Of Good Hearts, of Mountains, of Dumagats

"Of Good Hearts, of Mountains, of Dumagats: Revisiting Volunteers for CHANGE 6th Dumagat’s Immersion"

I. Introduction
II. The Philippine Social Milieu
III. Far Eastern University-Tamaraw Volunteers
IV. Volunteers for CHANGE
V. 6th Dumagats Immersion

a. An Invitation
b. Amazing Race
c. Mountain’s Goddesses
d. The Volunteers
e. Capacity to Dream
f. Gift of Dumagats

INTRODUCTION

Quality involvement to community service initiatives has always been a part of my system since I got affiliated with the Tamaraw Volunteers. For more than a year now, I had been continuously making a difference with my actual attachments to numerous cause-oriented endeavors made available by social transformers---the so-called NGOs. Yes, it has been a fruitful year for me to actually grow while, at the same time, contribute a crucial part of me as an asset member of a very essential fraction called the Youth.

THE PHILIPPINE SOCIAL MILIEU

Much has been said about the shrinking ship of Juan dela Cruz. The Philippines has far gone astray economically and politically, they say. Indeed, one does not have to lay his panoramic scrutiny to fully recapitulate the not-so-depressing socio-economic conditions subjugating the country which are already highly evident in the status quo. While our peso is pseudo-recovering against the dollar, the implications are still far more critical to the majority of the Filipinos which comprises mainly of the striving poor. Political bickering, the struggle for power, has long been imbedded in our political system. And that, at times, makes me think: Such is the downside of democracy! (the overindulgence of the freedom of expression) Alarmingly, our environment has already deteriorated, worsen, exacerbated, and degraded. Tsk, tsk. These are understatements!

With the amalgamation of such causative factors, Filipino Diaspora has served as the main vent for survival for these people who search for green pastures; greener perhaps that of the crops sown via the still traditional way of farming in any Philippine soil. With the huge dollar remittances they are literally bringing in the country, somehow, it addresses the slow-paced recovery of the supposedly pearl of the Orient Sea. Their sojourn to foreign territories grants them the Modern Day Heroes title which they deserved.

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY-TAMARAW VOLUNTEERS

My day-to-day life drama as a student of the Far Eastern University, the Green and Gold University situated in the U-Belt in Manila, exposed me to the aching reality of the Filipino subsistence. On my way to school, the intoxicating atmosphere abruptly greets me as I lay my feet down off the public transportation. Gradually, as I walk through, faces of uncomforted souls seemed to escort me as I traverse the daunting underground passage. Streetchildren, vagabonds, and beggars are the usual scenes that welcome me before I enter the campus premise, as if reminding me of my social responsibility. Good thing though I found the Tamaraw Volunteers, or simply, TAMVOL.

TAMVOL has been a masked blessing to me in many ways. Because of it, I am able to share a part of myself to the people who are in dire need of consolation. I am socially-transformed myself from being a simple scholar to being a social worker! This, it is true, is the miracle of being an altruistic Tamaraw Volunteer.

VOLUNTEERS FOR CHANGE

The Volunteers for Channeling Humanitarian Actions for Nation’s Goodness and Excellence, Inc. or simply called the V4CHANGE, is, just that: living to create a positive change and impact out of the lives of individuals who need compassion and comfort; one of the many NGOs in the country nowadays who seek to extend hands to anyone in need. Interestingly, V4CHANGE is founded with the joint efforts of student leaders from Far Eastern University.

6TH DUMAGAT IMMERSION

An Invitation

Kuya Ago, an alumnus of TAMVOL, was the first one who has invited me and the other members of the Tamaraw Volunteers to join the Volunteers for CHANGE Immersion with the Dumagats. However, with the busy sked prohibiting me from joining, I failed his invitation and wasn’t able to partake in the 5th immersion held sometime in October 2005. After more than four months, the next immersion was scheduled. This time, I prioritized my two-day itinerary in joining the 6th immersion, neglecting the victory party of my political party. Upon arriving home the night of March, I was unsure still as to whether or not shall I come with the V4C. I haven’t compromise yet though that was why I still have second thoughts.

Luckily, my mom, who has always been supportive of me, allowed me without me asking for consent beforehand (before I got all dressed up, that is. I love you, mom!). Hurriedly, I texted Kuya Ago asking for directions because all I know is that the Nook is located near a very strategic place called Pegasus.

I flew swifter than Pegasus the moment I received my big brother’s (.who is sometimes my sire!) response. Unfortunately though, I wasn’t able to catch a van contrary to my expectation, and worst, I was nearly found cold in the verge of Roxas Street because of negligent drivers who knows not how to follow traffic rules. Whoa! Thanks God I am alive!

