Change has come to Pochero, and
so is to drugs
December 28, 2016
by Mac Norhen Bornales
by Mac Norhen Bornales
THE BELL rang twice before everyone assembled to the kitchen. It was lunch time. But as they stood in front of the dining table, the bell rang again twice. A man in white shirt and jeans stood up to the podium inside the cafeteria and asked everyone to stand up. Everyone did.
“The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,” he said in a loud, striking voice. “And she was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,” the Galileans replied. Before I knew it, it was time to pray the Angelus. They prayed as if they are performing a speech |
choir. Nobody rattled on any single word. They pronounced every word with conviction. After the Angelus, they blessed the meal. The menu of the day was Pocherong Tilapia made with spaghetti sauce, served with rice. They had purple and green rice cakes (puto) for dessert. But some ate it for appetizer.
Galilean is the name given to drug dependents undergoing rehabilitation program at Galilee Home in Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan. Here, they are not seen as drug dependents. They are seen as “spiritually-wounded people.” It has gates that never close because the institution believes that change should come from one’s self. It is a Catholic Church-run and all-male drug rehabilitation center under the Diocese of Malolos. Based on the statistics released by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), a total of 5,041 male cases from residential facilities was reported back in 2015.
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The only means of transportation to DRT was either a tricycle or a once-in-a-blue-moon jeepney ride from the Angat, Bulacan, which is the final destination for bus trips from Manila. Walking was not an option for it is a 10-kilometer walk from Angat.
But it is not impossible to do.
Rupert Tiburcio once walked the path much travelled by Galileans who give up because the former administrator in Galilee Home was “bossy.” He returned to Galilee Home July this year after he found out that the supposed abusive administrators were removed.
“Kasi yung dating administration noon parang military. Bawal ang ganito, bawal ang ganyan. Ngayon lang kami nakaluwag,” he explained.
He said that the previous administration forced them to dig garbage pits every time they don’t follow the rules. Now, the punishments given to them are petty household chores like dishwashing.
He is a nursing graduate from Nazareno College Foundation in Marilao, Bulacan. He is the one in charge of taking care of the elders at the Home for the Aged in Galilee Home. “Since may kaunti akong kaalaman sa medications nila, isa po ako sa nagmamanage ng mga gamot nila. Pati sa hygiene nila, kami na rin nag-aasikaso,” he added.
Kuya Rupert is also in-charge of the kitchen. He does not sit down at the dining table until everyone is served with their meal. He sits down on another table as he watch his brothers enjoy their servings of Pocherong Tilapia.
The cafeteria is a one-storey nipa-hut with two large tables, while there is a small table near the window where Kuya Rupert sits.
They call each other “Kuya” to express their brotherhood with each other. The man who led the Angelus a while ago sat down at the table near the podium. He looks like a seminarian until I was able to talk to him. He is Jerome Digno, a former factory worker who fell into the pits of drug addiction.
But it is not impossible to do.
Rupert Tiburcio once walked the path much travelled by Galileans who give up because the former administrator in Galilee Home was “bossy.” He returned to Galilee Home July this year after he found out that the supposed abusive administrators were removed.
“Kasi yung dating administration noon parang military. Bawal ang ganito, bawal ang ganyan. Ngayon lang kami nakaluwag,” he explained.
He said that the previous administration forced them to dig garbage pits every time they don’t follow the rules. Now, the punishments given to them are petty household chores like dishwashing.
He is a nursing graduate from Nazareno College Foundation in Marilao, Bulacan. He is the one in charge of taking care of the elders at the Home for the Aged in Galilee Home. “Since may kaunti akong kaalaman sa medications nila, isa po ako sa nagmamanage ng mga gamot nila. Pati sa hygiene nila, kami na rin nag-aasikaso,” he added.
Kuya Rupert is also in-charge of the kitchen. He does not sit down at the dining table until everyone is served with their meal. He sits down on another table as he watch his brothers enjoy their servings of Pocherong Tilapia.
The cafeteria is a one-storey nipa-hut with two large tables, while there is a small table near the window where Kuya Rupert sits.
They call each other “Kuya” to express their brotherhood with each other. The man who led the Angelus a while ago sat down at the table near the podium. He looks like a seminarian until I was able to talk to him. He is Jerome Digno, a former factory worker who fell into the pits of drug addiction.
“Five years ako sa trabaho tapos nitong last June or May, doon na ako nagsimulang malulong sa drugs,” he said. Kuya Jerome recalled that he started using illegal drugs in small amounts. But when the sachets of drugs increased to two, three, or four, he started to disregard his responsibilities at work and as a father.
