Camille Lumbang is a proud member of TREK. She has been with the group for some six years.

Voluntourism offers a wealth of experience as it enables others to contribute to communities and cultivate friendship with other like-minded individuals.

One person who knows this all too well is Camille Lumbang who joined Trails to Empower Kids (TREK) in 2010. Her story paints a vivid picture of how voluntourism has allowed her to give back to different mountain communities and gain friends along the way.

Lumbang hands over an item to a happy kid in an outreach held at the Palina Elementary School in Kibungan, Benguet. Photo by Joseph Cruz.

TREK is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that celebrates its 10th founding anniversary this year. The volunteers bring good cheer to their partner communities by delivering educational materials, slippers, and other items that are most needed by the residents.

Scaling mountains and crossing rivers, the TREK volunteers have been to far-flung areas in the country including Calintaan, Mindoro; Balbalan, Kalinga; Fuga Island, Cagayan; Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte; and Papaya, Nueva Ecija.

Ready for the Climb

Lumbang said that she discovered TREK through Facebook. She shared that she wanted to join but felt a tinge of uncertainty because she does not know anyone from the group. It was not until she spoke to an elementary classmate that she finally made up her mind to enlist.

“I saw the TREK page on Facebook and thought about joining. But then I decided to give it some more thought. I had a chat with Jasmin, an elementary classmate, told her about my interest, and she said I should join because I would meet ‘kind’ people there,” Lumbang shared.

Lumbang continued that she mustered enough courage to post on TREK’s Facebook group. She stated her intention to join but, unfortunately, she has no buddy or partner for the climb.

The newbie’s apprehension vanished when a TREK member sent her a message that they can team up. It can be said that the simple act was Lumbang’s introduction to the warm and welcoming environment of the organization.

“Flo Fajardo sent me a message. She said that since her buddy will not make it, we can be partners,” she shared.

When asked about her first experience with TREK, Lumbang said that it was easy for her to establish rapport with other volunteers.

Lumbang (rightmost) strikes a wacky pose with her TREK friends while crossing a river in Calintaan, Mindoro. Picture taken by Nelfie Flores.

“It was a happy experience. I instantly made new friends. You won’t feel like an outsider. Everyone is warm and approachable,” she enthused.

She added, “It's not difficult to develop friendships with fellow volunteers since you have the same goal of helping the target community.”

Care for Others

According to Lumbang, the spirit of “bayanihan,” a Filipino custom where the whole community joins forces to achieve a common goal, can be seen and felt within the group.

“There is the willingness to organize donations and arrange the programs for the outreach,” Lumbang said.

Lumbang added that the cooperative and helpful attitude becomes more evident during the trip as the volunteers face the travails of mountain climbing.

“Based on my experience, you will see the support and concern for one another when the mountain is difficult to climb. (For example), we help and assist one another when a volunteer gets tired or has to carry a heavy load. Moreso, we help one another when the road is slippery or when there is a need to cross a river,” Lumbang enthused.

The trek may be tough but for Lumbang it does not steal the joy of serving others.

“It is an opportunity to serve and to share the blessings that I have. When you get there, you will be touched because of how they (partner communities) appreciate the efforts. When you share blessings, you get something in return (even if not monetary). And you also realize the blessings in your own life,” she noted.


Lumbang is all smiles while giving goodies to the kids in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya. Photo by Joseph Cruz.

TREK’s 10th Year Anniversary Campaign

As part of TREK’s tenth-year celebration, Lumbang and other TREK volunteers are going back to their ten partner communities for ten straight months.

TREK recently partnered with Conquer Outdoor Equipment to come up with a collection of travel bags that will be used to generate funds and supplies for #10for10 campaign.

In relation to this, the group recently held a benefit concert for the campaign at B-Side (The Collective) in Makati entitled, “Diyes Is It.”

Meet John Rex Jardinero, one of the volunteers of Trails to Empower Kids (TREK).

Jardinero playfully pats a child's head during one of the TREK games.

Jardinero playing with the children during TREK Calintaan.

Photos taken by: Alain Carrascal, June Jaroz, Reynaldo Canlas, and Rod Aldueza.

Austria has been climbing mountains with TREK for two years. This organization, composed of volunteers from different backgrounds, delivers clothes, toys, and school supplies to disadvantaged communities in the country.

Leading Others

Austria, a mountain climber with over 15 years of experience, says that he keeps on learning and growing as an EL with every TREK trip.

He shares that TREK’s expedition to Kalinga held last December 2015 was one of the most challenging adventures to date.

Traversing raging rivers at TREK's trip to Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro.

Austria, carrying a yellow backpack, leads the TREK members in a muddy trail.

Besides being an EL, Austria considers himself as an all-around guy who can spearhead games and other activities for their beneficiaries.

‘Simple life’

Austria shares that each TREK crusade touches his heart anew.

“There are always different experiences for me. The beneficiaries’ cultural presentations and unique way of saying ‘thank you’ present a different impact every time,” he enthuses.

