Youth Expedition Programme 2010: 28/5/2010

Those minutes sitting in the van looking out of the window to perpetually leaving the village and losing the sight of it was what that brought me to reminisce whatever that has happen again bit by bit. Everything suddenly becomes so vivid.

"Sometimes,' said Pooh,

'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

I guess the quote is quite apt to use in this context. During the short stay in the village we have receive so much love from the locals and the community as a whole, much more than what we are here to give.

On the first day, Nelia tita comes and picked us to her house. It was the very first time in my life, guided and led by a small girl. I was feeling uncertain about everything, yet i feel safe in her little hands. Joanne and i sat in the house feeling a little awkward. So Tita Nelia starts talking about her house being very small, but yet you still feel the sense of contentedness of having this house.

The second night, everything was already well-prepare, in small details. They brought down their only mattress for us to sleep. The toilet that has no lock and place to hang clothes, now has curtain added on and a bucket cover for us to place our things. Even the clothes we wash earlier in the day at the back alley had already been taken in. I was thankful for the thoughtfulness of tita Nelia trying to make our stay as comfortable as possible.

The third day where construction starts for me, lasted on for about eight days. It was a tiring process, largely due to the very hot sun, and our unfamiliarity with the skills involve. Unlike us, the workers are amazingly amazing. Looking at them, doing plastering is like damn easy. Everyday during our free time, we were showered with “flowers” by the kids. It seems to be the most direct and sincere gift they can offer. Lots and lots of it.

We learnt that the locals have to help in the building of the community houses. Personally i feel that it is a good policy, because apart from receiving help, they also will be contributing in return. I believe Gawad Kalinga is definitely more than just building houses for the poor. Providing a decent home is only the beginning of the transformation for its people and communities. I am both excited and hopeful to see the changes down the years. But one thing to be certain, it will definitely not be achievable by a single individual but the collective efforts of many.

Coming back, to the very last day, i was gald that i teared. Because the tears i cried, was tears of gratefulness, happiness and the many 'bu she de-ness"(sorry suddenly cant think of suitable english word). It was because of the friendships we built within ourselves, with our host families, the kids, the mabuhai ladies, the community, and the place.