Kuya Jerome is currently on his fourth month in Galilee Home. He recalled that at first, it was not easy. |
He got bored and felt like the time in the rehab center was very slow. But days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, Kuya Jerome eventually followed the rehab’s routine of pray, work, and reflect.
“Dito ko lang pala mahahanap ang tunay na pagbabago kaysa sa labas na niloloko ko ang sarili ko at ang pamilya ko. Dito unti-unti kong nalalabanan ang tukso, sugal. Ito na ang tahanan ko,” he said. Next year, Kuya Jerome and his wife will be getting married.
Galilee Home became a haven for drug dependents who embrace change in a peaceful and reflective way. They don’t take medications on the course of their rehabilitation. Instead, they do functional activities like cleaning, cooking, taking care of the elders, and doing other household chores.
They live in the rehab like seminarians. They proceed to the chapel for morning Mass at six and do functional activities at 8:30. For Kuya Rupert, this is when he assists the elders with their medications.
They eat their lunch at 12 noon then they resume their functional activities at 2:30. An hour of leisure and games starts at four in the afternoon. They play basketball in the covered courts or play board games inside the dorm. They hold another Mass at six in the evening. They eat dinner at seven, pray at 7:30, then lights off at 10 p.m.
“Kasi nga tumatak na sa isip ng mga tao na ang mga drug pusher ay masama. Dito ang taas ng tingin sa amin kapag nagseserve kami as a choir or sa mga religious activities. Marami akong naging motivation [para magbago],” Kuya Jerome added.
Department of Health (DOH) said in its Manual of Operations for Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers that there are five recommended modalities for drug rehab: Therapeutic Community, Hazelden Program (the belief that a Power greater than one’s self could restore sanity), Ecletic (aimed at applying a holistic approach in the rehabilitation program), Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach, and Faith-based/Spiritual Model. Galilee Home offers the first and fourth modality.
“Dito ko lang pala mahahanap ang tunay na pagbabago kaysa sa labas na niloloko ko ang sarili ko at ang pamilya ko. Dito unti-unti kong nalalabanan ang tukso, sugal. Ito na ang tahanan ko,” he said. Next year, Kuya Jerome and his wife will be getting married.
Galilee Home became a haven for drug dependents who embrace change in a peaceful and reflective way. They don’t take medications on the course of their rehabilitation. Instead, they do functional activities like cleaning, cooking, taking care of the elders, and doing other household chores.
They live in the rehab like seminarians. They proceed to the chapel for morning Mass at six and do functional activities at 8:30. For Kuya Rupert, this is when he assists the elders with their medications.
They eat their lunch at 12 noon then they resume their functional activities at 2:30. An hour of leisure and games starts at four in the afternoon. They play basketball in the covered courts or play board games inside the dorm. They hold another Mass at six in the evening. They eat dinner at seven, pray at 7:30, then lights off at 10 p.m.
“Kasi nga tumatak na sa isip ng mga tao na ang mga drug pusher ay masama. Dito ang taas ng tingin sa amin kapag nagseserve kami as a choir or sa mga religious activities. Marami akong naging motivation [para magbago],” Kuya Jerome added.
Department of Health (DOH) said in its Manual of Operations for Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers that there are five recommended modalities for drug rehab: Therapeutic Community, Hazelden Program (the belief that a Power greater than one’s self could restore sanity), Ecletic (aimed at applying a holistic approach in the rehabilitation program), Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach, and Faith-based/Spiritual Model. Galilee Home offers the first and fourth modality.
As of July 2016, DOH released a list containing 44 drug treatment and rehab centers in the country, wherein 16 are government-owned while 28 are private-owned. Most of the rehab centers were therapeutic. The House of Hope, which was based in Cebu, is the only faith-based institution that was mentioned in the list.
Galilee Home is not in the list due to DOH’s requirement of professional staff and nurses to facilitate the rehab center. |
In the case of Galilee Home, they just help each other out just like Kuya Rupert’s job as a nurse.
According to Reuters’ report on December 5, “Police say that 2,004 people have been shot and killed by officers in self-defense during anti-drug operations since the president took office on July 1. [They] are investigating another 3,060 deaths, though it isn’t clear how many of those are drug-related.”
The outlook on drug users became worst after President Rodrigo R. Duterte officially declared his war against drugs and criminality last July 18 during his send-off speech for Rio-bound athletes. Before he assumed the presidency, Mr. Duterte encouraged the police to eliminate drug users and pushers who try to fight back during his speech in Cebu last June 27.