Helping out is rewarding, more so when there is an opportunity to use one’s God-given talents.
 
This rings true for Kaila Canlas, a 20-year-old artist who has been a Trails to Empower Kids (TREK) volunteer for over two years.

Canlas has helped TREK by developing the group’s branding for their Kalinga and Mindoro excursions.

She creates the visuals which are used in their Facebook account as well as in their promotional materials such as button pins, posters, and shirts.

Kaila wearing a shirt she designed for the group's recent outreach in Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro. Photo by Alfred Limos

Kaila proudly holds the bag she designed for TREK Kalinga.

Canlas shares, “They (TREK) trust me and I appreciate that. This is also my way of helping TREK and not only the kids.”

In the trips, Canlas is part of the committee that is in charge of selecting the best thank-you card from among the artworks made during TREK’s creative sessions.

TREK has been conducting programs aimed to help disadvantaged communities for over 10 years.

How It All Started

Canlas shares that she wanted to pursue a passion project which involved donating self-designed notebooks to an organization.

She asked her grandfather for potential beneficiaries, knowing that he is involved in many outreach groups. Her grandfather said that she can donate the notebooks to TREK, where he is a member.

Things changed for Canlas when she accepted her grandfather’s invitation to come with him to a TREK expedition.

Kaila and her grandfather enjoy a moment of rest before distributing the goodies to the Kalinga children.

The fresh graduate from De La Salle University Antipolo says that she and her grandfather, who took an interest in mountain climbing in his 40s, have already gone to four TREK mission trips.

“He is glad that he was able to bring a family member after so many years,” she says.

Shared Experience

Canlas says that language barrier does not keep the helper and the helped from showing  their gratefulness in becoming a part of each others’ lives.

“Even if we have different languages, the kids still try to reach out and say ‘thank you’ in their own little ways. Sometimes, they hug you and give thank you notes. It can be quite fulfilling,” she says.

Kaila holds a mini artwork session with the kids of Kalinga.

She adds that being surrounded with like-minded people makes each trip valuable.

“My heart also swells with gratitude in seeing other volunteers and experiencing the same thing,” she says.

“Helping comes from the heart”

As a Communications graduate Canlas says that she is compelled to share her mountain experiences with her friends and loved ones.

“You experience everything first hand-- you see people’s tears and laughter. I have to tell people whom I interact with, ‘this is what is happening on this side of the Philippines’,” she says.

She notes that some of her friends have started to help her endeavors.

“I see their efforts. Even if they just give old clothes, that makes a difference. It reminds me that helping comes from the heart,” Canlas says.

Izyan and his mother, Ega Alcaraz, are active members of TREK, a non-profit organization established in 2007 that reaches out to isolated communities in the Philippines.

Izyan Alcaraz, considered as the baby of Trail to Empower Kids (TREK), playfully blows the whistle. Photo taken during TREK's trip to Calintaan, Mindoro by Alfred Limos.

Early Introduction

Ega shares that she always brings Izyan and his older brother, Jam, to the TREK expeditions, which entail traversing rivers and climbing mountains to deliver toys, schools supplies, and hygiene materials to their beneficiaries.

Ega shares that Izyan had his first outdoor experience on his second birthday.

Even at the tender age of two, Izyan has the capacity to connect with other children, even when they do not understand each other’s languages.

Their common thread, Ega shares, is the universal language of play.

Ega says that minutes after they arrive in a certain community, Izyan can be seen playing with other kids.

Izyan (first row, center) comfortably sits and mingles with the Binanog children from Calinog, Iloilo. Photo by Ralph Perez.

Izyan welcomes all kinds of children in his life. Ega says that in Sta. Elena, one of TREK’s partner communities, the boy struck a friendship with a child with special needs.

“For him, there is no sense of discrimination,” Ega notes.  

Caring for Others

Ega continues to instill values in Izyan even in daily life. The mother of two shares that in their car, they keep snacks that they give away to the less fortunate. 

Izyan (third from left) holds a mini stick while playing with the kids of Tinglayan, Kalinga.

And on Jam’s and Izyan’s birthdays, they would provide food to the entire elementary division.

Ega shares that hopefully these acts of kindness have made her youngest son imbibe the spirit of compassion.

“This early, he has recognized selflessness. We need to take care of others,” Ega shares.

Benefits

By involving her children in civic works, Ega was able to foster a close relationship with her two sons.

Izyan (second row, third from left) is surrounded by the children living in Tinglayan, Kalinga.

And because Izyan was exposed to people early on, he has developed social skills. Ega shares that he is a well-adjusted child who can express himself easily to people, regardless of age.

Ega did not spare Izyan from seeing the realities of poverty and isolation. In effect, Ega says, Izyan knows how to count his blessings.

Ega says that even the old can glean insights from the young ones. She certainly has by watching the lives of Izyan and Jam.

“We can learn from children. Every trip we make, we have different experiences,” she says.

Izyan spends time reading at Balbalan, Kalinga, one of TREK's partner communities.