Volunteering in the Philippines: Going Back to My Roots

Volunteering in the Philippines

• Volunteering abroad can be a very personal and life changing experience
• Everyone has their own reasons to volunteer abroad. What will yours be?

For the past five summers I have been spending time in the Philippines to volunteer with various organizations and to serve among their communities. I have spent my summers with street children, organizations which nurture once neglected and abused children, and lived in residences which serve as “safe havens” for at-risk children due to challenging family circumstances.

As a Filipina-American, born and raised in California, my view on this country is more than just “an Asian country with beautiful beaches.” Rather, it is a place where I have felt the call to serve and build meaningful relationships in. This is my story of how I came to volunteer abroad in the Philippines.

The First Step

When deciding to do volunteer service, usually there is a moment that triggers this possibly long-term decision for each individual. For me, that moment came when I visited an NGO that worked towards the rehabilitation of former prostitutes. This NGO set up livelihood programs and had an effective way of working with these women to help them get back on their feet. Listening to their stories and witnessing the transformations which took place, I was moved, inspired, and knew that my service in the Philippines was not complete that summer. And so, my annual trips to Manila began.

After graduating from college I spent two years working in a cubicle in a high-rise building in Century City, California for a top media conglomerate – but my homeland was calling my name. I joined a religious organization that had missions which resonated with what I was looking for – and to my luck, they had a mission in the Philippines! As a missionary with Cabrini Mission Corps I am now working with an NGO that focuses on educational assistance, working with indigent families and at-risk youth at the local jail.

Truly, relationships are part of the backbone to my desire to serve among the people here.

My Life as a Volunteer

Every day presents its own challenges, but also its many joys. Having already been here nine months, I do not view myself as a tourist, but rather, a part of the community here. I believe this is how I have become an effective volunteer here. Without my previous experience with the street children and my understanding of those suffering in various communities, my heart would not have been moved to serve for a longer period of time. Truly, relationships are the backbone of my desire to serve among the people here. I do not function here to convert others to my “American” way of thinking, but rather, I work hard to understand, collaborate, and formulate sustainable faith communities.

I volunteer and do this mission work because I know I would only be lying to myself if I were living my life any other way. When I meet other volunteers here, especially other Americans similar to myself, I always ask them, “Why did you choose to do volunteer work?” Everyone has their personal reasons and among the diverse responses I receive, I always find them interesting.

So, why will you choose to volunteer abroad?