Session 1: Philanthropy in Iloilo

Written & Photographed by Jonathan Lim

The quest of discovering Iloilo City begins with the conclusion of its first session, entitled Philanthropy in Iloilo. 

Professor Bruce Hall

      In addressing this topic, Professor Bruce Hall, lecturer of American History at the University of the Philippines Visayas, dove into the history of the Philippines and how pre-Hispanic structures were instrumental in shaping its society of today. Convenience stores that are attached to village homes, more commonly known as sari-sari in Tagalog, are a long-standing example of a structure that was a part of the community back then and one that still plays a big role now. Apart from being an important economic location that provides basic needs for the people, sari-sari stores also serve as a place of informal exchanges – benches set outside these stores allow the people to socialize and forge friendships. Sari-sari stores remain an important backbone of the grassroots economy and the Philippines culture. Professor Hall then explained the bayanihan tradition, which described any communal act of helping families within the community, such as move their homes by literally carrying houses, building barns communally and how that helped to foster solidarity within communities.

   
    Following some insight into the pre-Hispanic structures of the nation, Professor Hall talked about the Spanish Colonial Period. During this time, civil administration came into effect under Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and friars introduced religion and built churches. Pro-poor policies were also discussed within the context of the Spanish rule that lasted over three centuries. He also pointed out the importance of the American Colonial Period from 1898-1946, which saw the industrial revolution and the concept of progressive empires spur middle class society. Organizations such as the YMCA, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army found their way into the country, very much in line with fulfilling the concept of the white man’s burden.

     Professor Hall also took the opportunity to share the work of the Rotary Club of Iloilo City, particularly Operation Yuhum, a humanitarian mission led by Mr. Larry Mally. Translated as Operation Smile, this operation aids children in the region who are born with cleft palates and harelips by arranging surgery for them, at no charge. Every year, approximately 5000 children are born with facial deformities and this figure is continually rising. 

Professor Ruben Magan Gamala

    Professor Ruben Magan Gamala, also a Professor at the University of Philippines Visayas, started off his talk with a quote off the Schultz Philosophy that says, “People who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.” As a committed and passionate volunteer, he was more than happy to share his experiences being abroad with Volunteers Overcoming Poverty International (VSO) among many other organizations, and most importantly he spoke about the fulfillment one finds in helping others, appropriately quoting Trina Paulus: “There must be more to life than eating and getting bigger”. One particularly inspiring moment was when he shared the tale of his engagement with VSO Bahaginan, which led to the construction of a high school in Kidawa. Today, two of the teachers teaching there are graduates of UPV. He summed up his warm and moving presentation by reminding us that no one discovers the splendor of the ocean unless they leave their shores.

James Sharman

     The travellers then got to meet a former engineer turned school founder, Mr James Sharman, who introduced us to the concept of the Gamot Cogon School. The school is a non-stock and non-sectarian educational institution offering education from kindergarten to Grade 10. Established in 2005 by James Sharman, this Waldorf-inspired school sets out to prepare students to become self-actuated, creative and responsible by providing a holistic education.

     In his presentation, Mr. James explained to us his journey as a volunteer and the ideals and foundations on which he built his school. He believes that it is a responsibility of the elders to educate the young, and that education is a right that a being should never be deprived of. As such, Gamot Cogon does not turn away any child who cannot afford an education – they are always more than ready to work out solutions. 

     More importantly, he stresses that life has to be about doing what one loves, and to love what one does. He constantly faces skepticism with his alternative methodologies of teaching but stresses that exams these days are overrated to the extent that education systems are being shaped around them. At Gamot Cogon, he provides his students with the answer sheets so that their journey is not simply about finding the answer, but about how they get there. He ended with a quote from Yeats, saying, “Education is not filling a bucket, it is about lighting a fire.”

    All three speakers provided the travelers with inspiration to become better students and better people. It opened the eyes and minds of the travelers, most of which have been products of exam-oriented education systems, to a different way of learning and ultimately a different way of living as well. To not always think about what one may be able to gain, but focus more on what one can give instead. Overall, the session was a wonderfully inspiring way to kick off the trip and put the travelers in the right mode for the days to come.

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Jon is a double major in Journalism and International studies, Jonathan drinks tea religiously, reads extensively, travels whenever an opportunity presents itself, and teaches the drums at a music academy in his home island of Penang. In 2011, he founded Project 9.30 - an online platform for budding artists to share their work, converge and collaborate.