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(Physical) It is a small place where many people reside. The area is prone to flooding especially when it rains heavily. The area is not as “clean” compared to the city area wherein it is mostly well-kept.
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(Social) Some people were shy when they first met us, especially because it was the first time we met and we hadn't warmed up yet. It can be seen that the residents were struggling financially.
Cornelia lived here ever since the 1980’s, even before the church where the immersion took place was built.She moved here with her husband from a humble background, guided by the belief ingrained by her provincial parents that education wasn't necessary, as their livelihood depended on selling carabaos. This mindset deprived them of finishing school and pursuing better job opportunities. Her husband became a shoemaker and established a shop in Ramos, prompting their relocation there. In addition, there are more opportunities to find income here compared to the province.She said that she had observed numerous changes in the surroundings, the community, and the kids themselves when we inquired about any changes that had occurred in their neighborhood. She added “There are things in our community that make us unhappy, and we genuinely want to help. We were able to help in tiny ways, but we are restricted in what we can do because of our personal challenges” Her constant action to assist them is to offer prayers for them. One of Nanay Cornelia's greatest worries is that young children are using profanity. She claims that she felt powerless to stop it because doing so would make her a "meddler," but she still hopes and prays for the children's attitude to change and for a happy future. She works hard and prays for her family's long and happy life, which she prays the Lord would grant them. She added that although many of the people in today's government are corrupt, the government still hopes and trusts for the best and helps them, but it isn't quite certain.
(70 years old, presently resides close to Nicholas Sitio Church, the site of the immersion)
(36 years old, presently resides close to Nicholas Sitio Church, the site of the immersion; formerly lived in San Fernando)
​She says that the Lord made her purposely live here because compared to the province, the opportunities here are better. In Stephanie’s case, it was very convenient for her and her family to live here because when she got diagnosed with cancer, she was treated more easily compared to if she got treated in the province. She feels really blessed because of that. A lot has changed in the past few years, according to Stephanie. She stated that she wished things were more equitable when questioned about the issues the neighborhood faces. For example, she cited bagyong Odette. She went on to say that the government shouldn't favor the wealthy or be selective in providing accommodations; rather, it should be fair to everyone and their difficulties. She also observed that children were using profanity, and she responded to Nanay Cornelia in the same way. To repay the community for its support, Stephanie hopes to live a longer life and achieve financial security. She prays that everyone may live happy and healthy and hopes that the community trusts in each other and that the government would provide help to those in need.
​(49 years old, presently resides close to Nicholas Sitio Church, the site of the immersion; formerly lived in Bantayan Island but moved here for employment before getting married and starting a family.)
​​Libith was very shy and only answered a few questions. She mostly shared the same answers with Cornelia and Stephanie, especially with the problems of young children swearing and hoping that the government would help the citizens in need. She hopes that the community will be more united and for the safety and good health for all.
We, students, experienced intersubjectivity through the Parish Immersion exercise, which involved having real conversations with people from underrepresented groups. By exchanging experiences, feelings, and viewpoints with the senior participants—Cornelia, Stephanie, and Libith, among others—we were able to develop empathy and new insights through our interactions. This mutual understanding brought to light the idea of intersubjectivity covered in Philo 01, highlighting the connections and common experiences that people have, which promotes empathy and a greater comprehension of one another's challenges and goals in spite of differences in circumstances. This was further supported by our own reflections, which demonstrated our appreciation for our privilege, our sense of thankfulness, and the importance of empathy in overcoming obstacles in life.
Throughout the immersion, we learned about the residents' lives—Cornelia, Stephanie, and Libith—and how their social conditions formed and impacted them. Their personal narratives demonstrated the significant influence that cultural elements, including financial difficulties, availability of opportunities, and social dynamics, had on their identities and course in life.
Through these exchanges, we gained firsthand knowledge of how society influences people's views, beliefs, and goals. This experience deepened our understanding of the subtleties and complexity of societal impacts on individuals within a community by highlighting the role that society plays in forming personal narratives and the collective identity of communities.
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​Project Manager
It was a life-changing experience to take part in the parish immersion at St. Arnold Janssen's Parish. Being directly exposed to other people's hardships, including their financial challenges, cultivated a profound sense of compassion. Seeing the difficulties some people encounter brought to light the blessing of abundance and inspired a deep sense of thankfulness. By acting as a mirror, the immersion helped us get a deeper understanding of who they are and strengthened their sense of humanity, highlighting the value of kindness and empathy in overcoming life's challenges.
Content Developer
The immersion has helped me realize my privilege once more, that the things I consider normal are sadly a privilege to others. I am eternally grateful for the blessings I have received and won’t take them for granted. In addition, it was noted throughout the participant interviews that many people experience their own challenges in life. Despite these challenges, it is important to have faith in God and persevere through them, just as the interviewees did.
Graphic Designer
After hearing the different perspectives of our participants, I have reflected that we human beings always go through hardships in everything we do. These hardships help us grow as individuals and even as a community. To pass this obstacle in life, we should always strengthen ourselves to develop, for we cannot pass through difficulties without strengthening ourselves. Because of this, it allows us to take on any difficulty in our lives and solve them. Despite all that has been done, it'll be solved with the strength of human, mind, and nature.
Usability Tester
I realize that every human being has their own battles. We encounter hardships, which teaches us lessons. Always rely and have faith in God because He made us go through that path for a reason. Along with that, it is also important to appreciate the little things in life.