BECAUSE I DO

Hello good evening!
This is Roda, I am your Nurse on Duty! Yes, I am Nurse by profession but also God’s servant
I have been in this industry for 9 years now. Being in this industry is like a roller coaster ride, where I experienced ups, and downs, full of tears and joy, fears and hopes.
Let me share to you my journey.
I worked as a school nurse/ pre-school assistant in an international school in Ayala Alabang for a year, then 6 and half years, I worked in a maternity hospital. In my present workplace, I worked as an OR nurse in one hospital here in metro manila.

This profession taught me a lot, and helped me to grow as an individual and as a professional. Being a nurse there are a lot of trials like any other work. Siguro ang pinagkaiba lang masyadong emosyonal, physical at psychological. Madaming aksyon at masyadong live din. Sabi ng chief nurse ko dati, ito ang propesyon na dapat perfect. No room for mistakes, ika nga. Sabi nila ito daw ay isang noble profession. I don’t know why, maybe because kahit wala ka na, kelangan mo pa ding magbigay. Kahit ubos ka na at pagod ka na, di pwedeng magbreak dahil madaming pasyente ang naghihintay, madaming trabahong dapat gawin at tapusin. Hindi sya typical na trabaho na pedeng ipagpabukas, dahil evey single seconds count.

Being a nurse, its about taking good care of patient’s concern in a holistic approach. Assess their physical, emotional and so on.

As a nurse we assess patient’s condition, kami ang mga mata ng doctor habang wala sila. We carried out doctor’s order. Kami ang call center, customer service ng patient. If may need si patient sa ibang department kami ang taga coordinate from laboratory, radiology, diagnostic, dietary, physical therapy, billing and so much more to include. Kami din ang taga trouble shoot ng needs ng patient, taga extract ng blood if hindi kaya no medtech.. Mahirap pero masaya.

We took good care patients and relative’s emotional concerns. We uplift their spirit especially when their patient is on critical care. Kami din ang taga-absorb ng galit, inis ng mga relatives at patients.

Pero ang pinakamagandang trabaho namin ay if we have a good impact in the lives of every patient. Every single goodness and kindness remains on their heart. One time nasa may amin lang ako, papunta ako sa may fastfood chain. May nakasalubong akong mag-ina siguro mga 3 years old iyong bata, sabi sabay ng nanay, “Hi nurse!”. Sabay lingon at ngiti, at sabi sa sarili, “hmm, sino xa? hahaha” at sinundan ng sabi sa anak, “mag HI ka kay nurse, inalagaan ka nya nung maliit ka pa, nung baby ka pa”. Nakakataba ito ng puso kasi naalala ka pa nila.

Just last week, lumabas ako ng operating room at nagduty sa labas (na normally nangyayari pag wala kaming case), at napull out ako sa pedia ward. Napunta sa akin ung mga dengue patients. Dahil iba ang type ng dengue ngaun, matindihang monitoring kami sa kanila. There is one patient, na medyo bantayin dahil sa sobrang sakit ng tyan nya. Masyado akong nakafocus sa kanya that time. And the following day, dinalaw ko at kinamusta sya. Then after 2 days, nakaduty ako sa OPD. Pinuntahan ako ng nanay ng pasyente para sabihin na uuwi na daw sila, at personal na magpasalamat.

Nursing is beautiful. is in it? We absolutely witness lives from womb to tomb and in between. It is not easy, but it is worthy, it is a service!

However, this beautiful service sometimes shaken. No work and workplace are perfect. It is up to us, how we look on it. 9 years in this industry is not like a rainbow, but most of the times it is raining of cats and dogs.  I have faced different struggles and challenges. May mga moment na inaaway ka n ng relatives, imposing their desires out of the limitations and policies of the institution. Madalas concern nila ay visiting time/ viewing time. Aawayin ka nila, hanggang sa maging manipulative na sila. Madaming relatives ang inaaway na kami kapag hindi na namin masweruhan ang pasyente, kahit the best na iyong ibingay. Madaming mga relatives na minamaliit ang trabaho namin, kesyo hindi daw namin alam ang sagot kapag tinatanong sa amin ang condition ng pasyente, na hindi naman nila alam na pinapractice naming ang professional ethics between doctors and other allied health care team. At madami pang mga struggles even, maliitin ng sariling employer/ admin, pagdudahan, at mapagbintangan. I experienced all of these things.

Pero Mabuti ang Diyos! He never fails to comfort me. Pinapasamahan nya ako sa mga tao para magredirect ng buhay ko. I can’t take good care of myself alone, and for that He will give me someone that can help me to uplift my spirit. My household is one of my sponge! Household helped me to pause and contemplate. And slowly, through God’s grace I have learned how to handle difficult situations.

