Why visiting and
volunteering to Sitio Haduan brings unexplainable experience
 |
| Sitio Haduan, Mabalacat, Pampanga |
Fun
fact, I had difficulty writing an intro for this because I wanted to put a
disclaimer of some sort saying I’m not one of those mainstream volunteers who
keeps on saying ‘it was great’ or ‘it was fun’ because honestly it’s 85% hard
work, well at least for me.
Years
ago I signed up on various volunteering groups online but never had the chance
to join their activities since I live very far from them so the least I can do
is do online volunteering with the use of social media and stuff like that. During those times I'm already blogging all the way from Tarlac so contributing thru writing, tweeting, sharing FB posts, and all of that is the least that all I can do to help.
Last
year, I finally had the chance to really volunteer. Yay! I'm part of an organization (Para Sa Mga Bata-Team Hope) composed of different people from all walks of life which mainly comes from Tarlac Province. The organization believes not just in outreach programs but rather more on a sustainable growth of a community. And it was undescribable.
Honestly, it’s not really great great.
I’ll be lying if I say that I was 100% bliss because I’ve been happy and it was
not what I felt during that activity, I was more contented than happy.
Don’t
get me wrong, I had so much fun meeting new people and having the opportunity
to do it with my friends but if I’ll be ask to choose a word to describe that
experience it will be CONTENTMENT.
I
chose the word contentment to describe it because I was transported to a whole
new world where everything is so simple and real. I feel like I was a child
once again, doing simple things.
We
hike a steep side of a mountain just to reach their homes, cross a hanging
bridge, and endure some muddy part of the mountain just to reach our
destination. Is it worth it? Yes, it is and if I’ll be asked to do it again
I’ll do it hundred times just to feel it again.
It’s
not just us who brought happiness to the community living in Sitio Haduan, they
also brought happiness to us. They let us feel and live a simple life even just
for a day and it’s more than enough for me. I found new friends, renew some friendships,
and help in some ways.
Opinion
wise, I believe that helping others should not be all about giving gifts and
showing that they are less fortunate than you are. It should be showing them
that we are all equal.
I
encourage everyone to help and volunteer but do it because you really want it
and not for the likes and positive feedbacks you’ll get on virtual world.
Remember that there are more things far more important than that, and that is
the memory that you’ll instill to the community. The hope, lessons, and
guidance that you can share.