GRACE
Classroom to the Community:
Our Journey in Goodyear, Kabasalan
We’re nine first-year medical students from Ateneo de Zamboanga University, stepping beyond the textbooks and into real lives. In our community exposure in Goodyear, Kabasalan, we witnessed the heartbeat of grassroots healthcare—its strengths, its struggles, and its stories.
Join us as we share the lessons, reflections, and eye-opening moments that shaped us in ways the classroom never could.
goodyear
Barangay Goodyear, Municipality of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay is a vibrant and resilient community full of warm and hardworking individuals. It is a place where tradition and progress meet, and the strength of the people shines through in their daily lives.
As first-year medical students from Ateneo de Zamboanga University, our journey with Barangay Goodyear is more than an academic requirement-it is a commitment to learning, serving, and growing alongside the community. We want to learn the realities of healthcare at the grassroots level and contribute to sustainable solutions that empower the people.
ABOUT
TEAM GRACE
TEAM GRACE: Goodyear Response and Advocacy for Community Engagement. Consists of nine first-year medical students. We are assigned to Barangay Goodyear, Municipality of Kabasalan as part of our community exposure.
Together, we are committed to promoting health, self-sufficiency, and sustainable community engagement.
We are a group of dedicated and passionate medical students whose work doesn’t end after a single visit, as we will be returning for one month after each semester, and in our fourth year, we will fully immerse ourselves in the community for ten months to deepen our understanding and strengthen our initiatives for more sustainable and self-sufficient Barangay Goodyear.
mission
To immerse and collaborate with the health and governmental sectors of Barangay Goodyear, and together actively engage in transforming the community through medical education, health advocacy, and sustainable development, fostering a self-sufficient and health-conscious community.
vision
A thriving and empowered Barangay Goodyear where individuals have the knowledge and resources to take charge of their health and well-being.
GOALs
-
Assess the health and socio-economic needs of the community.
-
Implement sustainable and community-driven health initiatives.
-
Promote health education and preventive care practices.
-
Empower residents to take proactive roles in their health and development.
-
Instill in future physicians the values of community engagement and service.
Community Journal
As part of our commitment to Barangay Goodyear, we will document our journey, share insights, and track the progress of our initiatives.
First Visit | January 4, 2025
The Beginning of Our Journey
Our first day in Barangay Goodyear began with warm smiles and open arms, setting the tone for an unforgettable experience. Leading the way was our incredible Community Preceptor, Doc Eric T. Cabayacruz, whose passion and guidance became the cornerstone of our journey. With patience and enthusiasm, he walked us through everything we needed to do, ensuring we felt both capable and inspired.We were then introduced to the RHU health staff and the dedicated team at the Barangay Health Station—the unsung heroes working tirelessly to keep the community healthy. Among them were Ma’am Jing and Ma’am Judy, the Barangay Nutrition Scholars, who became our guides and companions as we conducted house-to-house surveys.
House-to-house Survey | January 2025
The Beginning of Our Journey
Courtesy Call with Barangay Health Workers
Courtesy Call at the Barangay Hall
Flag Ceremony and Visit to the Mayor
Meeting with BHWs: Gathering Community Health Data
Meeting the Sanitary Inspector
Prenatal Check-up Participation
2nd Exposure | June 20, 2025
𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫!
Team GRACE has officially arrived in Barangay Goodyear, Kabasalan — ready to once again walk with the community in the next steps of our Community Health Management journey.
This week marks the beginning of our fieldwork as we deepen our understanding of the community’s health concerns through focused discussions, interviews, and shared stories.
𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚 𝐮𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐰.
Forming Physicians, Transforming Communities
Courtesy Call with our Preceptor
Dr. Eric Cabayacruz
Gathering of Secondary Data
Lunch with Dr. Eric Cabayacruz and Atty. Lycel Castor Tan
Community Assembly
Giving out of Invitations to Stakeholders
Pilot Testing of KII & FGD Questionnaires
Anti-Drug and Life Education Seminar
Courtesy Call at Barangay Hall
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
Key Informant Interviews (KII)
Key Informant Interviews (KII)
𝟱𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 in Kabasalan
Lecture on the Science of Drug Addiction
Send off salo-salo with BHS & RHU Staff
3rd Exposure | January 5, 2025
𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫!
