One of the most significant contributions I have had was when Typhoon Odette landed in Palawan. It was the most devastating and destructive experience I ever had in my life. A day after the typhoon, I began to volunteer at the Philippine Red Cross – Palawan Chapter. We helped with the repacking and distribution of relief goods from different parts of Puerto Princesa, most especially in the northern part of Palawan; monitoring of casualties; medical mission, assisted during RDANA (Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis) of our team; and distribution of beddings and food to the affected areas. During that time, I was so tired because I was doing my requirements in school while volunteering and rendering my service to the most afflicted. But the tiredness I felt couldn’t match the mourning and suffering of the people affected by the typhoon. It encouraged me to continue to volunteer despite the various tasks I have had in school and at home. I just want to help and ease people’s sorrows in my own way. I provided psychological support to them and made them feel that there would be hope for all of us and that we should move on.  

After the typhoon, the services and initiatives continued. I participated and volunteered in Bloodletting Activity, First Aid Provider, HIV & AIDS and Substance Abuse Prevention Education and Child Protection Policy, Water Giving, Holy Week First Aider, and attended Council Management Training. I was elected as President of Palawan State University – Red Cross Youth Councill. The initiatives don’t stop here; we also conducted lot of activities and humanitarian endeavors during my term and as a student nurse leader. Some medical-related initiatives were conducted every three months such as bloodletting activities, First Aid Training, First Aid Provider for various activities of the University, Health Caravan/Medical Mission, Call for Blood Donors project, and many more. Furthermore, I was awarded as an active volunteer of PRC-Palawan Chapter, where I was a top 10 RCY in Palawan, I became a Youth Instructor, I was an outstanding council president, and our council is one of the top 7 outstanding Red Cross youth council in National Category during my term as council president and as a student nurse leader. We became the most outstanding organization in Palawan State University.

As a student nurse, the commitment, compassion, and initiative to our work are vital in our role as future healthcare providers.  How can we provide holistic quality care if we do not commit to our work? These initiatives taught me that helping other people is not only a responsibility but an opportunity to provide our help with compassion and care. As always, it truly reminds me that it is necessary to become Christ-like, to achieve excellence, and to be of service to humanity.