Kaya naman nung isang beses na napagbintangan, at minaliit ako. Halos wala na akong magawa kundi umiyak na lang. Gusto kung yakapin ung employer ko. Pero mas nauna ang pagtulo ng luha ko. After shift, naglakad lakad ako na hindi malaman kung saan patungo. Ung simbahan either sarado, or may gathering sila. Kaya di ako tumuloy. Until I settled in one place, nilabas ang diary, and wrote my feelings. Lahat ng galit at inis ko. Pagkauwi ng bahay, patuoy ang pagiyak ko. Maybe the heaven, heard my heart, I was relieved when I went to my favorite chapel and sought confession after. Then, affirmations continued. That weekend, there was MMLA, and when the opening worship started, I was liked moved and affirmed by God! I was crying in the whole duration of worship. God reminded me, I am with you, at all times. It is okay to be mistreated by others, just remain humble and forgive those people. Praise the Lord, nung Nakita ko ulit ung taong nagpahamak sa akin. Mas madali na lang sa akin ang interaction.

Nung nangyari yung moment na un, ang unang nagcomfort sa akin ay ung chief nurse namin. Hianayaan nya akong iverbalize ang mga nararamdaman ko. kinomfort din ako ng iilang mga katrabaho ko. sobrang sakit nya, pero kelangang magmove on. Doon ko nakita na mas nagmature na ako, it is like an exam for me na may application sa lahat ng naituro sa akin ng mga magulang ko, teaching ng community, post grad professors at classmates, and so on.

At ung lahat ng natutunan ko dala dala ko sya hanggang sa ngayon sa paglipat ko sa present work. Nakaka 1 and half year na ako sa present work ko ngayon. Madami dami na ding napapansin na hindi maganda at kapangitan nito, but I tried to remain calm, be a salt and light to them. Mahirap maging positive kung lahat sila ay negative. Mahirap magbigay ng hope if lahat sila ay hopeless. Mahirap maginspire if karamihan sa kanila ay sarado na. Pero hanggang may isa na willing makinig walang sukuan. Kasi ang pagmimisyon ay hindi natatapos sa SFC community but outside the community.

Just 2 weeks ago, napull out ako sa ER, at ung isang staff dun, lagi akong kinukulit sa mga plans ko, masteral at thesis. Lagi syang nagtatanong sa madaming bagay at lagi ko din namang sinasagot. At ung mga simple interactions pala namin ay tinitre-treasure nya. Natutuwa daw sya sa mga advices ko, kaya lagi nya akong kinukulit. I have just realized that we can be a source of hope sa iba in a simple way that we can do. We can touch the life of others.

Sabi nga  nila being a missionary in the workplace is a different story. Because you will cross against all odds, their ways are far different to the ways that you are believed in. But if you want to be a source of unity, love, and compassion little by little it will be recognized. I always remind myself in this statement “be a source of salt and light to others”. This was a message of Pope Francis from his last visit here in Manila


This community helped me to realized of so many things, to learn the importance of the gift of pause,  to surrender and prayed over the work, workplace and co-workers at the same time. Naalala ko noon, nung nagsisimula palang ako sa SFC ang dami kong mga sinasabi sa trabaho ko, mga negativities, at mga immatured thoughts. At kapag naalala ko sya ngaun, at shinashare ko sa iba natatawa na lang ako, at napapasabing napakabuti ng Dyos.

I have been in this community for 18 years now, half of if I was serving Youth for Christ both community and campus based. My parents invited me to attend youth camp in East A, and that’s the beginning of God’s wonderful journey. I served 2 different missions community based in East A, and campus based in Central B. But when the Lord tapped me to be His servant and lead campus based of central B, that’s the time I became a full time in Central B. Serving the Lord is my part time work since then. It was a wonderful journey. It increased my faith, hope and love to others through my years in YFC. Kaya medyo mahirap sa akin ang transition from YFC to SFC. I had a lot of expectations from this ministry. At nung naguumpisa pa lang ako, isa lang ang gusto kung gawin, magpaalaga. Magpaalaga muna. After 2 years dun lang ako ng YES totally. Madaming dasal ito at takot. Pero Mabuti ang Dyos! He gave a lot of affirmations and assurance that He will not left me behind.

 That Simple Yes to the Lord, is my simple give back for all the blessings that I have received. I just surrender and offer to the Lord my schedules kasi iyon ang unang kalaban dahil sa shifting schedules. Naremind ako sa kagalingan Nya, because when He called me, I should not be worry of my schedules because He will arrange and do miracles for me. And Praise God! Kasi natapos ko ang unang misyon ko sa SFC ng sobrang may tuwa at galak. After that, series of service came in. Until the Lord tapped me to be a household head and now unit head.

