We also had the opportunity to donate protective and cleaning equipment to street sweepers. More importantly, with the help of the Community Outreach and Linkages, we were able to provide grocery raffles to those in need. It was heartwarming to see almost 60 to 70 participants, and most of them stayed until the end of the seminar.

I am beyond grateful for the cooperation and support of the barangay officials, as well as our teachers, parents, and friends. Their encouragement made this event possible. I am excited and hopeful to organize more community seminars like this in the future, continuing to raise awareness and make a positive impact.

What I observed from every child we met was that most of them were no longer studying. That day was a lot of fun with the children we worked with during our implementation, We didn't just teach them, we also made sure they enjoyed the activities we had them do. Not only did they learn from us, but I also learned from them. Because they told me about their experiences and the kind of hardships they are experiencing now. I'm happy because we were one of those who were able to give them a little help.

During our seminar, I noticed that we encountered a lot of technical issues, and wish we had addressed them earlier. We should’ve been the ones to find the participants instead of relying on the barangay and encoutered more problems like we forgot that we have mics, the respondents, etc. But in the end, we still managed to make it work.

(sumakses ka na eh)...

In our first seminar, things did not go as smoothly as we had hoped. There was a lot of confusion among the attendees, especially regarding the distribution of items intended for the children. Many parents insisted on including their children even if they were not eligible, which led to some disorder and minor arguments. Another challenge we faced was related to the participants themselves. Prior to the event, the SK Chairman assured us that everything was already arranged. However, upon arriving at the venue, we discovered that many things were not yet prepared, which caused delays and added stress to the team. It was a learning experience for all of us, and although we managed to push through, the situation taught us the importance of better communication and clearer coordination with our partners and local officials.

In contrast, the second seminar was a completely different experience. Thanks to the guidance and leadership of Ms. Amano, Mr. Almario, Mr. Ariola, and Mr. De Honor, the program went incredibly smoothly. Everything was well-organized, and there were no major issues from beginning to end. I observed that the participants were genuinely attentive throughout the discussion. They were very eager to learn about the topic, and their engagement was evident through their active listening and participation. It was clear that they were truly interested in gaining new knowledge, and that motivated us even more to deliver our best.

Despite all the problems and challenges we encountered during the preparation and the earlier stages of our implementation, the outcome of the second seminar was very fulfilling. The atmosphere was positive, the program flowed without any major hiccups, and in the end, it felt like a true success (thank you sa lahat ng kaibigan ko jan🫵🏻). Seeing the smiles on the participants' faces and knowing that they had learned something valuable made all our efforts and hardships worth it. This whole experience showed us that persistence and good planning really do make a big difference in community engagement.

After discussing the program with the Barangay Captain, I was expecting that our solution would be sustainable. I recommended that those who do not have employment would be supported by the Barangay by giving them an opportunity to have a job and acquire skills necessary to reduce the likeliness of resorting into stealing and other unlawful acts.

Instead, we implemented a Band Aid solution. (I think that it was)

We did not solve the problem.

Instead if implementing a project that will minimize criminal rate, the barangay captain recommended us to just inform and educate the residents of Palanan.

To our and their defense, there is no solution to minimize criminal rates if we don't solve the root of the problem—poverty. The greatest challenge in our country.

Because of this, I am not really looking forward to receive a high grade.

I was dissapointed in myself but believe it or not, I became more true to my own initiatives as a HUMSS student. We must have higher expectations to our stakeholders especially government officials. Because one of the reasons why other people choose to do criminal acts is their lack of basic needs. That basic needs should be given to the people instead of taking advantage of our tax payers.

All in all, I am thankful to my groupmates especially to Vergel Santos III and Shamella Santiago who always had the initiative to help and contribute to our implementation. I am also extending my appreciation to the Barangay Council of Palanan, my teachers Mr. De Honor, Mr. Ariola, and Ms. Cañon who guided us to accomplish our program with the best of our knowledge. Lastly, to the participants that gave their time to attend our seminar even though that it was a Sunday. We are thankful that according to the participants' feedback, our seminar was smooth, informative, and helped you in any way.

We hope that this sparked the importance of the involvement of the constituents to have more sustainable solutions and to attain the needs of the many.

But let's give credit where credit is absolutely due. To our amazing mentors, Mr. Justine De Honor and Mr. John Dave Ariola – you guys are the MVPs! Your guidance was like having the ultimate cheat sheet. Seriously could not have navigated this without your wisdom bombs. ✨

And my TEAMMMMM— Otacan, John Hervie, Mallari, Jeymille, Camu, Andrea, Calupas, Jennylyn, and Calma, Kiara – you guys are the DOLLIANNASSSSS. Every single one of you brought your A-game, and the teamwork was immaculate. You didn't just show up; you showed out, and brought out the inner cuntianna!🧚🏼‍♀️

Now, for a very special shoutout to my rock, my confidant, the one who deserves all the virtual hugs: Francisco, Salvador Caleb. Honestly, this seminar wouldn't have even been a thing without your unwavering support. You were my sounding board, my cheerleader, my minty fresh, and yes, my official "crying shoulder" during those endless sleepless nights fueled by caffeine and sheer willpower. You believed in this vision as much as I did, and for that, I'm forever grateful. You're the real MVP, no debate. 💖

And last but definitely not least, a huge thank you to Miss Liza Mae Cañon! Your guidance throughout this whole journey was like having a fairy godmother for research. Your insights kept us on track and your support was so appreciated. 🙏

So yeah, this seminar was a major slay, and it's all thanks to this incredible team. Give yourselves a pat on the back – you all deserve it! We did THAT. 🔥

Our documentary implementation took a turn when we couldn't figure out how to use the projector and when the video couldn't be played. We were delayed a whole TWO hours. Thankfully, we were able to overcome it. :)

Sabi nga ng aming group,

"Ang tunay na lakas ay hindi nasusukat sa tapang sa gulo, kundi sa tapang na tumalikod sa maling gawain."

thanks to our leaderr, alam mo naman kung sino ka🤣