It was barely past eight when our bus finally reached the last leg of the trip -- the tricky path up the mountain. But instead of a typical camping trip, we had planned on something more meaningful that Friday morning.

Our mission: To give some school supplies to elementary school pupils, and let them have some fun playing games while we're at it.

Our destination: Lupang Pangako. It's the area at the top of a mountain in Brgy. Amungan, Iba, Zambales where the Aetas affected by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 were relocated. It was almost a two-hour journey from Subic where the office and most of IROG Foundation's volunteers are based. To say that the road to Sitio Lupang Pangako was not easily accessible would be an absolute understatement. However, that didn't take away the fun of the road trip from us. (Though I suspect our bus driver and his sidekick would say otherwise.)

Thankfully, the children still looked excited when we got to the school, even with our rather late arrival. And with kids being kids, it was not hard getting them all fired up for outdoor games. They had fun playing, especially in the Flour Game where they had to puff on a bowl of flour to find an item buried underneath without using their hands. You can just imagine the racket that would ensue when five kids were to do this simultaneously on the same bowl! Yep, hilarious chaos. The boys' team found it so amusing to have flour-faces that they were laughing at each other even after the game.

Another really fun game was the Fish Race where they had to make the paper fish travel around an obstacle by fanning it with a folder. Somebody commented that perhaps by the time the game ends, that paper fish will be no more. True enough, halfway through the game, the "fish" was barely recognizable in its crumpled form. But what really cracked people up were those kids who were seriously trying to 'fan' the paper fish but were, humorously enough, only hitting sand.

They also had turns playing Calamansi Relay and Ball Relay. You could tell there was unmistakable competitiveness between the teams when by the end of each game the winning team would jump around and do victory shouts -- talk about unlimited energy!

We also gave out trinkets and small toys that seemed to be greatly appreciated by them. In fact, you'd hardly see any pupils who were not sporting either a colorful hairband or a pair of sunglasses.

Their teachers were also commendable for their dedication in their job, especially because they're working way out of their comfort zones. It's not easy teaching hyperactive children to line up properly even for a food distribution, but with a little help, the team managed it.

During break time, we couldn't help but smile when every kid said a "thank you" while we handed them snacks. After everyone got their share, there were still some leftovers so we decided to give seconds to some of the kids nearby. It proved to be a bad call on our part because we totally got mobbed by the rest of the kids in a matter of seconds! (It's a real funny scene where our pleads of "hold on" were lost on their "me too". I see now we should have asked them to line up again for seconds. Lesson learned.)

While eating their snacks, for some reason, we noticed the kids were all gathering in the middle of the field. I was still trying to figure it out when some of the lively boys suddenly went on an impromptu dance showdown! (Like I said, unlimited energy.)

We managed to have small talks with some of them, albeit limited to what-is-your-name and how-old-are-you kind of conversations. But just as some were too shy to talk, you could tell they love the camera as they gamely smiled and waved.

It's a real blessing to see them enjoying themselves like all kids should.

Somehow, the counterintuitive notion of "the more you give, the more you receive" had been proven true once again. Because as our bus started to leave the school that afternoon, I can't help but think we've already received our reward: 200 smiling faces.  

We aim to bring hope to the community by fostering goodwill and cooperation through scholarship grants, educational activities, livelihood programs, and community-oriented projects.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

IROG’s community development program of LogicGateOne, a Search Engine Optimization Company aims to address developmental needs of a certain sector and to empower them to participate in productive, self-reliant, and community-based activities. The program seeks to help communities to define, conceptualize, and implement Educational Projects, Livelihood Skills-training, Environment Awareness Activities and Disaster Mitigation, and Preparedness Programs.

IROG DAY-CARE CENTER

This project aims to assist and mobilize homeowners of Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales through basic education.

ZAMBALES AETA PROJECT

IROG hopes to provide opportunities to Aetas in livelihood, education, and housing development in Zambales. The project, moreover, desires to help provide Aetas easy access to basic services and to enhance their lives materially and spiritually.

Food is for the body. We eat to refresh and reenergize our body. But rarely do we realize that food ultimately revitalizes our spirit. More often, it seems, we eat with the thought of filling our stomach with food, not realizing that it was the brain and the heart that signaled the stomach to seek food.

How often do we forget that the heart – a central part of the body – needs more than food to make the whole person happy or satisfied? We eat because we feel hungry. But do we usually think of eating to be happy or to avoid or to remove sadness and depression? Almost never! For the human body is more than a combination of water, air, minerals, vitamins and proteins. It is not the things we eat that give us life but the spirit in us we received from God.

What was the first thing that God did before He created humans? He planted a garden. No, it was not merely a garden – it was a home, a living room, a playground, a menagerie and a vast dining table complete with all the fresh, natural, organic goodies.

Was God happy feeding humans? Obviously! Of course, today we would think God is not at all concerned about humans because millions go hungry and die while others live in abundance and luxury.

Yes, our world is far from the Paradise that we believe our first parents used to live in and enjoy. In fact, we live in a world with millions of people in great need of shelter, education, food and health-care that government and private institutions have their hands full addressing day in and day out. Many of us live not just in hunger but in desperation, not knowing why this has happened to us humans and how we can cope with the gargantuan task of serving the world with food and, as we said, with happiness and contentment in life.

When we feed ourselves, we not only feel good and cheerful; we also experience peace and confidence that life – for many of us, at least – is a great blessing to have. But what do we feel when we voluntary feed others, especially those who have limited resources? The feelings of goodness, happiness, peace and confidence transform into something close to heavenly joy and triumph. It is as if God’s material blessings we derive through our labors take on a sublime — or call it magical – quality similar to that of owning tons of gold (no, even more valuable and beautiful!), giving us a wonderful new sense of being. It seems as if God Himself is smiling at us and telling us, “Thank you for feeding me!”

And that is how we become like God – when we feed and care for the hungry. If we were truly made in His image from the start, we portray that divine nature when we, like Him, seek out those who have basic needs and do something to make their life as fulfilling and as comfortable as the way we experience it. It was that way in the Garden as God intended it to be. It should be that way today in the world as He desires it to be. This could not be just a dream. With wars and famine all around us, we have enough of our share of nightmares. Let us keep the vision awake and alive.

And so, with these thoughts in mind, I express my deep appreciation for Isabelita Rosueta Organization - LogicGateOne Corp. for the wonderful privilege to be part of their Feeding Program at the Sto. Tomas Elementary School in Subic, Zambales. Under the selfless leadership of Joel and Roselyn Castillo, the young, dynamic, diligent and caring worker-volunteers of the two companies, together with Alpha Phi Omega Olongapo Alumni Association and other civic-minded members of the community, opened a soup kitchen last Friday, September 6, 2013, for scores of children, as part of Isabelita Rosueta Organization’s outreach programs. Mrs. Isabelita Castillo and Mrs. Rosueta Tuazon, in whose names the foundation was named after, graced the occasion. Nanay Rosie opened the activity with a heartfelt and meaningful prayer of thanksgiving for allowing the foundation to share its blessings with the community.

The afternoon event was filled with shrill, festive cries of children playing games under the able guidance of Enrico Santos who acted as emcee, together with Christine Joy Ganoran. Parents were also on hand to encourage their children who competed against each other in parlor games, badminton, dama and chess. Awarding of prizes to the day’s winners ended the program.

And so, no one went home feeling sad, depressed or lonely. And it was not merely because of the food. You know what it was, don’t you? Next time, be sure to share not just your time, and experience how feeding and caring for others can make you a happier and richer person that you can ever imagine.