After More Than 2 Years, I Volunteer Again

Date Written: May 15, 2022 Sunday

I missed doing something good. Something that I am proud of. And that is volunteering or helping others. I can’t donate any financial goods right now and all I have is time, effort and love so that’s what I share. 

I woke up at 5 am. And then I’m off to my usual routine during pre-pandemic weekends.

I met the other volunteers at McDonald’s Tayuman at 7 am and then we’re off to Helping Land, Tondo, Manila. 

I saw the same faces and places again. I volunteered again just like I used to before. 

The first part of the program was orientation of volunteers. Many were first timers and some were old volunteers. We introduced ourselves and then the major activities began. 

People were already lined up outside the courtyard for food. 

Elderlies and kids were there to have a decent meal. 

We assisted them. 

After the distribution of food was the next activity. This is the ASP or After School Program wherein the kids were grouped according to their current grade level and then volunteer-teachers were assigned per table to teach these kids. 

I was assigned to teach pre-school and our subject for today was Math. 

At first, I introduced myself to them and then I also got to know each of the kids I was handling for the day. 

My students for that day were Jessa Mae, Princess and Belen. Their age range were 5-7. 

We started the lesson by asking them if they already know how to subtract. They said yes. 

We discussed Subtraction and tried subtracting using our hands.

And then they answered my sample questions. 

 

Apparently, when I handed them the activity papers, it was only Jessa Mae and Belen who already knew how to write and could answer it. 

Princess only traced the numbers and texts written on the paper. 

I did not pressure her though so I just let her color the pictures and trace the numbers. 

I guided Jessa Mae and Belen to solve the Math problems. Belen is also having trouble writing the numbers so I helped her.

By the end of the session, we gave the kids chocolates as a reward. 

I also had some selfies with them when we were done. 

When the kids were already out of the courtyard, we cleaned the place, stacked up the tables and chairs and returned all the learning materials that were used.

A group photo of volunteers was also done. 

And then it’s time to go.

It was a three-hour worth of time, sweat and effort. 

 

It really felt so great to be back in Tondo to do one of the things I love, which is volunteering. 

Tondo, Manila was a happy place for me. I interact with kids, nanays and co-volunteers which eventually became my friends/family. 

I have also practiced my writing and Social Media skills before when I was part-time working for Project Pearls. This is the NGO I was supporting. So, it was really a passion I was happily doing before and until now.

My last volunteer activity was December 2019. And only now that I was able to go back. 

I started my volunteering life as a volunteer-tutor. 

I was scared to go alone at first but I was able to do it. Those were the days that I am checking each box on my bucket list and this was number one.

I’m so grateful that because of a broken heart, I was able to do things that scare me. 

And also, I met different kinds of people and found new friends. My horizon has expanded. I have gone to more new places and tried new adventures. 

It all boils down to being a volunteer.

I wouldn’t trade my mid 20’s experiences to any other. 

I am always grateful for all the lessons and learnings I gained during those times. 

And now that I’m in my early 30’s, I hope to see more of life. 

Even though I am already married, I still have a lot to fulfill as an individual. 

I still want to try new things and to go to more new places I have never been yet. 

And I still want to volunteer and then to write down all my experiences, feelings and thoughts. 

Until the next volunteer!

#ThisGirlCan

Date Written: March 20, 2021

In celebration of National Women's Month.

We can do this! 

To tell you honestly,

if you were going to ask me

how I am doing,

I will definitely say

that I am not okay.

I have struggles right now.

I do have problems

that I can't resolve immediately. 

And maybe just like you

who are having a hard time also

because of a broken heart

or being a lost soul,

you are not alone.

There are also other girls out there

who are currently lacking

in self confidence,

being too emotional,

having so many self issues, 

family concerns,

financial difficulties,

career challenges,

lost job,

health problems

and a lot more hard situations

that caused them so much pain right now.

Again, you are not alone.

We are all in this together. 

The number one rule

to overcome whatever hardships

we are facing right now

is to never blame yourself. 

Remember that there is no such thing

as failures but only lessons. 

In times of trouble,

we can also depend on others

and it's never a sign of weakness. 

Turn to your loved ones and friends.

Share your grief with them.

We can also even talk to strangers

to lighten the burden that we have. 

It's okay to ask help from professionals as well. 

I personally write down

all my worries and doubts in my journal.

In this way,

I am replacing all those thoughts

with positive ones.

Affirm positivism. 

Claim that all your problems will pass eventually. 

What we think is what we attract. Remember that. 

It's not easy to clear our thoughts

but consistent practice will make it easier.

Prayers and meditation

can also help us clear our mind.

We can re-focus on our goals.

Let's do something

about that childhood dream.

Take action

on the plans towards our goals. 

As girls, yes we can!

Let's take the challenge of doing something new

or even trying again

after the lessons we have currently learned.

Our plans may change but never the goal.

We can reroute but our destination stays the same.

After all,

it's the journey that really counts.

We can because we can!

TANGLAW FOR TAAL

2-day Outreach for Taal Evacuees

Feb. 22-23, 2020

Last January 12, 2020, Taal Volcano erupted and a lot of people living nearby were affected. We even experienced Ash Fall here in Metro Manila on a Sunday night.

On the following days, relief operations from the government, private companies and individuals flooded in. Donations and different campaigns or fundraisers for the victims and evacuees kept coming. The true spirit of Bayanihan for the Filipinos was once felt again on a crisis like this.