Amazing Race

The following morning, a mishmash of excitement and fear covered me as I woke up. One by one, volunteers began rousing from bed until we uttered our silent prayers and finally left the place. On the way, it was as if we were contenders of the Amazing Race because of our brisk walks seemingly to the tune of “Follow the Leader”. Hindi kami galit sa lupa, nagmamadali lang talaga kami!

After a jeepney ride, we were again walking towards a totally strange convenience store called 7-11! Members of V4CHANGE were there waiting for us. After consuming all the food we purchased for breakfast, we left the place and rode another vehicle. From a van, we were transferred to tricycles. After hours of public transportation traveling, our real journey began---the journey in mountain trails!

Mountains’ Goddesses

Four members of the Tamaraw Volunteers, who are lovingly called the “Apat na Sang’gres” (“The Four Goddesses”) partook in the so-called “selfless climb for a cause”. Together with me were my immediate contemporaries:

Francis Eric Paro (Pirena, IV AB Mass Communication)
King Love (Danaya, IV BS Nursing)
Danilo Cortez (Amihan, III AB Political Science)

Despite our presence as “Goddesses of Malacia”, the volunteers were still compelled to pass through these mountain trails via their own feet---that is, by walking because teleportation or use of power is prohibited! We allowed reality to fully embrace us upon knowing that we really do have to walk through (as fast as Kuya Celmer if we could) and forget our playful thoughts. Several hours were spent in the climb until we finally arrived at our destination!

The Volunteers

Aside from the members of the Tamaraw Volunteers, ___ other purpose-driven individuals joined the Dumagats Immersion. They were:


Celmer Santos- dotingly called Manong
Armando Orcilla-the sire!
Norman Zafra
Marie Saballegue who are more than welcome in the tribe!
Chequi Resquites-the model/ big sister/ Inang Reyna
RG Concepcion- Cam Pro!
Donnie Sacueza- Ang Dakilang Dokumentarista
Lourdes Feliza Peñaflor
Noel Saguitan mountain’s couple

Living the Dream through Livelihood

Our call is to help elevate the living conditions of the Dumagats by giving them better chances through livelihood. The group, headed by Kuya Celmer Santos, provided the need assessment to the people from the very first immersions, conducted necessary interviews, and undertaken essential steps to know what type of business best fits for the people with their kind of environment.

During the 6th immersion, the group (V4CHANGE) learned that the Dumagats are undergoing an internal pandemonium which somehow affected our goal. However, a meeting, or more appropriately, a consultation was held to actually determine gradual steps in the project. In the end, the people decided to group themselves into 2 (instead of the original 3 by combining the two groups with few members) and upon knowing pros and cons of raising hogs against raising goats, they finally opted to raise the latter.

Meanwhile, I, as the new VP of the Tamaraw Volunteers and Danilo as the new prexy, are in the process of conceptualizing a “project” to be undertaken mainly by our organization which is primarily aimed at supporting V4CHANGE plans for the Dumagats.

Golden Gifts of Dumagats

The whole Dumagat Immersion experience has been etched into my being. No regrets at all, I was happy that I was privileged to actually lay my feet on the land of the still-traditional-people called the Dumagats; that is, far from modernization---away from: the glassed buildings of Makati, luxurious and flashy cars in streets, fully lighted metropolis, sexy models of laptops, cellular phones and the like, to name just a few.

Just the same, a city lad (or lass!) like me, more or less, has come out with some cup full of insights, realization or even discoveries---such, I reckon as the “Golden Gifts of the Dumagats”:

1. I have come to realize that aside from the usual people that we aid in the city thru Tamaraw Volunteers which includes the streetchildren, the poor, and the sick, there are also people, far from the metro, like the Dumagats, who are equally in dire need of assistance, consolation and comfort.

2. I learned that Kaingin System in agricultural setting in the country, the so-called slash-and-burn method of land cultivation, is still widely-practiced as I’ve witnessed in the climb. With that, I become aware that kaingin system is not only a part of the lessons taught in school but more alarmingly, a fact of Filipino subsistence. (Kaingin System)

3. For more than 18 years of my existence on Earth, it is only then that I have seen the genuine splendor of the firmament above me bathing with gleaming stars---countless and unstained. Pollution in Metro Manila seemed to hide the grandeur of the magnificent sky. And hey, trees really make the air clean and breathable. (Pollution)

4. It has given me the rare chance of extending hands to an ethnic group living in the mountains and with the mountains; unaware of any technological advancement.

5. I have come to appreciate the flat surface in the city because of the mountain trails. (Thanks a lot Kuya Ago!)

6. And more notably, the Dumagats instantly bequeathed me big brothers and big sisters in the person of my companions. (Only now I realize that I am the youngest in the pack)!

With these, I vow to continue my mission…

…for a better Philippines
…for a better world
…and for a better me…

I wish to hear your comments. Reverberate it. My e-mail is: jpcuminga@yahoo.com