Kwentong Pahinungód 

What is your most memorable volunteer experience? 

“Feeling ko na sinusubok talaga ako ng mundo, kasi, una, ayaw ko talagang ituro iyong photojourn[alism] kasi mababa ang grade ko doon…Pero walang ibang magtuturo, so sabi ko, “Sige, ako na lang magtuturo.”  

Irish recalls having to make multiple adjustments during their volunteer work in a partner school in Paracelis, Mountain Province. She had to be quick on her feet to revise her visual aids, adjust her session to fit within a new time allotment and cater to the number of students that she had to teach. Instead of teaching in a usual classroom set up, she held her class outdoors because there were no available classrooms. 

Her students did not have cameras, so they had to rely on their smartphones. She was determined to continue the session for the students who were interested in learning about photojournalism, even if at first, she did not want to teach photojournalism because she received a low grade  on her photojournalism course. 

With encouragement and support from her Ate Divine, the program coordinator of UP Baguio Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, Irish accepted the challenge to teach photojournalism amidst self- doubt. 

“Kailangan kong mag-adjust…kasi isa din sa fear ko na baka walang matutunan yung mga bata sa akin. Pero sabi ni Ate Divine, ‘Hindi, mayroon iyan!’ 

…Doon ko na-realize na, very fulfilling siya hindi dahil may natutunan sila sa akin, pero dahil natuto din talaga ako sa kanila [students]. Nakuwento po nila na kailangan pa nilang pumunta sa mga computer shops para mag-edit kasi wala naman po silang sariling laptop.”

“Saan yung computer shop?” Irish recalls asking her students. 

“Ang layo pa, ate.” Her students had to travel far and wide just to experience using a computer at a computer shop, a place which allows people to rent computers at an hourly rate. 

“Iyong dilemma ko pala noon, ‘di naman sobrang malaki, na akala ko parang guguho na iyong mundo ko. Natuto ako sa kanila na kung sila, kaya nilang mag-adapt sa mga ganoong challenges, dapat kaya ko din.” 

Her sense of fulfillment also comes from the students who continue to reach out to her and seek advice in photojournalism long after her trip to Paracelis. Irish recalls that one of her students, who was preparing for a photojournalism competition, reached out to her on social media and consulted her on concepts such as leading lines, angles, and composition. For her, it was truly a memorable experience to be remembered and to be able to still help even from afar.

What is your biggest takeaway from volunteering? 

“Kahit anong mangyari, ang mahalaga ay nag-sho-show up ka. Kahit na sa tingin mo hindi ka ready, sa tingin mo takot ka, sa tingin mo hindi magiging okay lahat -- ang mahalaga, magshow up ka.

Hindi mo man alam kung anong mangyayari -- kung mapipili ka, kung hindi, basta magshow up ka ulit.” 

Irish shares that showing up in the face of uncertainty and doubt is one of the most important things she learned in Pahinungód, which she applies not only during her volunteering but in her life. 

“…Dati, sobrang doubtful ko na kaya kung gawin yung mga bagay-bagay, tapos ngayon, na- realize ko na, hindi lang pala ako sa ganito magaling, kaya ko din pala sa ibang bagay. Na-realize ko din ko na hindi naman dapat magaling ka talaga sa lahat -- at least nasubukan mo lang.”

Irish shared that before volunteering, she was never one to speak out her thoughts. But now she realizes the importance of speaking up especially during assessments after every volunteer activity. 

“Takot po kasi ako magsalita kasi baka mamaya mali yung sabihin ko… Pero ngayon mas nasasabi ko na ‘Mas maganda pa kung ganito…’ kasi na-realize ko na, hindi lang iyon para sa akin kung hindi para din sa buong grupo.” 

Irish recounts her experience during her last day in their four-day volunteer work in Ifugao: 

“Noong nag-te-thank you na sila [students], ang dami nilang binigay na cards. Noong sinabi ko kasi sa kanila na mahilig ako sa pink at sa flowers, iyong cards na binigay nila may flowers at butterflies. 

…Nakaka-overwhelm na natutuwa sila sa iyo kahit na hindi mo naman in-e-expect na ganoon yung love na makukuha mo from the kids. Kasi hanggang ngayon, kapag binabasa ko iyong mga letters nila-- “kung hindi po dahil sa inyo, hindi po namin alam yung mga ganito”-- akala ko simpleng bagay lang yung ganoong bagay na itinuro ko, pero sobrang laking tulong noon sa kanila.” 

When asked about how Pahinungód affected her, Irish shared: “Magiging flexible kang tao. Iyong akala mong kaya mong gawin, hindi lang yun yung kaya mong gawin. Iyon ang natutunan ko sa Pahinungód.”