is one of the country that have lots of beautiful sceneries that our political sectors didn’t prioritize that thing and we should be proud and thankful to Almighty God for all the beautiful places that he gave to us. All we need to do is to develop and protect our beautiful country.

School Activities

It was our fourth day at Calaya and we are tasked to make bulletin boards and paint signage, and others just to help and support the school and to make it more beautiful and we are all willing to help so that they are remarkable things we lift to them.

We are very thankful because even though we are strangers in that area, the students and the teachers treated us like we came from that place. They treat us very nice and we are very happy because through those little help and effort, there were things changed.

I hope that all the memories that we cherish together with the people in the community will not lost and will remain in their heart.