CHAPTER 6
Bombed......Scared.....But Unfazed......
After 7 days, we noted that Rocco
presented with chills and followed by fever. There is a cycle of the chills and
fever. We immediately noted that this might be malaria. We collected blood
smears on Rocco and sent it to the Malaria Control Unit of Balbalan. Note that
at that time, they say Balbalan is malaria-free. So we reviewed on the treatment of
malaria and since Tetracycline was the only medication in our pharmacy, we gave
Rocco that. Interestingly and thankfully, he responded very well and the chills
and fever disappeared magically. As a result of this experience, we have asked
for first-line drugs against malaria and have included our efforts in the
protection of the people against malaria.
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Just as Rocco emerged triumphant in his
dealing with the malaria parasite, he received a tele-radio message that he was
needed for Manila. His sister is badly sick and his presence is needed. We
eventually heard that Rocco’s sister died. There is a huge possibility that he
may not be able to come back to Gawaan.
When we went to Salegseg to bid Rocco
good tidings for his trip, as we were crossing the hanging bridge, we looked
up. We saw one part of the mountain where a concrete cross was erected. I told
myself, I am going to climb that mountain with a cross. The group said, we will
all climb that mountain in unison.
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| The Calvary Cross, Baalbalan, Kalinga In 1986 it is just a concrete cross on top of the mountain. You have to scale the steep inclination of the mountain inorder to reach it. Now, it has become of a pilgrimage are of sort. They had constructed walkways toward the top. Photo from FB of Balbalan, Kalinga |
I was taken aback with the possibility
of Rocco not coming back. Who would not? Out of the three, I was the most
fearful among us. But I am also the person in the front-line since I speak one
of the languages of the area. Rocco and Chita acted as my security blankets and
with Rocco’s absence, I feel my strength was thirty-percent less. But life went
on. We continued our clinics and training for the health workers.
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| The Gawaan Health Situation as compared to the National Health Situation in 1986 |
On one sunny day, Chita received a
message that she would need to attend to an examination and interview for a
pediatric residency training. It was her time to go to Manila and being left
alone, I was faced by fear. It was fear by the unknown.
The absence of my companions probably
emboldened some young lads to approach me. They asked if I can do circumcision
on them. Well, they asked for it and they had them. I sent someone to the
hospital to get at least two minor sets and chromic sutures that I could use.
August had become the circumcision month for the Gawaan lads.
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| Young lads undergoing the circumcision rites |
Chita came back from her examination and
interview. She was not alone. She was with Rizel, another classmate of ours who
is looking not only for adventure but great meaning in life. She came because
she wants to have a meaningful vacation. Initially we were quite wary about
Rizel joining us. She is not part of the program and if we were somehow
accorded some government protection, that we can’t assure her. But Rizel is one
tough girl and she insisted to join us and the community accepted her.
Rizel was a bomb in her demeanor and the
next day we were literary bombed out of our wits by the military. On one
fateful day, securing military saw forces from the New People’s Army passing by
the mountain side about 500 meters away from the house where we lived. The
military commander ordered his men to bomb the rebels. Off they went bombarding
the rebel location. We heard 7 bombardments with an equivalent Intensity 5 by
the Richter scale. And we had different reactions. I took the people towards
what I think is the safer side of the house and started praying the rosary with
them. Chita and Rizel were outside and were watching the encounter. I told them
to get in but they did not budge in. Only when Nanang Remy became hysterical
that Rizel started to move to attend to our foster mother who went into
hysteria. We felt Nanang’s pain as she remembered the horrifying death of her
husband.
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| This is not an actual military picture of the encounter. It was just placed here to put a stress about the Military-NPA encounter |
On that same day, a woman underwent
labor and we were called to assist. To my surprise, the expectant mother was
sitting with the local hilot getting ready to catch the child. With much ease,
the woman delivered to a healthy 7 pounder baby boy. He was christened Rolando
in honor of the godfather and that was me. A few days after, we were called to
assist in the delivery of primigravid. Armed with our OB-Gyn bag, we trooped to
Liglig village an hours walk from our Gawaan village. It was difficult
delivery. I scrubbed and let the mother lie down, when I saw the head coming
out, I did mediolateral episiotomy and there goes our baby. After delivering
the baby, I repaired the episiotomy I made. She delivered to a 5.6 lbs baby
girl and christened Graziele from the name Rizel. Rizel had now become the
Godmother of this child.
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| Pregnant bellies Photo from reformedrockstar |
One day, a patient from Mabaca was
bleeding too much before her expected delivery. She was carried in a hammock
and was advised by us to be taken to the hospital at once. They have carried
her for hours of walk. Unfortunately, the patient expired upon reaching the
hospital and attempts to save the baby were nil. It is in situations like this
that community health workers aid in the decision to bring emergency patients
at once in the hospital.
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| Since the places of the people are separated by mountains with no roads and transportation, the patients are carried through a hammock and brought to the hospital with people alternatingly carrying the patient. By experience, I have walked the farthest trail for 8 hours. A seasoned Kalingan will be able to traverse the route by 6 hours. |
(Note:
By this time Rolando and Grazielle would be thirty years old by now. In the
late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Kalinga way of delivering babies had taken a
second look. The resurgence of the birthing chair as the most physiologic
position during delivery came about. Although researchers have shown that there
is no difference between a birthing chair from a birthing bed, suffice to say
that the Kalinga way of delivering babies was based on the intuitive
observations of the traditional birth attendants which position gives the
expectant mother better ease. We hope women with problems of pregnancy are detected earlier and that they would be referred to a higher care center to attend to their needs.)
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