ProjectTimeline

Throughout the second semester of their senior year, the core group who would later become the project's heads conceptualized, organized, and planned Interlude in compliance with various HUMSS subjects.

However, everything started to come to fruition on March 21, 2023, the day of the project pitch and class [voting]. Since then, the entire class busied themselves with with the necessary preparations for the forthcoming project implementation.

The preparations formally begun on March 27 and ended on April 16. The class split off into the respective committees, namely Logistics, Human Resources, Food, Finance, and Program. Later on another committee, the Writing Committee, was formed as per the students' III class.

The preparations consisted of event planning and discussions, reserving equipment, setting up the location, booking guest speakers, fundraising which included launching a donation drive scriptmaking, PowerPoint making, brochure making, and preparation of the hosts, speakers, and food preparation, and token packaging.

Before the program begun, the class had a general assembly, to discuss final reminders and such, and set-up period. During this 45-minute period, the Human Resources (HR) Committee proceeded to the MCHS Chapel of Life where the participants were held. The HR Committee then led the participants to LMC Viewing Rooms 3 & 4 at 9:00, where majority of the program would be taking place.

At 9:00, the program proper officially started with hosts Nirene De Padua and Larah Lapie at the helm. Short opening remarks and kamustahans were held to welcome the participants. Shortly thereafter, Rebecca Arciga Flores, foundress and current president of the United Women's Association of the Philippines Inc., took the stage to discuss Gender Roles in a Filipino Household. Surely, the first insightful talk of the day left the participants with a strong lasting impression.

The rotational activities commenced at 10:00. The participants were split into three (3) groups and were led to their respective rooms, by student guides Anya Alcid, Nina Gabriel, and Isey Santos. Zumba and Karaoke, the first activity, stayed in the LMC VR 3 & 4, facilitated by Camille Maldia, Alexxa Ong, and Nirene De Padua. The second activity, flower arrangement, took place in room LIS 308-309, or the 12-Goldstein classroom, and was facilitated by Mikan Fuentes and Yaffa Dancel. Finally, the cupcake decorating in the MCHS Cooking Room made up the third activity.

This was facilitated by Larah Lapie, El Embuscado, and select Food Committee members. Each group had 20-minutes in each room and were able to experience each fulfilling activity.

As sandwiches were being prepared by the Food Committee before the participants made their way back to the LMC VR 3 & 4 for the second talk, a 30-minute snack break was provided. Following this quick recess, MCHS' own Elaine Lim spoke on The Importance of Self-care, to raise awareness for this important practice.

Subsequently, the program beings to wrap up with a group sharing session facilitated by project heads Ryan Bicierro, Mikaela Gotico, Carmela Montejo, Samantha Vida, and Julia Vigilia followed by a participants' evaluation. In hopes in further sustain the awareness raised for self-care, the class gifted self-care packages to each participant with items that will hopefully prove to be useful for the participants.

The program officially came to an end with closing remarks by teachers Ms. Mary Ann Lascano and Ms. Rizalyn Camacho, and a closing prayer by Crescia San Angel. And after a group photo, with all participants and the class, the women of Park 7 left, hands full of their self-care package, packed lunch of Liempo and Pakbet, decorated chocolate cupcake, and array of beautiful flowers, and head full of lessons learnt.

Undoubtedly, a fruitful and successful event overall.

The participants were given an evaluation form wherein they were asked to identify if they agree or disagree with the following statements on a scale of one (1; strongly disagree) to four (4; strongly agree). The following statements were included in the form:

The program had a nice and organized flow. The participants were able to learn from the program. The time for the program and activities was sufficient. The items and equipment for the program and activities were just right.

The venue used for the program was clean, well-managed, and organized. The program’s facilitators met the needs of the participants.

6. Participants gave a score of four (4), or “strongly agree”, to all statements, with the exception of the third statement wherein one participant gave a score of three (3). Furthermore, they were also asked three open-ended questions; “What did you enjoy the most in the program, ” “Is there anything you would like to change or improve, ” and “Are there any activities that you would like to see in the next retreat?” For the first question, all of the participants had said that they simply enjoyed the whole program. For the second question, they stated that they had nothing they wanted to improve, although some stated that they, again, wanted more time for activities. Meanwhile, for the third question, most participants had left it blank. The ones who did fill it in however, mentioned activities such as baking, a make-up tutorial, time for a massage, and mother and daughter activities.

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