Cotabato Trip - Maria Lourdes Resayo (Ayie)

Recently, between 19th and 21st July 2011, two of Appco Philippines' FRs were given a great opportunity to be a part of a 3Day 2Night trip to Cotabato which is located in one of the most controversial region of the Philippines, Mindanao. Maria Lourdes Resayo, better known as Ayie and Ron Cristian Pangilinan, better known as Ron were both given an opportunity to travel along with UNICEF delegates Kristine Carbon, Michelle Borromeo, George Velardo and Angela to experience first hand, the feeding and health care programs provided by UNICEF to children in Cotabato city. Both Ayie and Ron were moved by their experience with the children of UNICEF and Appco Philippines has exclusive details of their trip, right here on Appco Philippines Blog. Here is an excerpt from some of Ayie's experiences throughout the trip. 
(Be sure to catch Ron's Experience during the trip in the Next Post!)


1. How did you get the opportunity to be a part of this trip? 

According to Zelina, our branch manager, Ron and I were chosen because we are both part of sales excellence award and and we have low attrition rate with the acquiring of donors and there were no donor complaints.

2. How was the environment in Cotabato when you arrived? 

When we arrived at the airport of Cotabato, it was different from all the provinces I’ve been to. There’s a lot of military checkpoint, but the journey was safe wherever we went to. We rode in a diplomat car with some UNICEF delegates. The security is quiet high and our safety was ensured. I was scared at first because of all the news that I've heard from the television, but after a while all the terror that I felt was gone after seeing Cotabato. The place itself is beautiful. People’s way of living is very different from Manila. They live in a simple way. Most of them earn from agricultural farming and fishing.  I like also the way women dressed and most of them are wearing veil. Its so amazing to see a community where Christians and Muslims live together.

3. What were the activities done by all of you in the course of the 3 days? 

On our day 1, we went to Unicef satellite office. I learned that Unicef has only one satellite office here in the Philippines aside from their office located in Makati. It is because, the situation in cotabato and Maguindanao is quiet severe, where the poverty is extreme and can be compared to Somalia. We discussed on some protocol for security purposes. We can’t roam around cotabato without the presence of UNICEF delegates. We also discussed why UNICEF focuses in Mindanao when it comes to severe acute malnutrition and the programs that's being implemented to solve the problems faced in the region.


On our day 2, we went to a rural health unit in Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat. I’ve been a registered nurse for quiet sometime and have seen a lot of malnourished children in some part of Luzon but never have I seen a situation which compares to Maguindanao. Infants and toddlers are literally approaching death due to severe acute  malnutrition. We saw this first hand in a case presented to us, of a 3 month old infant with a “wasting” situation. It was really alarming and heart breaking.


On our day 3 we went to some Poblacion. It means baranggay to them. We saw the aftermath of the flood. We also saw some residual marks of the flood in the roads, houses and streets. Following that, we also went to the evacuation center. Some people still live in the evacuation center because their houses were completely destroyed by the flood. We also visited a tertiary Hospital which has a high success rate in implementing CMAM (Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition). Lastly, we visited a site where some volunteer Doctors were doing stress management for the flood victims.

4. What did you manage to learn about the steps/actions taken by Unicef to provide proper support for the malnourished children? 

Unicef made an amazing amazing job for the people in Cotabato and Maguindanao. The CMAM program was implemented properly. Everything was very organized. Children who had severe acute malnutrition were treated properly. UNICEF along with the partnership of local government unit and some NGO’s are doing a truly great job! They are saving the lives of these children..

5. How was your experience being with the affected children and their parents?


It was an eye opener for me to see the eyes of a parent with a dying infant in her arms. It was really heart breaking. You could see the sorrow and disappointment within her, but on the brighter side, most of them are graduating from the CMAM program. It means that their children are getting well and I was happy to see the joy in them. 

6. How did this trip help you with your interaction with potential donors on the field?


It helped me with my presentation. Now, I paint stories more passionately, that their tiny amount which is 20php/ day can make a huge difference for a kid. It literally saves life. It also helps me to encourage them more to step up and become partners of UNICEF in championing children’s right. 

7. Did you face any disadvantages being on the field after the moving experience you had in Cotobato? If yes, how did you overcome it?


Disadvantage….hmn… the only disadvantage that was brought to me of Cotabato experience is, whenever I remember the 3 month old infant it really breaks my heart and I feel sad. To overcome it, I told myself that am going to work harder for them.

8. What's you advice to people out there as a brand awareness representative for Unicef?

My advice for everyone is, we should not take things for granted. We are so blessed in life. All these children need, is a 3 meal a day to live, yet its like reaching for the stars to them. We have the power to change someone's future today. If we can collaborate and carry out our individual social responsibilites well, our country can definitely move forward! WE can Build, Save, Manage, Plan and Organize a better future for the Filipino children!