Pahiyom, Tomitom!

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"Para sa malipay, masidlak, ug mahayahay nga kaugmaon."

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An immersion program conducted by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University - School of Medicine

Nia na ka sa Tomitom!

The goal of the immersion program is to determine and solve health problems seen in Barangay Tomitom and ultimately improve the community's quality of life.

ABOUT THE BARANGAY

Barangay Tomitom is known for its crops. Its geographical location and climate are ideal for farming. The majority of the land in the barangay is used for crop cultivation and rice fields. Further, it is located many 14 kilometers away from Barangay Poblacion. As a result, the majority of the residents in the community are farmers. Some work as salespeople for enterprises, while others work as laborers, and only a few members work for the government.

HISTORY OF THE BARANGAY

During the early days before the Christian settlers came to Tomitom, the place was inhabited by early tribes of kalibugans (descendants out of intermarriage between Muslims and Subanens). The early natives due to the reason that a large portion of the area is surrounded by big mountains and hills which resembles a large frying pan formerly called the place kawa-kawa.

In this place, the soil is fertile and there is abundance in the harvest of their crops. Their tribes considerably increased, then one time, it so happened that after harvest their rice rips grew new stalks and unceasingly produced grains for the whole year round.

As time passed by, those who stayed gradually started to die mysteriously and soon enough it was followed by many more. Those who vacated the place began inquiring from those those who stayed behind the cause of the deaths. However, they could not determine the cause except that the majority of them said that the body turned dark, blue-black, or “itom-itom” in dialect. When natives were asked by the Christians about the cause, they just answered “Mitom le” which means, “he became black, my friend.” From the time on, the word “mitom” was known by the Christians who have passed by the place and the name kawa-kawa was then changed to “Mitom” which means “it became black,” and the remaining natives abandoned the place for the fear of deaths. When the place became uninhabited, a second growth of forest covered the area and it is surprising to note that the lumbers cut from the trees within that area were mostly a combination of black and reddish or black and yellowish in color. Early Christian settlers in the neighboring area usually took their lumber from that place because of the color of the wood.

Then when foreigners came together with some Christians and were prospecting for some mineral mines in the area, they found that the soil is black and since that time they called the place "tomitom" due to the dark color of the soil.

Years passed after the Second World War, Christians belonging to Ilongos, Ilocanos, Cebuanos, and Chavacanos tribes settled in the area. During the administration of former mayor Adiano B. Merjuar, the area was distributed to the people after it was surveyed and the approval came only during the term of ex-mayor Joaquin Funda who apportioned the area to the actual occupants.

A few more years passed, under the leadership of Mrs. Caridad B. Mendez, Mr. Aquilino Ebol, and the rest of the residents decided to convert the place into a barrio after realizing that could already be uplifted. Then on December 5, 1969, through the recommendation of the Municipal Council and the support of former mayor Mariano Escalano, a new barrio was created which is now called Barangay Tomitom.

GET READY FOR OUR LAST HOORAH!

Team tomitom on to our last exposure!

The team is now in their 8th month in the community but the fight for good health keeps on!

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

After 4 years of implementing community projects, the fruits of our labor are now visible. Still, the fight is not over!

Hypertension:

Right in the middle, Keeping their Blood pressure low.

The teams effort on preventing the emergence of new hypertension cases and maintaining their BP low is now seeing its results.

Turn over of new BP App per purok

After assisting the BHWs in relearning on how to measure vital signs and identifying key persons per purok to measure BP, the Team finally turns over 3 sets of BP apps per purok.

Presenting the memorandum of understanding to the Barangay council

an MOU was presented to the council regarding the sustainability of the health project

Solid waste management:

an Eco-Friendly Tomitom!

Meeting with the MENRO head regarding Vermiculture

The team went to the municipal environment and natural resources office and discussed possible vermiculture training to be conducted in Brgy. Tomitom.

Construction of worm bin for Vermiculture

a worm bin was constructed by the council for a mother bed of african nigh crawlers for the vermiculture training.

Vermiculture Seminar with MENRO

The head of MENRO shared his knowledge and skills on how to breed vermi and harvest its compost.

Toilet Sanitation:

Safety and Privacy, Road to Zero open defacation!

Facilitated the formation of Barangay ordinance

the team facilitated an ordinance the requires all household to have a sanitary toilet facility.

Turn over of monitoring tool to purok leaders

The team turns over the monitoring tool to purok leaders for continues monitoring of the constructed toilet facilities.

Construction oftoilet facilities

The construction of toilet facilities in other Puroks.

Team Tomitom- behind the scenes