Names: Ares, Leeshien C.

Date of Submission: November 27, 2023

Dipay, Scarlett Ninia Kate S.
Malicay, Paulette Beatrice T.
Peralta, Trisha Mae D.

Group #/Block: 5A – STEM 11G Course Code: PHILO 01

TOA: PTFT 2: Community Immersion Pt. 1 Instructor: Sir JB Villeta

Pt I. Interview with Sitio Representatives

A. Description of the Sitio

The sitio from which we had our Parish Immersion was in Barangay Basak, San

Nicolas, Cebu City, located alongside the eastern part of the Island of Cebu. As of 2020,

it has a population of 38,965, and based on the census from 2015, the average member

per household is about 3.85 or approximately 4. This community is situated near the

SRP (South Road Properties), a large infrastructure project that involves the

reclamation of land for urban development, which is why most of the people in the

neighboring communities, especially the ones we interviewed have also suffered from

pollution. The residents of the sitio enjoy a flourishing lifestyle. Those we interviewed

not only earn sufficient incomes but also boast a level of education that contributes to

their overall well-being. They articulate that their community thrives harmoniously, with

no notable issues in terms of societal interactions or governance.

Most residents have voiced their concerns about critical issues such as flash

floods and pollution, as these issues are a significant problem in their community. These
environmental issues not only impact their daily lives but also underscore the urgent

need for comprehensive solutions that address infrastructure shortcomings, improve

waste management, and enhance community resilience to natural disasters. They also

expressed their concerns about poverty, their collective voice underscores the

multifaceted challenges faced, ranging from limited access to education and healthcare

to constrained opportunities for employment and social mobility.

B. Summary of Information Gathered

Respondent 1: Maria Christy Teves

Maria Christy Teves is a dedicated mother of

two children, aged 10 and 8. She has been

residing in Sitio Lucimba since 2004, marking

19 years of active engagement with the

community. Mrs. Teves’ decision to stay in

Cebu after completing her college degree was

influenced by the limited applicability of her

degree in other places, particularly Iloilo, where she originally planned to go.

In terms of governance in her sitio, Mrs. Teves’ expresses satisfaction with the

current way of governance and has not encountered any significant issues in this

regard.

However, she is actively concerned about poverty, particularly among those living

on the streets and which children who are engaging in criminal activities like

pick-pocketing to meet their basic needs. Furthermore, Mrs. Teves suggests that
addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond mere

government intervention. She underscores the importance of community cooperation,

understanding, and unity, urging both the community members and authorities to work

hand in hand.

Furthermore, Mrs. Teves advocates for a collaborative approach, stressing that

everyone, including those responsible for implementing ordinances, should serve as

model followers. She believes that leading by example is crucial for strengthening

community platforms. She further suggests that blaming the government solely for

personal problems within the community is counterproductive, as the government

cannot address all concerns simultaneously. Instead, she encourages everyone to work

together to find solutions to whatever issues they may have.

Respondent 2: Mariafe A. Condesa

Mariafe A. Condesa has been living in Sitio

Lucimba for 20 years now. She chose to live

here as it is close to the chapel and hospital

is also easy access, location wise. Mrs.

Condesa is grateful for the build up of the

parish church in her community under the

oversight of Fr. Mani in 2021. Mrs. Condesa

added that the shrine has brought positive

changes and increased engagement from the community. Many people from different

barangays were attending and visiting the parish. Additionally, the support for souvenir
shops from the shrine suggests that the increased foot traffic benefited local

businesses.

However, flash floods are a significant problem in her community, impacting their

ability to hold mass and affecting their daily lives. Nonetheless, she is thankful that there

are efforts from the government, such as clean-up drives and trash segregation

initiatives, to address the issue.

Mrs. Condesa wishes her community to develop and support livelihood programs

tailored to the skills and interests of community members, exploring options for

home-based businesses or cooperatives that align with the community's strengths

which will help families in their sitio sustain their basic needs.

Mrs. Condesa also expressed ways on how she thinks will resolve the issue she

has raised with the interviewers. She addressed that the government must ensure the

creation of safe and healthy environments for children and animals by organizing

community cleaning events, and provide a solution to reduce air pollution in their

community which has been a major cause of the spread of skin diseases. She further

added that she wants a community that is prepared in the event of an emergency to

ensure that the community's overall resilience is maintained.

 C. Integrating the Experience with the Lessons in PHILO 01

Embodied Compassion: Gabriel Marcel's Philosophy in Action

In Gabriel Marcel’s Philosophy of Communion, he argued that helping those in

need and serving one's part in society is an essential part of human existence.