Serving while working is difficult but serving with shifting schedule is a different story. Sobrang unpredictable kung kelan ka am shift or pm shift or kelan ka magoff. Walang fix ika nga. Maraming suyuang nagaganap para lang makasama. There was one time that we had MMLA for household heads and up, gusto kong umattend but unfortunately tight ang schedule. If you will remember ung mga habagat dati na binabaha ang metro manila. Binaha ang area namin so walang makapasok na duty. I was 36 hrs duty back then, at gustong gusto ko ng umuwi para makahabol sa MMLA. Pero wala pa ding kapalit, ung tipong naiiyak ka na kasi gusto mo n ng totoong pagkain, totoong higaan pero because of the work hindi ka makauwi. I texted Nay cris that time because she was my unit head that time. Sinabi ko na gusto kong pumunta kaso di pa makaalis, but you know what I was enlightened to her reply, as she said “no worries dear, your work is still your ministry”, doon na tumulo ang mga luha ko. I realized that, not all our desires will be granted, but the Lord acknowledged our efforts. At ang work na meron tayo ay grasya galling sa Dyos na kelangan din nating pangalagaan.

Kaya everytime na lang na may mga SFC events, household, chapter assembly, and conferences kasa-kasama sila sa prayer ko na maging maayos ang schedule ko sa work. Because God is merciful, and He know what our inner desires He will listen and will grant it for us. Madami ng mga moment na hindi ako pede, pero si Lord na ang gumagawa ng way para maiba ang agos ng schedule. Isang beses gusto kong umattend ng household kaso kahit bali-baliktarin ko ang schedule hindi talaga pwede, mga 2 days before household, may umabsent at dahil dun nabago ang sched namin, and praise God naka-attend ako. And the most recent event was the mission training last September. Noong sinabi ng fulltime ang schedule for mission training chineck ko ang calendar, at Nakita kong pm shift ako. Unfortunately, di ako makakapunta. I raised the concern immediately, and they have said No mission training, my application would be denied. Binalikan ko ulit ang schedule ng buong OR staff. Binaliktad baliktad ko na. Kaso di talaga pwede. Dinaan sa matindihang dasal. During my prayer, I surrendered, and said if this is Your will, let Your will be done. 3 days before the mission training, nagkaroon lang kami ng konting chikahan ng kawork ko. He verbalized na may lakad daw sya sa susunod na araw kaso conflict sa sched. Then, when we checked. I was surprised na pwede pala kaming magpalitan ng schedule, di ko napansin. And praise God I was able to attend the mission training. Sobra akong masaya kasi, my inner desires for a long period of time will be put into reality anytime soon.

Service is my mission and passion. I serve Him through my patients and this community.

In the hospital, I took good care to our dear patients, provide their needs in a holistic approach. While, in this community, we are God’s instrument to each and everyone of us. But it is more of the community taking good care of me. Kung sa work ako ang nagaalaga dito in some point ako ang inaalagan. My soul revived, my spirit uplift, and my faith increased. The smile of every brothers and sisters, the sharing that uplift our souls, the pastoral care of our leaders, all of these are beautiful gift and grace.  And who am I not to be God’s instrument in His ministry. Who would be say No to me, that our time is precious, but who provides that time, who provides that grace? Nagiisa lang naman at Sya lang. Whether the circumstance is difficult, surrender to Him because nothing is impossible in Him!

Let us be reminded that our work and service is a God’s gift to us. We are God’s steward to proclaim His goodness and kindness. We are the witnesses. And may our stand be firm as how God loved us. Our work is a source of our financial blessings, that help us to provide for our family and personal needs. But because we are For Christ, our love for the community and for Him should radiate to others like through our workplace. We should be a source of unity, love and compassion.

Our community is not here for the well but for the sick like me and you. We need each other to declare god’s goodness and kindness. The present time that we have needs Christ, and needs a messenger like You and me. I cannot do it alone, your leaders/ your household heads cannot do it alone. I need you; I need my household; I need every single brother and sister because I do believe that everyone of us is God’s way to channel His love. My Presence is not enough, because the presence of each brothers and sisters is much needed for the mission.
Let us be reminded on this verse from the book of James chapter 2, verse 26 as it says: “so then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions”. This is one of my verse why I am doing the mission. Let us be a source of salt and light to others because that is a true mission.

As we serve others, let us not be forget to connect to the source of everything. As he said come all of you who are weary, and I will give u rest. This is a beautiful promise of the Lord. Our different ministry is a gift from the Lord. But we need to acknowledge, and listen to His words. Because His words will be our source of strength in doing the mission that he has entrusted to us.


I am Rodalyn Fiecas, saying “I do” and commit myself to God because I want to be a channel of His love and mercy. And God is first in all event and in all circumstances! For that may God be praised!