Volunteerism in the Philippines

December 5  is an international observance of the International Volunteers Day designated by the United Nations.  In my two years in Africa,  I had always attended the celebration.  In Uganda, a town is designated as a national venue and the celebration is held in public grounds with a parade and cultural performance.  Other towns have their own public observance. 

The Philippines is also host to a number of international volunteers

This year in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs observed the IVD by inviting NGOs to set-up booths in the DFA office and launching its DFA Volunteer Program to encourage its employees to participate in volunteerism.  In the short program, I was among the 5 speakers who were requested to share our experiences.  Following is the text of my speech.

"Presently, I have no professional credentials, except that I am a Returned Volunteer.  When I left Manila, I was with 3 other VSO volunteers going to Uganda.  I found the preparatory trainings of VSO very effective in portraying that the life of a volunteer abroad is never a bed of roses.  I was prepared for the worst – in fact in my luggage I brought a hammer, boxes of Baygon mosquito coil, several oil lamp wicks, a transistor radio … and of course my Apple computer and cellphones.  Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised and thankful that my place of assignment has running water, has power supply never minding that it regularly provides brown-outs for hours and days, and a highly reliable telephone and data communications network.  I had to learn though to sleep comfortably under a mosquito net.

VSO staff manning the exhibits

"I have lived and worked for two years as a VSO volunteer in Gulu, northern Uganda, a place made famous by the Lord Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, Invisible Children, Gulu Walk. You can google it.    During the 25-year war, people lived in camps - family life was abnormal, education was disrupted, health care was inadequate, food was mostly provided by the international organizations, the farms were neglected, and farm animals perished.  In 2009, relative peace was attained and now the place is teeming with NGOs and civil society organizations…. all wanting to help in the Recovery and Development of Northern Uganda.

Check out The Philippine National Volunteer Services Coordinating Agency

"I worked in the  Gulu District Local Government (the equivalent of our provincial local government) as a Finance Specialist in the Finance Department.  As a volunteer, I was not a staff – since volunteers are not supposed to be used to fill-in vacancies.  My job description was to gather information on the capacity needs and I was functioning like a consultant, an arbiter, a role model, a receptionist, a premises manager.  I wish I were a jack of all trades and master of all so I could help them more.   In my workplace  and in the locality where I lived, I believe that I had successfully infected some  local colleagues and co-volunteers with the  Filipino worker virus - cheerful, skillful, industrious, team player, helpful, professional, well-groomed.  The testimonials that they wrote about me were humbling.

A returned Filipina doctor who volunteered in Nepal

"It was not all work for me.  Although I did not have a nightlife because I was avoiding being bitten by the malaria carrying anopheles mosquitos that strike in the dark, I had a balanced life.  On weekends, I work with the missionary priests and nuns, and on holidays I travel around Uganda to bond with the Filipino VSO volunteers.  Occasionally, VSO and the Peace Corps Volunteers  in Gulu would meet-up for some meals and drinks.

A Waray-speaking PCV who worked for 3 years in northern Samar

"What was my take after I completed my volunteer service?  Being with the locals and my co-volunteers, I have, to quote St. Paul,  learned  to live in situations of need and in situations of abundance without losing my peace of mind and inner happiness..  I found the meaning of a meaningful life. 

Tara, Volunteer na – sa VSO-Bahaginan."

Someone needs you.