Passed to: Dr. Ritchel Briones I. Summary / Description
The author of the book is also the main character of
the story. Almost all of the things happening in the story was in his point of view. Dr. Juan M. Flavier, a member of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM). These are groups who go to inaccessible barrios in the country. They are empowering change and industrialization among farmers and barrio people. They are increasing the knowledge of the locals about health and proper living. The narrator describes the farmers and barrio people, their beliefs, personalities and traditions. What he sees and experiences. Some are very helpful, but others, they need to change their beliefs in order to be better people. Especially on misconceptions on health, that is the main target to be changed. The second thing that was described was the life on the barrios, he said that it was not easy. It’s hard to get along to people especially with those early negative reactions based on past experiences on rural health workers. He had also given tips on how to overcome simple problems on the barrio. He learned some of the metaphors of the barrio people. Others may seem simple, but some are deeper than it sounds, so it’s not easy to analyze them when you’re a new comer. You’ll need a lot of time in order to understand very well the people in a barrio. He described the passion of the health workers for their job. Because as college graduates, it is hard to give yourself in a rural setting with very little salary. So those people working for the community has a heart and passion for what they are doing. They really love to help and they are doing it from their hearts.
II. Analysis & common Problems
As most of the problems in a community setting,
most of it are knowledge deficit, specially on health. It is hard to implement other health regimens because barrio people have their own beliefs since their ancestors passed it down from generations to generation. It is hard to break that belief and workers take them as a challenge to their work. Making a community people believe on the right health pattern is an accomplishment. Other problems in the community is financial problem, being in a rural setting, it is quite common to have financial problems, especially when most of the barrios chosen for their services are remote provinces. Other problems are those rebels in the mountains of the provinces which causes violence and fear among the people.
III. Strategies and Approaches
The strategy that was used is Rational, because it
involves imparting with the hope that this will enable the other party to make a choice in the right direction. This means that they are not persuading the community people to believe them or something. They are just hoping that they will get something educational from the missionaries, because it is really difficult to change an ancient belief of the community people to modern health, so there is no need for persuasion or rewards because it is for their own benefit if they believe or not.
IV. Models & community organization practice
The model for this is “Model A, Locality or
community Development”. Because they are aiming to build a better community in terms of health, leadership and participation of the people of the barrios. They need the whole community to participate in order to improve the community. All of them are needed in order to progress so nobody will be left out and to raise each other to improvement of their community. By the help of the PRRM workers, they are the ones who led these people to where they should be, because they are more knowledgeable, they have the task and passion to share it with the people to be better and industrialized.