Anchored to an existentialist’s view that a human person is interdependent, therefore,

man is responsible for the other, he cannot escape this obligation as man is an ethical

being by virtue of his intersubjective relationship with the other. This philosophical

standpoint encourages individuals to transcend their egocentric pursuits and consider

the well-being of others, especially those who are vulnerable and in need. One tangible

paradigm of this is the Parish Immersion activity held at St. Arnold Janssen Parish in

Alumnus, Mambaling, by the grade 11 STEM students of the University of San Carlos.

In this manifestation, the students, as agents of social change, gathered concerns and

issues from the residents in one of Cebu City’s marginalized sectors, and were tasked

to provide ample solutions to these problems. It is in this regard, that the students were

able to connect to the people in need and serve their roles as members of society.

Moreover, the philosophical concepts behind the Parish Immersion Activity can be

further expounded through Marcel’s view of Intersubjectivity.

For Gabriel Marcel, intersubjectivity is the recognition of the inherent existence of

others as essential to one's being. In practical application, this principle manifests

beyond mere assistance to the needs of others; it necessitates an active pursuit of

solutions and a commitment to addressing those needs. This notion was well

manifested in the Parish Immersion Activity where the students not only offered

assistance to the residents but also sought to resolve the identified issues and concerns

the residents had raised through research to be able to come up with an effective

solution to these. In line with this, Marcel also developed the concept of Authentic

Intersubjectivity where he argues that having an intersubjective relationship with the

other means that man does not only exist with the other, but also feel the presence of

one another. As sentient beings, man is obliged to not only share existence but to be

consistently present for the other and be willing to sacrifice for those in need. In the

context of the Parish Immersion, Marcel's notion of “always being there for the other”

took on real significance as students engaged in activities with the residents from which

their presence involved emotional and existential availability for others. This

manifestation also aligns seamlessly with Marcel's subconcept of "Availability" within his

philosophical framework. Availability, in this context, represents a reciprocal openness

among individuals, a deliberate decision to be present and responsive to the needs of

others. Through the immersion experience, the students exemplified this concept,

embodying a philosophy that goes beyond theoretical discussion, highlighting the power

of genuine, reciprocal relationships in fostering a compassionate and interconnected

community.

The Parish Immersion Activity that was done by the students became a vivid

canvas upon which Gabriel Marcel's philosophy painted a genuine human connection

and responsible existence. Through their immersion, the students didn't merely execute
a charitable deed; they actively sought to understand the complexities of the

community's challenges and collaborated on sustainable solutions. In this

representation of authentic intersubjectivity, the students didn't merely coexist with the

residents; they felt the presence of one another, acknowledging shared existence.

D. Personal Reflections

The immersion in the parish has given people an opportunity to reflect upon

themselves and a deeper understanding of others as individuals. It is likely that sharing

personal stories has been an important part of communicating with the members of the

parish. A connection, based on shared experiences of being a person, is formed as you

listen to someone else's stories and share your own. The ability to understand depth

and complexity of the individual lives can be harnessed from this narrative aspect of

immersion. Overall, the experience of parish immersion is likely to yield a better

understanding of oneself and others as human beings through increased empathy,

greater awareness of shared humanity, promotion of cultural sensitivity, facilitation for

personal development, creation of connections via stories or perhaps spiritual reflection.

(Ares, 2023)

Reflecting on the Parish Immersion activity, it's disheartening to witness the

intricate web of challenges that residents face daily. Despite encountering different

challenges daily they are still able to keep a positive mindset and embody resilience

amid adversity. This activity gave me a new perspective on how to view life and how to

overcome hardships. It also reminded me to appreciate the things we have in life, even

the little things. (Dipay, 2023)

 Being able to actively participate in the Parish Immersion activity created lasting

memories that I’ll definitely cherish. I am so grateful to have experienced such an

endeavor in my first year as a senior high student. Since my junior high years, I eagerly

anticipate these immersive experiences, cherishing the opportunity to interview and

connect with individuals from the marginalized sectors of big cities. The dialogue I had

with Mrs. Teves struck a chord with me as she brought attention to the enduring issue of

poverty. Through this encounter, I gained a lot of understanding and reflection of how

poverty still pervades despite how many advocacies have emerged to address this

issue. Nonetheless, this encounter not only enriched my perspective but also fueled my

passion for contributing to positive change in the lives of those facing adversity.

(Malicay, 2023)

Engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds provided a profound lens

through which to contemplate life's complexities, prompting reflections on

intersubjectivity. This perspective underscored the uniqueness of each person's

experiences, shaping their worldview and contributing to mutual comprehension during

interactions. The recognition of varied life stories emphasized the significance of

individuals within society, highlighting the richness derived from the diverse origins and

narratives that collectively form our existence. Aligned with existentialist principles

valuing the present and interpersonal connections, this experience fostered a deep

sense of gratitude. It reinforced the idea that acknowledging, valuing, and appreciating

the diversity of human experiences enhances the depth and significance of society's

interconnected fabric. (Peralta, 2023)