Advocacy: Kabataan, Ka-bayanihan: A Volun-tourist Reflection

I was watching a news coverage for Typhoon Pablo with Mom one December evening last year, a rare occasion as I’m away from home most times of the year; when she casually asked in our vernacular while I was trying to hold back  tears from the heart breaking scenes if we have volunteering, donations or giving back activities at work. We don’t, but I told her about my own volunteer mission for the monsoon rain in August last year.

I was raised by parents who are on their own are nation builders; who believed that public service is not a profession but a lifestyle, from which my sisters and I were molded to be responsible Filipino citizens. And Mom’s casual inquiry reminded me of what I was taught growing up. To extend help even when not expected, to contribute no matter little I can, and to influence others in making a difference. These are a few things we occasionally forget as we deal with our own busy lives.

I’m a traveller, and travelling takes up a good fraction of my time. I travel when I’m happy, when I’m sad; when I want to celebrate an event, forget an event; when I need to find myself; when I need to rest and when I don’t want to rest. I've been travelling to satisfy personal goals for some time. But when I started doing things that are less “self-focused” (supports Yabang Pinoy’s advocacies, did my own volunteer mission, and a few silent givings) I thought, why not travel for a cause?

While browsing an airline’s magazine in one of my trips going back to Manila from Davao this year, I came across the word “voluntourism” a combined word for volunteer and tourist. Apparently, it’s a hip revolution these days, a great way to encourage and attract more people to get socially involved. It even included a list of organizations where you can offer your volunteering mission and the causes of the organizations. I like that more and more organizations are showing they care; that we are no longer living the responsibility in shaping our country to the few who are in the position; that even private companies include in their plan, giving back projects; that NGO’s are getting more and more support from the community; that slowly we are all working as one. These and that conversation with Mom showed the green light for me to do my part as an individual and as a traveller; so, I finally included volunteering trip in my travel schedule.         

My first volunteering travel. I joined Bayani Challenge more than a month ago. I joined not to represent any group but my own cause. I went there expecting to see more people from the same age group as mine or older as I expect them to be more concerned and more involved in nation building. Arriving at the site I was surprised to be greeted by, ummm, younger faces. Then I was informed that Bayani Challenge in Ilocos was inspired by the youth, mostly college students. I wanted to join a house build project but I was told there is no house build project in Ilocos, but there are other activities lined up; school refurbishing, medical mission, clean-up drive, foot bridge repair, etc.

   

  

Hearing this I had to silence my head’s nagging saying “why did you not check if there’s a house build project before coming here?” I never checked because ever since I thought building houses is the only project Bayani Challenge does, now I learned it does more than that. That Bayani Challenge aims for holistic community development. So, how can I say I don’t want to be a part of that when it is exactly the reason why I want to do volunteer works for the community?  To calm the endless nagging in my head I had to reason, you came to offer voluntary help, should it matter what kind of job you do to help? These are the things that needs to be done here so give your bestest. I convinced myself and as expected, I stayed. 

My decision to join Bayani Challenge came with a pack with myself to not to write about the experience. I intended to make this mission, classified. But seeing the sacrifices of the many young Bayani I've met, I realized I have to let every Filipino know about them and be inspired by them.

Since I was by myself the service team took me in. I was a silent participant to their meetings and routines; I intended to conceal my natural tendency to lead since part of the intention for joining Bayani Challenge was to blend in. But apparently my decision to join Bayani Challenge alone is not a usual story, and it did not help that my name was regularly mentioned during morning and evening builder’s assembly it made me an instant celebrity, sort of. In less than two days my “blending in” mission was sabotaged, and on day three I was requested to do a bigger task. We didn't have enough team leaders at the service team to handle the deployed groups at the sites, and to accommodate more sites requesting for volunteers I was requested to step-in and handle my own team. That was the end of my camouflaging.