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Duterte promised that he will solve the problem of illegal drugs in the country in three to six months. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald M. Dela Rosa said on his welcome speech during the 115th anniversary of the PNP that “from July 1 to August 11, 518,310 users and 45,799 pushers or a total of 564,109 drug personalities surrendered to authorities. A total of 7,830 were arrested, while 572 have been killed,”
Kuya Jerome recalled that he was once a Duterte supporter. He was under the influence of drugs back then. “Pag nasa impluwensiya ka ng drugs, malakas ang loob mo e. Di mo alam ang kahihinatnan ng mga ginagawa mo basta masaya ka sa ginagawa mo,” Kuya Jerome added.
While everybody was busy eating their lunch, a boy stood up and rang the bell.
“Rosary check!” he shouted.
Galileans raised their Rosaries for the checkpoint. Only one or two forgot their Rosaries in their dormitories.
“Si Kuya Mac! Nadala mo ba Rosary mo?” a guy in green shorts and black shirt said and smiled at me as he laughed on his own joke.
It was Eugene Angelo, a former construction worker. He sits beside Kuya Jerome at the same table.
“Naiwan ko po sa bag ko,” I replied.
He then teases the boy who stood up for the Rosary check because earlier that day, some visitors from Plaridel, Bulacan were fond of the boy.
“Gustong-gusto ka na iuwi kanina e. Ampunin ka na raw,” Kuya Eugene jokingly exclaimed. The handsome boy in the hot seat smiled in silence as he dug on his meal.
Like Kuya Jerome, Kuya Eugene has been staying in Galilee Home for four months. Behind the smiles and jokes of Kuya Eugene lies his tale of survival. He was one of those drug users who almost failed to see the daylight because of the Oplan Double Barrel – the Duterte administration’s campaign against drugs. Oplan Double Barrel focuses on the elimination of drug users and drug lords, while in Oplan Tokhang, lawmen personally knock on the doors of suspected drug users and plead them to surrender. But in some cases, they are perceived as one.
He recalled that it was around 10 pm when six of them were caught in an operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan. He knew then that there are no police stations ahead. When the police van stopped in front of the Shrine of the Divine Mercy due to traffic, Kuya Eugene and one of his companions jumped from the car to save their lives.
“Tumakbo ako nang walang lingon-lingon. The following day, nabalitaan namin na yung apat na kasama namin patay na. Yung dalawa nakita sa Pampanga, yung dalawa sa Meycauayan,” Kuya Eugene said.
According to Reuters’ report on December 5, “Police say that 2,004 people have been shot and killed by officers in self-defense during anti-drug operations since the president took office on July 1. [They] are investigating another 3,060 deaths, though it isn’t clear how many of those are drug-related.”
The outlook on drug users became worst after President Rodrigo R. Duterte officially declared his war against drugs and criminality last July 18 during his send-off speech for Rio-bound athletes. Before he assumed the presidency, Mr. Duterte encouraged the police to eliminate drug users and pushers who try to fight back during his speech in Cebu last June 27.
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Duterte promised that he will solve the problem of illegal drugs in the country in three to six months. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald M. Dela Rosa said on his welcome speech during the 115th anniversary of the PNP that “from July 1 to August 11, 518,310 users and 45,799 pushers or a total of 564,109 drug personalities surrendered to authorities. A total of 7,830 were arrested, while 572 have been killed,”
Kuya Jerome recalled that he was once a Duterte supporter. He was under the influence of drugs back then. “Pag nasa impluwensiya ka ng drugs, malakas ang loob mo e. Di mo alam ang kahihinatnan ng mga ginagawa mo basta masaya ka sa ginagawa mo,” Kuya Jerome added.
While everybody was busy eating their lunch, a boy stood up and rang the bell.
“Rosary check!” he shouted.
Galileans raised their Rosaries for the checkpoint. Only one or two forgot their Rosaries in their dormitories.
“Si Kuya Mac! Nadala mo ba Rosary mo?” a guy in green shorts and black shirt said and smiled at me as he laughed on his own joke.
It was Eugene Angelo, a former construction worker. He sits beside Kuya Jerome at the same table.
“Naiwan ko po sa bag ko,” I replied.
He then teases the boy who stood up for the Rosary check because earlier that day, some visitors from Plaridel, Bulacan were fond of the boy.
“Gustong-gusto ka na iuwi kanina e. Ampunin ka na raw,” Kuya Eugene jokingly exclaimed. The handsome boy in the hot seat smiled in silence as he dug on his meal.