I found a Facebook Post looking for volunteers and sponsors for a two-day outreach that will focused on kids affected by Taal and a medical mission. And so I joined this group which called themselves as Tanglaw or Tayo ang Ilaw (We are the light). Tanglaw in Tagalog means light.  

We raised funds and collected donations for a month and the day finally came!

Saturday, February 22, 2020. Day One.

One fine Saturday morning, I finally got to meet all of them and at past 10 am, we were already on the way to Batangas. Our first destination was at Talisay, Batangas.

It was a private resort of a local official that they temporarily converted into a relocation site for almost 100 families.

This day’s program consisted of the following:

-        Repacking of school supplies

-        Medical Mission

-        Buying, prepping and cooking for everyone’s early dinner

-        Puppet show, short film watching for kids, Arts and Crafts and distribution of School Supplies.

-        Feeding

Volunteers were assigned to these different activities and we just enjoyed the busyness of this day. After all, our goal to help was fulfilled.

Repacking of school supplies. Because of the donations from generous and kind souls, we were able to pack 500 sets of school supplies! Thank you so much, dear sponsors and donors!

  

Medical Mission. We have volunteer nurse and doctor on the team and they were able to serve more than 60 patients. We also brought donated medicines and vitamins. These has been distributed to those in need.

 

Puppet show, short film watching for kids, Arts and Crafts and distribution of School Supplies. We also have some teachers on the team! We were in charge of the activities for more than 60 kids. We had a puppet show, then short film watching and Arts and Crafts. Kids enjoyed all these activities that we prepared for them.

School supplies were distributed as well during this time. And theme of our Arts and Craft for this day was Dream Art. They have to write their dreams on the clouds given to them. Most of the kids wanted to be a teacher. Why not? All dreams are valid!

We let them know that whatever trials they are facing right now, they have every right to dream and eventually make it come true. Through this activity, hopefully we also let them realized what their dreams really are.

Never stop dreaming, kids!

Buying, prepping and cooking for everyone’s early dinner. Most of the boys on our team were in charge of the food. Hats off to our volunteers who went and bought in the market, prepared the food and cooked for everyone.

We were done by past 6 in the evening. We left the place with a happy heart. Kids and their parents gratefully bid us goodbye. We were also grateful for letting us help them.

The team had dinner at Tanauan Batangas Market wherein we tried Gotong Batangas. It was my first time to try it and I guess I will never try it again. Ha-ha. Sorry, no offense meant.

Luckily, one of our volunteers have an available house for rent that we can stay for a night. It was in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

We were all got tired because of the activities that we did for this day but we were happy knowing that we were able to give some love, time and effort to those in need.

Day 2. Sunday, February 23, 2020

After a hearty breakfast, the team was already on the way to our next destination. And that was at Balete, Batangas. It was another relocation site for Taal evacuees. I call this as temporary tent city.

This day’s activity was the following:

-        Grouping of kids

-        Short film watching

-        Arts and Craft

-        Distribution of School Supplies

-        Lunch Time

-        Medical Mission

-        Dinner and Back to Home

Grouping of Kids, Short film watching, Arts and Crafts, Distribution of School Supplies. 
We borrowed a nearby covered court where will conduct our activities for the kids. There’s a lot of kids compared to yesterday that most of our volunteers need to handle at least 20 kids each.

We grouped the kids according to age range so we can manage them well.

Just like yesterday in Talisay, kids experienced the short film watching and the Arts and Crafts. We also distributed to them the school supplies.

We also had some games for them while they are waiting for their turn to watch the short film. Since we have hundreds of kids for this day and we only have a limited space for the film watching, we did it on a batch by batch.

After they watched and school supplies were distributed, we finally proceeded with the Arts and Crafts. We called this the Dream Art wherein the kids were instructed to write on the clouds what are their dreams.

Never Stop Dreaming. This is our message for them. That despite of the crisis they are experiencing right now, they should never stop dreaming and life must go on.

Snacks were also given to them before they went home.

Lunch Time.

The whole team had a lunch a nearby lomihan before going on the second part of the program which was the Medical Mission.

Medical Mission. Our volunteer nurse and doctor were able to serve again more than 60 patients and some of the volunteers who are not even in the medical field assisted.

Thank you so much Team Tanglaw for a two-day outreach well done!

I was happy and privileged to be part of this team. It was nice to meet new people again and to be friends with them! Until our next project!

Gift-Giving at Tarlac and Guimaras

Tarlac and Guimaras | February 19-21, 2019

We’re back to Tarlac and Guimaras for the second phase of the Memory Project’s gift of portraits to kids!

February 19, 2019 | Sitio Manabayukan and Sitio Binyayan, Barangay O’Donell, Capas Tarlac.

At 4 in the morning, the team were already all set going to Tarlac.

We went to two Sitios to give to the kids their portraits. Last July 2018, we took their photos.

Sharing with you some of my favorite photos during this trip. 

And for the following day, our team fled to Guimaras.

Here’s some of the photos I took for our portrait-giving event at two schools - Dasal Elementary School and Ayangan Elementary School:

We stayed at Andana Hotel.

The said hotel is amazing and very picturesque!

I also love our room/pod which is very modern and minimalistic.

The whole team really had a great time staying here.

This three-day vacation was worth it and truly memorable!

(All photos are copyright and has a rightful owner)