Team GRACE has officially arrived in Barangay Goodyear, Kabasalan — ready to once again walk with the community in the next steps of our Community Health Management journey.
This week marks the beginning of our fieldwork as we deepen our understanding of the community’s health concerns through focused discussions, interviews, and shared stories.
𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚 𝐮𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐰.
Forming Physicians, Transforming Communities
3rd Exposure | January 03, 2026
𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫!
Team GRACE continues its commitment to serve, learn, and grow alongside the community through meaningful engagement, health promotion, and advocacy. Every visit, every conversation, and every activity brings us closer to our goal of building a healthier and more empowered Barangay Goodyear.
Team GRACE for Barangay Goodyear — in service of community health and empowerment.
Barangay Assembly
Team GRACE actively engaged with the community by attending the Barangay Assembly. Through active participation and open discussions, we gained valuable insights into the needs and priorities of the community.
An integral part of this engagement was the Key Stakeholders Meeting, where we presented the top three priority community problems identified through our assessment. We listened to their suggested interventions and perspectives, recognizing that sustainable solutions are built together.
Key Stakeholders Meeting
Team GRACE takes another step in strengthening its commitment to health education through a meaningful lecture on hypertension led by Dr. Cabayacruz. Through engaging discussions and shared insights, we gained a deeper understanding of the silent yet serious nature of high blood pressure.
Courtesy Call & Lecture with Preceptor
Courtesy Call with the Mayor
Team GRACE is eager to work closely with the LGU in advancing public health programs for the community.
Good leadership strengthens partnerships that make lasting impact possible—looking forward to everything we can accomplish together.
 |  |  |
|---|
2026 Sinulog Festival
Brgy. Goodyear bursts with color, rhythm, and joy as the community celebrates Sinulog in honor of the Senor Sto. Niño.
Filled with vibrant dances, uplifting music, and heartfelt prayers, the celebration unites families, friends, and neighbors in a shared expression of faith and thanksgiving. Sinulog in Brgy. Goodyear is more than a festivity—it is a joyful reminder of unity, tradition, and the enduring spirit of the community.
Team GRACE conducted a coordination visit with the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Veterinary Office to formally invite them to the upcoming Intersectoral Linkages Meeting and to discuss collaborative strategies addressing the increasing incidence of animal bite cases in Barangay Goodyear.
Coordination Visit at Provincial Veterinary Office
.jpeg)
Measles–Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity
Team GRACE participated in the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) in Brgy. Goodyear—supporting efforts to protect children and communities from highly contagious and preventable diseases.
Provincial Health Office Courtesy Visit
Team GRACE had the privilege of meeting with Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ulysses Silorio, to discuss the Community Health Intervention Plan for Brgy. Goodyear, Kabasalan. His recommendations further emphasized the significance of coordinated, evidence-based approaches in strengthening local health programs.
Intersectoral Linkages Meeting
Team GRACE convened a multi-sectoral stakeholders’ meeting with local partners—Office of the Mayor, Rural Health Unit (RHU), Barangay Officials, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Provincial Veterinary Office, Municipal Agriculture Office, and the Barangay Health Station—to present our top three priority community health problems in Brgy. Goodyear, Kabasalan.
 |  |  |
|---|
27th Sannguniang Panlalawigan
Team GRACE participated in the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the Office of the Provincial Vice Governor, where we presented our three prioritized community health problems along with corresponding intervention plans, and sought institutional support for their effective implementation in Brgy. Goodyear, Kabasalan.
The session was facilitated by Vice Governor Richard Dy Olegario, whose leadership and receptiveness to collaborative dialogue provided a meaningful avenue for strengthening intersectoral partnerships in addressing pressing public health concerns.
 |  |  |
|---|
3rd Exposure Salo-salo
As we wrap up our third community exposure, Team GRACE holds a simple get-together with the dedicated staff of the Barangay Health Station and Rural Health Unit who worked closely with us throughout.
Thank you for your guidance, collaboration, and commitment to community health.
Until next time, Barangay Goodyear—salamat!
