Manila, Philippines - STARweek’s editorial assistant Alpha Tolentino remembers editor Doreen Yu quipping that STARweek is actually half Operation Damayan. This joke is actually true as both Alpha and editorial supervisor Rosal Banzon – two out of four of the STARweek team – are active members of Operation Damayan, volunteering full-time with the medical assistance program as well as many other outreach projects.
For Alpha, joining Damayan was not planned. “I started sometime in 1998, it was accidental,” she says. “Unfinished relief ticket stubs were left on my table and without any thought, I just finished stamping, numbering and arranging them. And from then on, I have been in charge of the ticket stubs.”
Rosal, who was then an editorial assistant, shares, “They were asking for volunteers to go to various parts of the country to distribute goods and do medical/dental assistance for the less fortunate. We started as a small group; most of us were single that time. Then after that we continued growing and helping until now.”
Their start with Damayan launched a lifelong habit of volunteerism. “It all started because I had nothing to do during my spare time, but then after the experience, I felt good and continued doing it. In return God blesses me, all in His own way,” says Rosal, now the mother of 10-year-old Denzel.
Through the years of volunteering with Damayan, Rosal and Alpha have had many unforgettable experiences. “Every journey is memorable,” says Alpha, adding that she considers the Damayan members as friends, so when they have activities, it is always fun.
Alpha recalls one of her Damayan outreach activities: “One trip I cannot forget was the trip to Mindoro where we had our adopt-a-school project. Going there was pleasant, but on our way back, grabe ang alon… Akala ko hindi na ako makabalik ng Manila (The waves were so strong… I didn’t think we’d make it back to Manila).”
Being a Damayan volunteer is not always easy. Alpha, together with Pedring Pascua, is in charge of the ABKDamayan project which is on its 9th year. Unlike other projects, like relief missions and adopt-a-school programs, which take only a few days to a couple of months to complete, ABKDamayan is a 10-month long program.
“This one is really tiring,” she admits. “Every Saturday I have to be present; 24/7 I am available for the inquiries of the students. There are times when I want to give up. Whenever the exam date comes, I always say this will be the last batch.”
But seeing their hard work come to fruition makes it all worth it. “Whenever we have our graduation ceremony and I see the smile on the students’ faces – how proud they are of their achievements and the changes ABKDamayan brought to their lives – I say, enrollment for the next batch is now open…”
“We give our all in everything we do,” says Rosal on the dedication of the Damayan volunteers. “After the mission, we are all tired but we are happy knowing that in our own way, we helped people in need. Then always, our next question is, when will be the next Damayan project?”
As much as they have helped others through their work, both agree they have also benefitted from volunteering. “I get satisfaction from offering others what I have to give,” says Rosal. “It gives me purpose and meaning in life.”
“Being a Damayan volunteer brought out the best in me,” Alpha adds. “I learned to be more compassionate, more patient, more persevering and very thankful for all the blessings in my life.”
“Being a Damayan volunteer helps me a lot in understanding life better,” says Rosal. “I do things that come from my heart and I’m truly overwhelmed with what life gives me in return. I appreciate life even more and somehow I’m content and fulfilled with what I have.”
Because of this, both vow to continue their work with the group well into the future. “Once a Damayan volunteer, always a volunteer,” says Rosal. “We are here to support the mission and vision of Damayan and our help doesn’t end.”
“In the coming projects, I will have my two sons tag along para makita at ma-experience nila yung mga ginagawa ko (so they can see and experience what I do). And definitely, later on they will be volunteers of Operation Damayan, just like me,” says Alpha of her two boys, Miguel, 13, and Manuel, 10.
Alpha notes that their participation in Damayan would not be possible without the generous support of The STAR’s president Miguel Belmonte. She also is grateful that her editor allows her the time to spend in the various outreach projects, making STARweek literally half Operation Damayan, but more so wholly imbued with the spirit of volunteerism.
With their sincere passion and dedication to serving others, Alpha, Rosal, and all of the volunteers of Operation Damayan have proven to be true stars.
Editor’s note: With writer Ida del Mundo now also recruited to join some Damayan projects, STARweek is very proud to be more than half Damayan.