Bayani Challenge '08...

Our participation in the 2008 Bayani Challenge ended yesterday. Today, there was a Highway of Peace caravan from Bukidnon to Wao, Lanao but we didn't get to join that anymore.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, Thursday was spent mixing cement almost the entire day. That was fun, even though my entire body was aching the following day. Hehe! At least, I got to help out. And I was really moved by how grateful the beneficiary couple - Arlyn and Randy - was. Arlyn was on the verge of tears as she continually thanked the volunteer students and employees for helping them build their own home. I'm going to write a story about that.

And then last Friday, we joined all the other volunteers from the other house build sites for the start of the culminating activity. We went to the Natid-asan GK Village where we were greeted by the festive mood of people. Tony Meloto was there. VP Noli de Castro was there. Local officials were there. GK volunteers from all over the country were there. It was really a grand thanksgiving and celebration for the success of the 2008 Bayani Challenge.

I'm really glad I got to be part of it, even if it's just for a day.

Off to Bukidnon to be a "Bayani..."

Tomorrow, I'm taking the first PAL flight to Cagayan de Oro. From CDO, it'll be a three-hour drive to Bukidnon to check in at the local hotel, and then another 45-minute drive to Maramag, Bukidnon, the site assigned to the Bayani Challenge team of our company.

I'm excited, excited, excited.

Not only because it's my first time to go to Bukidnon and CDO, not only because it's another out of town trip, but above all because it's a volunteer activity. I wish I were able to join the company team who volunteered to stay for a week in Bukidnon to build one house. But alas, there are other things that can't be put on hold.

I can't wait though to talk to the volunteers to listen to their stories. I'm quite sure they have a lot of interesting insights and learnings from the four days that they've stayed in the community.

Augh! I miss volunteer work. I volunteered to be part of the summer storytelling program of the company to public school students, but so far, I haven't been able to attend one session. That's because I've been covering similar events these past few weekends. But I do hope that I get to attend at least one session this May.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this CDO/Bukidnon trip. Not sure if I can blog from there, but you can be sure that there'll be stories and photos when I get back to Manila.