Humans of Hope: Reena Reyes
Transcription by Dennis Jambalos and Lorraine Dela Cruz
Can you tell us how it was being a part of THP and being it’s co-president? In your term, what were you able to accomplish and how did being both a member and leader inspire and motivate you?
“With The Hope Project definitely, it has such a big impact in terms of what we can learn about our kids, about the situation of Filipinos who have this certain type of chronic illnesses in a time where it’s difficult for them to find, to be given and provided by the government these services. I think one of the biggest things that THP has helped me realize is that we really won’t understand what they are going through unless we reach out to them or to the kids and to their families. We reach out to them in the most genuine way; in a way that we are really there for them but we don’t pity and put them down. We are trying to empower them, to be able to find a way to cope through whatever experiences they are going through. To help other people realize also that this is something we can be aware of, there is something we can do even as something as small and simple like arts and crafts activities. That was such a big thing for me especially when I was a freshman when I entered UP Manila.”
Based on our sources, you originally took BehSci before shifting to SP in CAMP. Can you tell us what it was like shifting courses, why you did so and how did it end up for you?
“I got in Behavioral Sciences and I stayed there for two years. Well, I would have originally stayed there much longer if it weren’t for the program of Speech Pathology opening up for shiftees. I really loved Beh Sci. It was a great course and I had such a great support system there, lots of good friends who I’m still close to now. So, it was definitely a hard decision to make. But then because Speech Pathology was the course that was what I’ve always dreamt of having even when I was graduating from high school and ’cause my sister is an occupational therapist so I kind of had that influence from her, I guess, a part of me always felt like that was going to be the direction of occupation that I wanted. Then there’s also the fact that Speech Pathology is rehab. Rehabilitation. That’s such a big factor. I really appreciate the work of rehab professionals because there are a lot of difficulties that you have to face, like the realities of the specialist’s community in the Philippines. It’s something hard to tackle and something that not everyone is well-adjusted to yet. Even in terms of the Philippine government and the public, they’re not well-informed or exposed completely to the needs of children with special needs or adults who need special care. I think that’s definitely a big part of it. I think it’s such an important work that they need more people for.”
