Back in Manila

May 15th, 2007 by Lorelei Johnson

Magandang hapon (good afternoon)! I greet you once again in the fourth and final week of my volunteer project with CERV-Philippines.

At this point, we have completed work at the Carmen Daycare Center on Tablas Island. It was very gratifying to finish after all of our hard work. The roof turned out very well, as did the painting (although I think I got more paint on my pants than on the walls…). The Daycare is now a much more happy place, and I’m sure the children will love it!

There has been a change of plans for my project, and after finishing up our work in Romblon, I have returned to Manila for the remainder of my placement. Sadly, this meant leaving Romblon early…but the work I will be doing in here in Manila is very important and I’m happy to be able to make a difference in Manila as well as in the Romblon Province.

The remainder of my time spent in Romblon went very well. Tablas is a beautiful and peaceful island with very friendly and welcoming people. I will not forget the people, nor my many experiences there.

Now that I am back in Manila, I will be working on improving a daycare center in a disadvantaged neighborhood somewhat nearby the CERV dorm where I am staying. The neighborhood has an active womens group who has managed to set up this much needed additional daycare center in the area (previously there was only one center, which serves about 30 children, for a population of 11,000). Unfortunately, the building where they host this daycare has no doors or windows and, as always it seems, lacks a proper roof. I will be building a cabinet for the daycare which CERV will stack with donated books they have been collecting for the children. This cabinet will be a “library on wheels” for the children which I hope will be very useful to them. The wheels will be added to the bottom of the cabinet for transportation purposes – Since the daycare center has no doors or windows, the children and teachers must carry their chairs, tables and chalkboard to and from the daycare center each day (the are kept in the nearby houses so they are not stolen from the daycare overnight). As of now, the center has no books or toys for the children.

I feel very good about being able to work on this project. Obviously this center is in extreme need of our help. CERV-Philippines is doing amazing work, and daily I am inspired by their determination and passion to make this country a better place.

My project will come to an end in only a few short days. In this time I am sure we will be able to finish and donate the library on wheels. I am sad to be leaving so soon…The Philippines is a wonderful country and I am soooo glad I chose to come here to volunteer. As is expected from any third world country, there are many challenges and difficulties to face here. Life is quite different from life back in Canada…but you certainly adjust to it quickly. Every day, seeing the heart-breaking poverty and the indomitable spirit of the people, I am inspired to make more of a difference. My only regret is that I cannot stay here longer and make more of a difference than I have already!