TO BE A MAKABAYAN: THE ESSENCE OF NSTP FOR ME

To be in service is not an obligation, but rather, a grace. It is a gift because when we are able to
serve, it implies that we as the servants have something which the served does not have may it
be in terms of money, knowledge, experience, or other non-tangible things. Hence, we are the
instrument to make the served feel as someone who is worthy of being a recipient of our care,
time, and efforts.
My whole year in service in the NSTP allowed me to ponder on a lot of things. Every time we
are deployed in a community with our NSTP Yellow uniform, people would always get uneasy
with us, showing gestures of intimidation. It seems as though Thomasian students are foreign in
this city and we should be highly looked up to. When a person would tell us Hala, taga UST
mga yan , we get the notion that the person has a high regard to students of UST. It then made
me realize that indeed, we are very blessed to be enrolled in a prestigious university. And since
we are from UST, so much is expected from us. UST as one of top universities gives one of the
finest education in the city, which is why it is best to give the act of paying back by rendering
service to our community which summarizes the mission of our university.
The first thing my community service taught me is that there is so much extra help needed in
places you wouldnt even think of. Not everyone can afford to hire someone for help or to do
work and doing it without pay made me feel better as a person because it wasnt like I didnt get
anything in return, I built character skills. This service made me appreciates more on how hard
construction workers worked for us to enjoy and have a home. Educating the residents of the
barangay on sources of practical and alternative livelihood as means to support their families and
sharing the knowledge, skills and expertise that we learned from our university to the less
fortunate and under privileged people in the barangay were some of the services that were done
by our section during the said fieldwork. It is indeed true that happiness cant be achieved with
money alone but it can be felt inside our hearts.
NSTP served as an eye opener to me, as I become aware of the current situation of our countrys
poverty. I have learned the value of having a family who can provide their basic needs. I realized
the blessings that I have right now, that I'm indeed fortunate enough to own the things that I own
right now. I also felt gratitude with the kind of different families in that community because even
though their condition is not that good and they encounter problems in their daily living, they are
still happy and fighting in every challenges of life. I saw the simplicity of life, even having less,
every family of the community does not fail to thank God that they are all healthy and still
surviving their daily lives. My experience with this activity will be much cherished because this
had taught me how to be contented for what I have. I think if the officials in our country will
work together with compassion and honesty and will focus in improving our country not on
fighting and blaming each other, Philippines will achieved a high level as compared to other

countries, there will be no depressed, deprived, and underserved families or communities in our
country. Also, as a citizen of Philippines, we should also be aware and cooperate in solving the
problems of our country. We should work hand in hand and develop the value of camaraderie
because we cannot solve these problems alone. We should also aim for a change in this country,
where this change will lead to improvement and a healthy relationship of every people. If we
respect each other and try to understand all the concerns of every community, then we can
identify the main problem of that community and develop a plan to solve it, not focusing on a
problem and trying to solve it, without knowing that what we're trying to solve is not the main
problem. If change and improvement starts from ourselves, our family will also improve, next is
our community, then our country, and soon, we can achieve a better world where people respect
each other and serve as a steward of God
One year would never suffice for me to be able to say that I have made a difference. But the least
that I can say is that rest assured, we were able to help, educate and inspire people in our little
ways. And even when NSTP is over, there are still a lot of venues where we can commit
ourselves in service despite the odds. I would not stop serving, not unless no one is left to be
served.