IN THIS ISSUE: Vincentian Volunteers for the World: Blazing the Trail / Eat, Pray, and Love A Journey to Discovery / Teacher Talk / Love Lives / Cirilo F. Bautista - A Glimpse Touchstone dedicates its latest issue to first two volunteers, Norgelinda Libao and the first of the Vincentian Volunteers for Jan Roelrey Tecson, are both alumni of the World, who will share their experiences university and have served as volunteers and lessons learned in spending a year of with the Integrated Community Extension service in Cambodia and Thailand. The Services prior to their overseas missions. Eat, Pray, and Love: My Experience as a Vincentian Volunteer in Cambodia By Norgelinda Libao, BS Hospitality Management (2008) Leaving your job to become a catalyst a friend, Kuya Tonton of change is not easy; it is hard to Gibe, who texted explain this to people who do not us then that ICES know what it is for, or explain to your needed volunteers family why you would want to do it. for its Ondoy relief operations. He added I was already working when I heard that this effort comes that the Integrated Community with free food for Extension Services (ICES) was the volunteers. Most pursuing the Vincentian Volunteer for of my fellow SAs who were living As I reminisce about it, I realized that the World (VVW) program. The first in rented rooms at the back of the our happiness was simple: We worked time I heard the news, I said to myself university responded positively to Kuya on a holiday, we dared to walk on that I really want to do it even though I Ton’s message because they were living flooded roads and give relief goods to was risking my paying job. alone and the free food coming from those affected aby the calamity just for that simple effort will be good savings the free meal and the unusual bonding During my college days at Adamson for them. In my case, when I heard that experience. University, I became a member of most of my friends will come, I also ICES’s Vincentian Students and Alumni agreed to come and join the effort. I Moreover, I decided to join because Volunteers (VSAV), which was headed said yes despite the fact that I lived far as a student assistant in the university, by Fr. Atilano “Nonong” Fajardo, CM. from school, that I needed to travel we needed to comply with one of VSAV was formed in September 2009 at least an hour and a half. In fact, I the three pillars of our program: in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. travelled longer than expected because our Apostolate. Every month, each Most of us, the first batch of the of the typhoon. I did it because I conference group of Sas needs to fulfill group, were student assistants of the wanted to hang out with my friends as university. I was introduced to ICES by well as the free food. Continue to page 4 Mr. Raul D. Agner Jonathan S. Tolores Letters and comments must be addressed to: Director Graphic Artist The Editor, Touchstone (A semestral supplement of The Adamson News) Institutional Development and External Affairs Office Yael Tamara B. Esperat Joed Jhon M. Dolosa Associate Editor Aya Carlvin Roncales Adamson University Student Assistants G/F Cardinal Santos Building, 900 San Marcelino St., Mar P. Bustamante Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000 Photographer Te. No.: (02) 524-2011 loc. 122 / Telefax: (02) 522-0550 Email: [email protected] Sheryl B. Duhaylungsod Coordinator Entered as 3rd Class Mail at Adamson Post Office under Permit No. 3C-14-02-222 NCR valid until December 31, 2016. Postage paid. 2 TOUCHSTONE The Vincentian Volunteer for the World (VVW) program, Alumni Volunteers (VSAV). The idea for the Vincentian which began in 2014, seeks to send Adamsonians on Volunteers for the World was formed in 2013; the process missions that fulfill what St. Vincent de Paul, patron saint of becoming a Vincentian Volunteer for the World spans a of charity, set forth for his followers to do. The volunteers few years and their formation begins at the time they start are sent to countries and cities served by the Vincentian volunteering with ICES. Family—which include the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity—where they will spend Norge and Jan, as they are usually called, created these a year serving the community through teaching and essays as part of their end-of-mission reports. By sharing catechism, among others. The pioneer members of VVW what they have learned in their missions, Touchstone come from the ranks of the Vincentian Center for Social hopes to inspire its readers and stoke the fire of service Responsibility (VCSR) and Vincentian Students and and voluntarism in their hearts. A Journey to Discovery: Volunteering, the Vincentian Way By Jan Roelrey Tecson BS Accountancy (2014) marginalized people in our society. urban poor: how hungry they were ICES organizes volunteer groups for God’s word; how just being alive When asked about volunteerism, I such as the Vincentian Students and was a daily struggle; and how faith in really could not imagine myself as Alumni Volunteers (VSAV), which is God was the only thing that sustains someone directly involved in it. I just in charge of doing relief operations their weakening reserve against the wanted to live a normal, typical life – in disaster stricken areas in the adversities of life. That life-changing finish schooling, find a good job, and Philippines. I joined the VSAV in experience was so striking that have a family of my own. I thought 2010 and being a member deepened I continued to join the summer most people would rather work for my experience in disaster relief missions even after I graduated from their self-advancement than waste operations and student community Adamson. time doing service for free. involvement. Thus, it was not a surprise that I It was not until I entered the pillars The university also opened the door readily said yes when I was invited of the Vincentian-run Adamson for me to participate in the Vincentian to become the second Vincentian University that a 360-degree change Popular Mission, an annual summer Volunteer for the World (VVW) last of perspective happened. Since my activity organized by the Office for year. I was sent to Thailand to teach parents did not have much, I was Vincentian Identity and Mission basic English to grade schoolers in the fortunate to be accepted as a student (OVIM). I first joined the mission in Anuban Thidametthatam Phatthalung assistant and got assigned to the 2012, which was held at Northville School of the Daughters of Charity Integrated Community Extension relocation site in Calumpit, Bulacan. for a year starting last October. Since Services (ICES) office. It was there My two-week stay in Calumpit I was not professionally prepared for that I had a firsthand experience with the other volunteers opened of the Vincentian way of helping my eyes to the real situation of the Continue to page 5 Volume 8 No. 2 / November 2015 - May 2016 3 from page 2 puzzled. It was then that I realized that I could not eat their food; I lost my Eat, Pray, and Love.. this mission would not be simple. appetite because of the smell and taste. apostolic deeds with the less fortunate I understood then that I needed to Homesickness until we finish our studies. double, even triple, my efforts to teach Homesickness was also a big factor them. I needed to be more creative, during my adjustment because it was Looking back at all that I have patient, and understanding of them. I my first time to live alone, without experienced in doing volunteer works needed to learn everything—dancing, my family and friends, and—the and helping socially disadvantaged singing, acting, basic Khmer—so I worst part—outside the country. The people, I realized that I used to do can communicate and teach them possibility of easily running to them it just so I can fulfill my scholarship properly. And I really put an effort when I needed them became harder. requirements and have time to bond in all of that. It was funny that my Because of these challenges, questions with my friends. But then I began music playlist was no longer about came to my mind: Is coming to this doing it every Saturday, every month, the hottest music nowadays; instead it country to render volunteer work a every typhoon, until I got used to it; was full of children’s songs because I good decision? Why did I put myself I began to appreciate and love the needed to memorize it. Every night I in a complicated situation where I experience. I started looking forward would watch children’s action songs on am uncomfortable? I already had a to our next volunteer work because YouTube and learn how to dance to life at home, had a paying job, I am I was sure now that I will grab every it. Every week I would patiently teach comfortable with my family and chance I get to help people, regardless them at least one English song so they friends, and I could do whatever I of whether I get something in return. can be confident that they will learn wanted to do. English eventually. Challenges and Adjustments The turning point My first three months in Cambodia Culture, religion, way of life, My turning point came when I were terribly shaky. There were and food came face to face with the children’s moments that I almost decided to It was also hard for me to adjust to their situation.