March 31, 2012 – World Vision Philippines organized yet another inspiring event for the Bloggers. Our destination? Cavite.
16 Bloggers (from different niches) including yours truly, joined the “Bloggers’ Vision Trip” Cavite Edition. We were formed into 4 groups and my team includes Mark Vincent Nunez, Nonoy Floresca and his son Gabriel.
Each of us were given a Child Protection Policy handbook so that we’ll know our limitations on handling sponsored children, a passport to serve as our guide for the tasks we need to accomplish and also to serve as our notepad in getting necessary information.
We arrived at Tropical Garden Resort in Cavite past 7:00 am. After a quick orientation and introduction from the staff of World Vision Philippines, 3 Shoreline scholars were assigned per group to help us with the coastal clean-up.
Meet our group’s Shoreline scholars: Arnel Martinez, ________ and ____________. We had fun with these kids simply because they were all game with the clean-up we’re doing and aside from their inspiring stories, these kids are also funny.
Our 1st task was to collect as many trash we could get from the beach. My team managed to fill 2 sacks of trash mostly plastics, Styrofoam, and other non-recyclable trash. I felt bad because the beach is actually a sanctuary for baby pawikan and already a protected site since 2011. I wish residents here keeps the beach clean as it is also their means of livelihood. I even spotted several residents fishing near the shores and plenty of fishes placed under the sun. It’s my first time to see fresh “tuyo” (dried fish).
We also met some of the volunteers and some Nanays helping us out with our tasks. We didn’t won the 1st task but I enjoyed it even though I get some minor cuts because of the plants full of thorns. We rested for a bit and enjoyed some fresh buko (coconut) served to us. Nothing beats the heat with the help of fresh buko!
Our 2nd task was to meet a family in the community. We were given a hand-made bag with banana bread, each of us given a sandwich and pansit bihon. The goal is to deliver this food and join our assigned family to share breakfast with our group. There we met nanay Amy, 39, in Labac, Cavite. She have 5 kids aged 22, 20, 18, 15, and 3. Her husband Ernesto, works in Mandaluyong as stay-in carpenter.
Their house, made of just yero, has no concrete foundation at all. I can’t myself living in such house that’s why I admire her for being strong and still not losing hope. Although she admits to having money problems most of the time, she still have that hope in her eyes and even shared to us how she once helped in their community. The best part is, one of her daughter, Almira, is graduating this year from her BSBA course. It was a good thing World Vision Philippines helped her family and she is in fact a former volunteer in their community. I gave her my pansit along with the banana bread handed to our group and had our breakfast together. We bid our goodbyes and at the back of my mind, I prayed that their lives gets better because she seems like a good mother.
Our next task was to learn one of the Shoreline mothers’ livelihood. That is how to make bags, slippers out of water lily. I’ve heard about this one before but I haven’t seen an actual finished products up close.
We documented the process and because it really takes time, some of us did the pressing of dried water lilies, and I gave weaving a try. With the help of ________, we managed to finish something (see photo above) which at the end, Nonoy took home as souvenir.
We were all impressed with this water lily products that some of us decided to buy their finished products. I wanted mine to be special so I decided to ‘create’ my own water lily bag as a gift for my mother.
I also bought myself some water lily wallets. I only paid Php 250.00 for the bag, Php 20.00 for the pouch bag and Php 10.00 for the coin purse. Actually, it’s a good buy as these products are being sold in Metro Manila malls particularly at Kultura stores. And of course, since I’m part of creating this, the more it becomes special.
For our 4th task, we were divided in to two groups. We went to Daluyan Community Resource Center Farm Resort and Training Camp to try harvesting fresh vegetables and feed their cultured pigs and chickens.
One way that shoreline helps the community to be happy and healthy is by teaching families natural farm techniques. We all get our chance in harvesting some squash and brocolli and other vegetables in Daluyan. We also enjoyed feeding their organic hogs and gigantic chickens at their farm. These animals are all fed with organic food that the Shorline volunteers created themselves. It was impressive because the result was really good. The pigs doesn’t smell and the chickens are really healthy looking. We can’t resist having our picture to our, erm, lunch.
We all shared our lunch in a table that looks like a feast. Feels like you’re in a province where you will eat with your bare hands and just grab whatever served on the table. I loved the food so much especially the fresh okra, the salted egg (itlog na pula) and tomatoes. The organic chicken is also yummy and the fish was sooo good.
By the way, below are some finished products that the Shorelines volunteers created out of water lilies. These are sold as well at the Daluyan Community Resource Center. A little reminder though that it’s a little pricey (but not that much) if you buy it there unlike if you buy it directly are their “factory”. ;-)
Check out also the earrings and necklace they created using recycled magazines. It costs Php 70.00 for the earrings and Php 200.00 for the necklace. Pricey but fashionable. And it doesn’t look cheap.
We’re supposed to have more tasks according to our Bloggers Vision Passport but since we ran out of time, we only to squeeze in two more tasks: to meet a Nanay from COMSCA and a sponsored child in Bgy. Sto. Nino.
The original plan was to meet and greet a sponsored child and spend time talking with them during the tutorial classes. Although not all children are sponsored, World Vision works to help all children in the communities even if they do not have a sponsor.
The sponsored kid I’m with in the photo is Rayan Reybel Santos (I’m not sure with the spelling but that’s how he wrote it in my passport) is 8 years old. He is actually a shy kid and it took me some time and even lending my iphone to play his favorite game, Angry Birds, to share some stuff about him. I learned from him that he wanted to be a policeman someday.
I also met nanay Jenny Molina. 44-years-old and has 5 kids. She shared to me that she is very thankful to World Vision because from being a plain housewife, aside from helping the community, she is now COMSCA’s leader and one of the board of trustees. They have so far helped 80++ mothers and even some fathers who volunteered in their community. Aside from doing handcrafted bags and frames, they also do value formation for kids and conduct tutorials.
The above 2 pictures (hand made wallets and the lola holding it) are not part of our task but we saw her selling this cute wallets made of recycled plastics. I think we bought almost all her products that’s why lola is all smiles in her photo.
There is so many things we love to accomplish that day. But time permits us to do so. Tiring and the heat is a bit exhausting, but the experience is worth it. I am looking forward doing more of this in the future. I suggested that next time, hopefully it will be an overnight or 2-day community work so that we wont be rushing time.
I enjoyed everyone’s company. And although we have our own group, it didn’t separate us from helping each other out in some tasks. Thank you to everyone at World Vision Philippines and to the Shoreline volunteers and sponsors for a great experience.
Know more about World Vision Development Foundation:
Website: http://worldvision.org.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wvphilippines
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WorldVisionPH
