Images from #PROJECTJOMALIG wave 3.0

As a starter, let me answer some frequently asked questions: 

(a) What is Project Jomalig? 

Project Jomalig is an effort to lift up the island as 2011 and 2012's most nutritionally depressed municipality in the Philippines through a series of feeding program (for a period of six months) through the effort of volunteers. Some may argue that this effort may not amount that much, but it is our hope that this small step will make ripples and it is our duty to spread the word. For details about the project, here's James' site: http://journeyingjames.com/2013/03/project-jomalig-feed-the-kids-change-the-world/

(b) Where is Jomalig, Quezon?

From Real, Quezon which is about 2 to 3 hours from Manila, you will board a boat which ferries goods, cargo and passengers bound for Patnanungan Island. This will take about 5 hours. From there you have to transfer to a smaller boat which will take another hour or less. If you are lucky enough, you can catch a boat which ferries directly to Jomalig for about 6 hours. Now, you get the picture. It is quite hard to reach and it will take real effort to go there. That is the prime reason why it is nutritionally depressed - it is hard to reach. 

Being a photography enthusiast and an amateur adventurer, here are three pictures I'd like to share to you  during my June 14-16 Project Jomalig stint:

Project Jomalig wave 3 team with the children of Brgy. Apad, Jomalig

The joy of those who serve and the one served. It was a very uplifting experience to see the smiles of the children of Jomalig. It is their simple joys that we were able to realize why we were there. All the efforts we exerted, from travelling to the remote island, bringing in the supplies (multivitamins and formulated drinks) were all worth it. I would like to believe that were able to make an impact to them, even just a little bit. 

Why Brgy. Apad? According to Doc Mae, the Doctors to the Barrio deployed to the municipality, it is the smallest baranggay in the municipality in terms of land area, but the most densely populated with household size of 6-8. About 60% of its population are below 18 years old and sadly, 30% of the children are considered malnourished. It is a small fishing community, with livelihood anchored mainly to fishing - meaning, there's no livelihood during storm season. I automatically observed that there was an absence of backyard gardens which I think should address the problem, but clearly, it is very hard to do so because the area's soil profile is mainly sandy. 

The good thing is that the problem is being recognized by the municipality and there are efforts to address it. It is very uplifting to know that both the local government and non-government organizations (including volunteers) are already working hand in hand to do something about the problem. In fact, we coordinated our visit there to the local government and they were more than willing to assist us.

The first step in addressing a problem is to recognize that THERE IS a problem. One small step at a time.

Doc Mae (UP Manila) and Arnold (UP Los Baños)

Iskolar Para sa Bayan. It felt so good discussing things with like-minded people. I was very happy to meet people from my alma mater doing things that we should be doing - SERVE THE PEOPLE. Despite our differences in profession, we met at this small island, making a difference at our own capacity.

I would like to introduce you to Doc Mae, a Los Baños-born, UP Manila graduate Doctors to the Barrio deployed to the municipality. Despite her petite frame, you would be very astounded of her stories of adventures, from battling the waves just to transfer a patient to being a one-stop-shop consultant. Being a doctor, she can practice her profession privately to earn more, but she chose to serve this far flung municipality she did not even heard of before. Gotta applaud her great conviction. Hands down.

In our banka ride to Brgy. Apad, there were 3 of us at the front end, incidentally, three of us were UP graduates (Doc Mae, Arnold - an agriculture graduate in UPLB, and me). We connected instantly and we traded meaty conversations - from the plight of the island, its social issues, what should be done, and what the role of UP graduates to nation building. I would like to share this message I picked up from Youtube, a message from Prof. Monsod (non verbatim):

"You are educated from the university named after your country, it is your responsibility to make it a better place."

To those of you UP graduates out there (I don't know what brought you here in this site. haha!), I would like to ask you what Mr. Washington SyCip has been asking us: "As UP graduates who boasts to be one of the greatest institutions, what have you already contributed to our country?" 

The people of Project Jomalig wave 3. Having fun for a job well done.

Travelers will change the world. This is what James (http://journeyingjames.com/) has been constantly saying. I agree. Travelers see the world outside the confines of the society's perception of what is the "real world" as fed by the media. Travelers see first hand what is happening on a grass-roots level, and just like the persistent mosquitoes, they are carriers of ideas and they proliferate it whether consciously or not. 

Travelers go the extra mile, aside from contributing to the local economy of the places they were able to visit, they share what they were able to learn from all the places they have been - to other travelers and to the locals.

As travelers, there are two important things that we should never forget. Let us be socially vigilant, observe the plight of the places we've been and do something at our capacity. Traveling sure is fun, but let us not forget to make sacrifices once in a while to make a difference. Second, let's be responsible travelers. There's no need to explain this, taking responsibility of your actions is a common sense. 

Going back, as travelers, what we did in Jomalig is just a small step, hoping that it would cause a ripple effect to those people who would be reached by this initiative. As a volunteer of this initiative, I hope this contribution of spreading the word could help even a little bit to our cause. 

Stop wanting to do things. Start doing it.