Like Kuya Jerome, Kuya Eugene has been staying in Galilee Home for four months. Behind the smiles and jokes of Kuya Eugene lies his tale of survival. He was one of those drug users who almost failed to see the daylight because of the Oplan Double Barrel – the Duterte administration’s campaign against drugs. Oplan Double Barrel focuses on the elimination of drug users and drug lords, while in Oplan Tokhang, lawmen personally knock on the doors of suspected drug users and plead them to surrender. But in some cases, they are perceived as one.
He recalled that it was around 10 pm when six of them were caught in an operation in Meycauayan, Bulacan. He knew then that there are no police stations ahead. When the police van stopped in front of the Shrine of the Divine Mercy due to traffic, Kuya Eugene and one of his companions jumped from the car to save their lives.
“Tumakbo ako nang walang lingon-lingon. The following day, nabalitaan namin na yung apat na kasama namin patay na. Yung dalawa nakita sa Pampanga, yung dalawa sa Meycauayan,” Kuya Eugene said.
Like other Galileans, he struggled at first but eventually embraced the change that came from himself. Now, he is a co-worker in Galilee Home. He handles clerical works like patient admissions.
Jonathan Sanguir or Kuya Atan, is one of the living testimonies of the success of the program. Galilee Home was his third and according to him, so far the most effective rehab center. He now assists Flora Fe Alulor or Ate Nene in facilitating the rehab center. |
Aside the eternally open gates of the rehab center, Kuya Atan was the first to welcome me in Galilee Home.
“First time niyo po ba [dito]?” Kuya Atan asked me. I affirmed his question with a nod. “Kasi po galing po ako ng Magalang,” he added.
“Pero two years nang cleansed yan si Kuya Atan,” Ate Nene cut our conversation.
“Unlike [sa ibang rehab center], na bar-behind kami, [dito] may daily routines po kami. Yan talaga ang pinaka-core ng program namin dito.” Kuya Atan said.
Ate Nene became the administrator last March. She admitted that there was an increase of inquiries this year. “Natakot na kami kasi marami nang tumawatawag,” she said.
Father Jess de Silva, a former apostolate in Galilee Home, thought that the rehab center is successful with its program.
“I think 80 to 90 percent ang success kasi hindi nila pinipilit magbago. Naniniwala sila na ang person’s problem about drugs is connected with their relationship sa family and sa mga frustrations nila,” Father de Silva said. He also believes that there should be more rehab centers to accommodate the number of drug dependents.
After nine months of rehab, Galileans are issued with certificates as a proof of their willingness to change for their own well-being. But Kuya Jerome and Kuya Eugene want to stay inside the Galilee Home. They want to help drug dependents like them and become a living testimony of true change, a change that comes from within.
But for now, it’s time for them to finish eating the Pocherong Tilapia made with spaghetti sauce. They, whom the society thought to be hopeless, still have duties to fulfil. Five months is still far and will not come so easily. It will be tough, but they knew, it will be worth it. M
“First time niyo po ba [dito]?” Kuya Atan asked me. I affirmed his question with a nod. “Kasi po galing po ako ng Magalang,” he added.
“Pero two years nang cleansed yan si Kuya Atan,” Ate Nene cut our conversation.
“Unlike [sa ibang rehab center], na bar-behind kami, [dito] may daily routines po kami. Yan talaga ang pinaka-core ng program namin dito.” Kuya Atan said.
Ate Nene became the administrator last March. She admitted that there was an increase of inquiries this year. “Natakot na kami kasi marami nang tumawatawag,” she said.
Father Jess de Silva, a former apostolate in Galilee Home, thought that the rehab center is successful with its program.
“I think 80 to 90 percent ang success kasi hindi nila pinipilit magbago. Naniniwala sila na ang person’s problem about drugs is connected with their relationship sa family and sa mga frustrations nila,” Father de Silva said. He also believes that there should be more rehab centers to accommodate the number of drug dependents.
After nine months of rehab, Galileans are issued with certificates as a proof of their willingness to change for their own well-being. But Kuya Jerome and Kuya Eugene want to stay inside the Galilee Home. They want to help drug dependents like them and become a living testimony of true change, a change that comes from within.
But for now, it’s time for them to finish eating the Pocherong Tilapia made with spaghetti sauce. They, whom the society thought to be hopeless, still have duties to fulfil. Five months is still far and will not come so easily. It will be tough, but they knew, it will be worth it. M