 

Bayani. That’s what we call the heroes of our country, but for many years the word “bayani” was associated with having to die for the country, an act which may discourage many of us from aspiring to be heroes. But the good news, to keep up with the times the word “bayani” has taken a more judicious and considerate standards, one which does not require dying to qualify on becoming one. I came across a more encouraging concept of the word;

“Bayani” as a word can have any of these three applications:"bayani" as a person; "kabayanihan" as a heroic act; and "bayani" as a heroic group, community or nation.

Bayani Challenge was a true bayanihan experience. Brushed with the volunteer’s bayanihan spirit, the community we visited were also eager to give what they can; they chatted with us, listened to us, encouraged us; they worked with us and even shared their meals with us. Team Ilocos was quite a diverse with a few balikbayan’s, a group of young professionals who like me travelled all the way from Manila to join Bayani Challenge in Ilocos. But the bigger group are students from age four (our youngest volunteer)  to early to middle twenty’s.

 

Most of Ilocos volunteers maybe young but one should never judge them by their age. Before doing our task each day I made sure to get to know my team for the day I’d try to memorize all their names, ask questions since I am especially interested to know the reason for their volunteering and I was surprised hearing thirteen, fourteen or fifteen year old kids from St. Joseph Institution (SJI) GK volunteers saying “because I can see that there are problems now and I don’t want that ten or fifteen years from now I would still see the same problem, I want to see change” — wow! I was blown away. And these are kids who probably haven’t used a shovel, hand saw or wheelbarrow ever in their lives, and probably only knew painting at art class.

I also had the chance to sit down and chat with the volunteers from St. Louis College who were extremely dedicated to their mission, never wanting to leave the site without finishing what they have started. Even willing to extend their stay in Ilocos at their own cost just to finish what they were assigned to do. Clearly it is more than passion, more than dedication or hard work; it’s an act of heroism.

  

   

Volunteerism is the new brand of heroism of the youth. To achieve change, they no longer march up the streets to stage a rally, or point a finger and join the endless blaming game with the government. The youth have finally found their voice; the youth have finally discovered how important their role is in the community, in moving the country, in effecting change. I am privileged to have witnessed this firsthand. Looking at their faces felt like looking in the mirror, I can see myself in them when I was their age; how inspired they are, how dedicated they are, how determined they are in doing their job; in inspiring, in making a difference. I am deeply honoured to have worked with these kids. Thank you for your courage of making all the sacrifices for the good of others. I honour their parents for encouraging their kids to be great leaders of our country, for raising heroes.  

Agyamanak Ilocos volunteers. Thank you for the inspiration. For letting me into your homes even when I’m a stranger, for accepting me despite my imperfection and for loving me as I am. I cherish the moment when I have sat and talk with you until the early mornings. And I relish remembering how we ended Bayani Challenge.   The thought of how we met and how we parted never fails to make me smile; I know it won’t be our last hellos and goodbyes as we have already become part of each other’s lives.    

There are so many side stories that I missed including and there are emotions that are still difficult to express in words until now, my only recommendation for you to understand why joining Bayani Challenge is more than overwhelming is you try it yourself. Maybe then you can help me explain how a five day activity makes strangers feel like they have bonded for years.

Let’s savour life's surprises and unforgettable experiences.

Live Life,

Mai=)

Nota Bene: This feature is especially written for the volunteers I have personally worked and become friends with: SLC, FBAS, SJI, UNP, Team Dong, LORMA, and the Service Team. Agyamanak iti isasangbay mo ti biag ko (thank you for coming into my life). Keep the fire blazing and the music for the unity dance playing. Inggana ti sumaruno manen nga intay panagkikita (till we meet again). 

Photo Credit:

Louie Mariz Layosa 

(Social Media Bayani Challenge Ilocos)

Camille Sicat

Jomar Marrero

Kyle Chan Tan

MJ Arugay

Art Anthony Umel

*** Please forgive me for putting so many photos in this entry, but yeah for more photos please check PN Agila (Northwest Luzon)