Bon Tiangson (11017872)!

BS Applied Economics and BS in Advertising Management !

1. SEE-EXPERIENCE (Masid-Danas)!
1.1 What did I do in the community? What did I see and experience?!
I conducted a survey, along with the whole ECONDEV class. And I got to immerse myself in an
environment that I wouldnt normally, or choose to be in. I saw a glimpse of what it was like to be
living under P50 a day, to be living with seven people in a house thats as small as my walk-in
closet. !

1.2 Who did I meet in the community?!

I go to talk to a number of interesting people with interesting stories. Different people, different
religions and different cultures. Given that a few were hostile, most were quite warm. They didnt
seem sad or miserable despite their situation, which is quite admirable. They made ends meet
with whatever they had with smiles on their faces. I mean, Im sure its difficult, but you wont
really see that from their jolly disposition. !

I remember interviewing Manong Ricardo, who had a small grocery stall, well, it was sort of just
a table and he was so warm and welcoming. Even called his daughters to make sure the
information he gave about his wife was accurate. Anyway, after the interview, I asked him if I
can buy some candy. Then, I gave him P50 for two pieces. He said he didnt have change, and
was giving the candy for free. I told him to keep the money and walked away, because he
wouldnt take it. Then I just heard him say, Dalawang piraso, singkwenta! May pambili na
among ng bigas. And you can tell how happy he was. It amazes me how P50, a value that cant
even buy me cup of coffee from Starbucks, can make such a difference. !

2. ANALYSIS-REFLECTION (Suri-Nilay)!
2.1 How was I able to apply my skills, perspective and knowledge related to ECONDEV course?!

I used to help my dad with campaigns and wed use to go around the outskirts of Pangasinan
where life wasnt really as glamorous. This prior experience prepared me to Purok. (But dont
get me wrong, the barangay we conducted the interview in was way worse than those Ive
visited in Pangasinan.) I guess the knowledge related to ECONDEV kicked in when we were
already discussing the policies and programs that we could apply. But during the interview, all I
really wanted was to get done as fast as I can. !

2.2 In what ways did I experience difficulty and easiness (e.g interacting with others,
accomplishing tasks) and what personal characteristics contributed to the difficulties and
easiness (e.g skills, abilities, perspectives, attitudes, tendencies and knowledge)?!

My being a germophobe didnt really help me much with the survey experience. The whole time
I was there, I was thinking that oh my God, Im gonna get TB and will never be granted a
scholarship at some US university. But after the 3rd person I interviewed, the fear of contracting
some disease went away. Other than this, I didnt really have any more trouble. !

Also, honestly was looking forward to meeting Muslims, to compare the Muslims Ive met from
other parts of the world to Filipinos Muslims. !

2.3 Does this experience challenge or reinforce my prior understanding of the Lasallian values,
faith, service or communion in mission?!

Yes. Definitely. It made me want to help my country. It made me see that giving P20 to the
children begging outside the gates of La Salle didnt really do much. And that larger measures
should be done. It may sound cheesy, but I want to devote myself to helping the next generation
of Filipinos have a better standard of living.!

3. COMMITMENT-ACTION (Taya-Kilos)!
What can I do as a student after my experience?!

We talk about how sad and pitiful it is to see children begging for food out in the streets and to
see houses made of cardboard boxes. We talk about possible solutions during dinner with out
parents or friends. But we never really have the initiative to really do them. Well, most of us
anyway. I guess its because the picture is daunting, the problem is at a mass scale and it
seems hopeless to even try. But I guess if no one starts, then, well be stuck in this rut for
eternity. I realized that, no matter how daunting it is, there is something I can do to make life
easier in the Philippines for me and Filipinos who are living in subsistence. There is so much we
can do. !

This term made me reevaluate my future plans. I originally planned to move to the United States
(US) right after graduation to study again and maybe stay there permanently because of how
convenient it is to live there if circumstances allow. But after ECONDEV and SPECTO4
(Education Economics), my plans sort of changed. Now, if I do move to the US, I would just stay
there for a year or two to study and use whatever Ive learned there into making the Philippines
a better country. Devoting myself to research. Helping the country provide quality education to
the Filipino children. !

I actually already have volunteered to teach at the A-ha Learning Center and thinking of
establishing something similar for the children in my province, Pangasinan.