Volunteers' Corner: Ryan, Halle and Judith in Palawan

Learn more about volunteering opportunities in Salesian communities.   Watch this  video produced by our Canadian and German volunteers.   

VIDES Eat and Meet: Volunteers' Fair

VIDES Philippines Volunteers Foundation, Inc. invites you to an afternoon of fun gathering, sharing, and  giving back to the community.

Meet our local volunteers & our friends from Germany, France, & Italy!  Learn about volunteering opportunities here & abroad, learn basic greetings in French & Italian, learn arts & crafts, and design handmade gifts for aeta kids in Pampanga.

Tickets for the event are prized at only P100.00 each!  For this minimal amount, you get to help us buy baking equipment for the VIDES Livelihood and Development Center.  Your ticket  already includes a food stub. Attendees to the event will get a chance to win Starbucks gift certificates and merchandise!

This event is open to the public. Bring your family and friends! No need for reservations. You may buy tickets at the venue. 

Join our VIDES Eat and Meet 2016: Volunteers’ Fair on Sunday, 27 November 2016, 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Don Bosco School Sta. Mesa, 3500 V. Mapa Extension, Sta. Mesa, Manila.  For more information, please contact us at 0915-2978956 or (02)715-6740.  

Learn.  Share.  Make Friends. Make a Difference. 

Back in Oriental Mindoro: Mangrove Planting in Baco and Volunteers' Bonding in Puerto Galera

We started our travel from Don Bosco School Sta. Mesa to Barangay Pulantubig, Baco, Oriental Mindoro in the wee hours of the morning of October 22. The volunteers had very little or no sleep at all so we tried to take advantage of the travel time to catch some shuteye.

After almost two hours of land travel, we reached Batangas Port where we broke our fast by sharing a simple meal of rice, boiled eggs, and hotdogs.

By sunrise, we excitedly hopped on a fast craft to Calapan. We reached the pier on or about 8:00 am where we were met by our Italian volunteer, Roberto, Tatay Lito Suzara, and Leng, our youngest volunteer. We immediately headed off to our mangrove planting site so we can reach the area before the tide went up.

We had to endure a bumpy, muddy ride to get to Barangay Pulantubig. Despite the lack of sleep, the volunteers seemed to have a boundless source of energy as there was endless chatter and a chorus of laughter every now and then.

We reached the mangrove planting site at around 9:00 am. From where we parked our vehicle, we walked for about 300 meters, crossed a makeshift bamboo bridge, waded into thigh-deep water (almost waist-deep for vertically challenged volunteers like me!), and trod through mud. Since it was already scorching hot and we had just about an hour or so before the water went up, we immediately started planting the mangrove propagules. We finished in no time since the volunteers already knew the terrain and the drill. Most of us, even the two kids, Vhon and Leng, had joined previous mangrove planting activities.

After planting all the propagules, we took the opportunity to inspect the mangroves previously planted by the volunteers. We were pleased to see that the trees that survived were already taller than some of us. We took souvenir photos and then proceeded to head back to the mainland as the water was already rising.

VIDES Pinoy Lenten Retreat 2016

Thirty-two volunteers spent two meaningful days at a peaceful oasis located in the bustling city of Quezon City last March 19-20, 2016.   The Sta. Rafaela Maria House of Spirituality, which is being run by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, provided the ideal venue for holding VIDES Pinoy's annual lenten retreat.

After being warmly welcomed by the community and listening to a brief orientation given by Sr. Sharon, the volunteers were asked by VIDES Delegate Sr. Jojo Carrasco FMA, to take a moment of silence and to prepare themselves for the ensuing sessions.      

Rev. Fr. Benhur Borja, SDB, this year's lenten retreat master, introduced his talk on the "Mercy of God" by sharing the story of King David, the awful sins committed by the great king, and the sinner's eventual repentance.   Fr. Ben asked the retreatants to reflect on why God forgave David despite the latter's grave sins.   He asked them how could God possibly forgive and accept people who have committed heinous and unspeakable crimes, especially against the innocent and the vulnerable. 

Expounding on David's story and the lessons which can be learned from the parable of the Prodigal Son, Fr. Ben discussed  the "Elements of  God's Mercy":

                1. The Lord's mercy is a mystery.    We surely cannot understand how, despite the severity  of the sins His people have committed, God can still show mercy and compassion.                 

                2.  The Lord's mercy is an experience.  God welcomes sinners with open arms.  Instead of feeling shame, we feel His unconditional acceptance.  Enveloped by His great love, we feel light, peaceful, and happy.   Receiving His grace and mercy is an extraordinary experience.

                3.  The Lord's mercy is about remembering.   A positive experience is worth remembering.   Because God's forgiveness is an  indescribably pleasant experience, we would always want to relive and remember it. 

                4.  The Lord's mercy is transformation.  Being blessed by God's mercy and compassionate heart, we experience a positive change in our lives.  Our hearts are transformed.  We also become more forgiving and more accepting.

                5.  Mercy is the yardstick of our relationship with God.   The strength of our relationship with God is measured by our capacity to accept His mercy, and to forgive and be merciful like Him. 

Fr Ben explained that for humans, forgiveness is a process.  He shared how a person can tell if he or she is finally ready to forgive the people who caused him or her pain.  First, you are already asking and praying for the strength to forgive people who hurt you.  Second, you no longer wish the person who offended you any harm. 

A discussion on anger and the importance of learning how to manage it was also made.  Volunteers were asked to examine where their anger is coming from and to process and resolve the issues so they can make peace with themselves and the people who caused or continue to cause them pain.

Also underscored during the sessions was the importance of having a grateful heart.  Fr Ben recalled the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed, emphasizing that only one of the ten lepers returned to Jesus to express gratitude.   He discussed the importance of gratitude in our daily lives.  He asked the retreatants to always remember that a grateful heart is a happy heart.  

Christmas with the Aeta Community

Instead of holding a traditional Christmas party, volunteers and staff of the VIDES Philippines once again chose to spend their holiday get-together with the Aeta community of Sitio Monicayo, Mabalacat, Pampanga. 

VIDES Pinoy volunteers joined the community prayer and reading of gospel, held a fun program where they led the kids in dancing and singing, facilitated games for the young ones, rendered free haircut services, conducted lecturettes on children's rights, engaged women to promote effective parenting through positive discipline, monitored the status of the beneficiaries of the organization's livelihood program, provided medical consultations and medicines, and distributed grocery packs and gifts to the program participants.

 

 

VIDES has established a strong partnership with the local community with the support and help of the FMA. Through the implementation of livelihood, literacy, human rights advocacy, and catechism programs, the organization aims to empower the marginalized sector of the society.