After almost 8 years, I have become deeply involved in various community service initiatives, especially since becoming a student nurse. The long trip to remote and far-flung areas, sleepless nights of planning, and exhausting days of work have led me to question the motivations behind my service. After all, these people - these individuals - are strangers. Why would we sacrifice for them? Why would we even bother with them? Those questions lingered in my mind until a pivotal experience during one of my clinical duties.

I met a cervical cancer patient who had been suffering pain for days. She had been staying in the hospital for a long time, confined to bed, and her condition was deteriorating. She shared with me that she wanted to bear a child, but her medical condition took that dream away. She was getting weaker as the days passed. Her chances of surviving are getting slimmer. She expressed that she felt neglected and ignored for her cries of helplessness, saying, “Ayaw ko na talaga” (I don’t want to anymore), referring to her will to fight. As a student nurse, I was still learning, and I could not perform the procedures perfectly, but I tried to help in any way I could. She still appreciated the help, saying that it was nice having her needs attended to, especially when she cannot move with full strength.

At times, I would go to her bedside and ask, “Kamusta ka an?” (How are you?). She told me it was good to feel acknowledged and heard. From “ayaw ko na” to “Kaya ko pa” (I can do it), I saw how these small acts had a significant impact, giving her a renewed fighting spirit. And at that very moment, my spirit was lifted too, knowing that I had made quite an impact on her. In those moments, I realized the true significance of our roles as nurses-not merely as caregivers but as a source of inspiration, hope, and strength for them - even in a destitute state.

Before I knew it, I was cutting my hair short to donate to cancer patients. I was travelling to different places in my free time to talk about sexual and reproductive health, but this time with more motivation to get the message across to the community. I began speaking about women’s health in the beauty pageants I joined. I continue to be there for her as a source of her hope. Before she left the hospital, she made me promise her that I would graduate and become a nurse who is not just skilled but also empathetic and compassionate. She was more than just a stranger or a patient. She became a reason behind my advocacy - not just out of obligation but because her story deserves to be heard.