Paying it Forward via #ProjectJomalig

One of the 64 severely malnourished kids we are helping (Photo credits: Elvie Manlulu)

1. Charmaine Tayas
2. Mharann Bermejo
3. Gary Mercado
4. Loren Sarmiento
5. Joveth Empenio
6. Kristy Jane Eusebio
7. Angela Empenio
8. Jomelyn Ebanez
9. Kim Benjo Oligo
10. Rejane Domingo
11. Emman Belda
12. Zydney Mercado
13. Gracejane Domingo
14. Janeth Empenio
15. Jomedes Bermejo
16. Jonard Domingo
17. Wency Belda
18. Katlyn Meah Bermejo
19. John Danie Mercado
20. Chelsey Mae Berdan
21. Hans Justin Sabio
22. Lyza Delloro
23. Lovely Jae Sabio
24. Rosebelle Eusebio
25. Jade Arcilla
26. Rochelle Pacheco
27. Martin Santos
28. Johnrey Empenio
29. Micka Jane Condino
30. Joshua Acula
31. Roderick Eusebio
32. Myrel Franz Dela Cruz
33. Raiza Aban
34. Pia Balce
35. Edmundo Clores
36. Mark Johnson Madera
37. Arjay Eusebio
38. Ramon Ables Jr.
39. Elton John Reyino Rodriguez
40. Rena Arcilla
41. Gelica Belda
42. Rezjean Belda
43. Meah Franz Dela Cruz
44. Nieca Delvalle
45. Marion Oneeh Arevalo
46. Andro Francia
47. Sharine Jaze Chavez
48. Yhana Mae Chavez
49. Sandy Dellosa
50. Reymond Dellosa
51. Dinno Delos Santos
52. Jade Fernandez
53. Denmark Ables
54. Ryngel Semetara
55. Clear Ferrer
56. Cris Laxamana
57. Krizel Pantila
58. Dipper Santos
59. Ehjoy Uzarraga
60. Dandan Delos Santos
61. Erica Mae Castillo
62. Michael Castillo
63. Merven Posada
64. Jonathan Domingo

These are the 64 severely malnourished kids that we are helping through #ProjectJomalig.

What is #ProjectJomalig? 

Simply put it, “traveling for a cause” or “voluntourism” from two words- “volunteer” and “tourism.” In #PROJECTJOMALIG we not only travel, we travel for a cause. We not only enjoy the place we are visiting, we help them and try to add value to the community. It’s a project of like-minded private individuals who just want to create lasting memories of our travels in Jomalig Island, Quezon Province.

We believe that we were so much blessed and so we want to share these blessings to others. Actually, this is our 3rd year of helping a community.

2011: ShoeSharing Project in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

2012: Book Sharing Project in Gubat, Sorsogon.

2013: Project Jomalig in Quezon.

Paying it Forward >>

I just want to share about how passionate our volunteers, working whole-heartedly not asking for something in return. I will mention two names of whom I respect and credit this successful project.

Emm shows the Nutripack that she distributes to the kids of Jomalig island (Photo credits: Cathy Marzo)

Emelyn Balabat. Known by Project Jomalig participants as “Emm,” she just came back to Manila last week after staying in Jomalig island for more than 2 weeks to do some volunteer works and supervise young people in making a small garden/vegetable nursery in Brgy. Apad, Jomalig island. I got to know Emm last year because she was planning to backpack Mindanao. I gave her some help with contacts and itinerary. Later did I know that Emm would be our local contact person for our Book Sharing Project in Sorsogon, her home province. We helped her alma mater to have a school library and filled it with books. It was a successful campaign.

Because she wanted to chase her wanderlust, she resigned from a high-paying job and continued to explore the Philippines. She then expressed her desire to help with #ProjectJomalig. I made her the Project Head Coordinator and delegated all communications with local residents, project partners and LGU. Emm decided to live in Jomalig for a week but thought that a week is not enough so she decided to extend to two weeks. While in Jomalig, she empowered the young people and they build a small garden and vegetable nursery hoping that this would start the young people to have other means of food production. She was able to round-up the local baranggay to have their very first beach clean-up.

“She was paying it forward- before they are the ones who are receiving aid from volunteers during the Book Sharing Project and now she leads the volunteers almost every month.”

She was paying it forward- before they are the ones who are receiving aid from volunteers during the Book Sharing Project and now she leads the volunteers almost every month. When I ask her why, she said, “I wanted to get to know the community more, spend time with them, live with them. I want to relate with the youth, connect and empower them and hopefully forge a close partnership with them to help their community spark a bayanihan spirit. #ProjectJomalig is not just about bringing vitamins and nutrimeals, we also wanted to initiate activities that would help the community for the rest of their lives.”

Look at how easy to carry the kid because they he is underweight. (Photo credits: Cathy Marzo)

Arvin Quilloy. Silent and unnoticed, Arvin works behind the scene as he prepares hearty meals every time we visit the community in Brgy. Apad. Known to the participants as “Chef,” he makes sure that the group has great food while multi-tasking of making nutritious snack for 64 kids on the list above. I would never forget the spaghetti he made without pork but filled with eggplant. It was a hit not only among the kids but to the parents and young people too. I think we were able to feed at least a hundred of locals for the 3-kilo pasta we cooked. Out of the 4 visits (we call it Wave- Wave 1, 2, 3 and 4), he freed his schedule for three times and is planning to visit again for Waves 5 and 6. What more, he continues to spread the project to his running group, Team USB, who plans to help in the project too.

“Silent and unnoticed, Arvin works behind the scene as he prepares hearty meals every time we visit the community in Brgy. Apad. “

You see, this small ripple that #ProjectJomalig does is encouraging more and more people in putting efforts together thereby creating bigger ripples.

I don’t know how I would be able to thank these two individuals. They are the extension of my hands and feet and we beat the same heart- to help and give hope. And there are many more individuals who are helping #PROJECTJOMALIG- bloggers, travelers and OFWs. They may not be mentioned here by name but their contribution is greatly acknowledge. And I pray that these guys will be rewarded because of their good works.

I write these because I want the world to know that there are still people who would do things just for the sake of helping, asking nothing in return. I sincerely pray that their tribe would increase.

If you have extra time, you may want to watch this feature from GMA News TV’s REEL TIME

You can help too, just visit the link for details: https://www.facebook.com/notes/journeyingjames/project-jomalig-voluntourism/611154208909274