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"Kalahating Araw"

by Shirley Habonete B42

Kalahating araw na hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan sa loob ng misyon ko bilang JVP sa Saint Isidore High School. Hindi lang dahil naka PINK ako kundi magkahalong saya at hindi maintindihang damdamin sa araw na ito dahil first time kong nakita ang mga bata sa Zamboanguita, Malaybalay Bukidnon. Napuno yung school campus ng SIHS!

Alam mo yung ang gaan ng feeling kahit may konting problema ka sa bahay? Talagang isasantabi mo ang konting problema para sa mga bata. Ganito po pala yung feeling na yon. Sobrang thankful ako sa Diyos kasi bago matapos ang taon na ito at least nagkakilala at nagkita kami in person...

Biruin mo nasabi ko sa sarili ko na gusto ko pang isang taon para sa mga batang ito.Yung bigla na lang lumabas sa bibig ko nang hindi ko inaasahan, tapos sasabayan ko pa ng dasal. Lord, please tama na po, tulungan mo po kaming matigil na ang pandemic na ito, please Lord, kawawa ang mga bata. Marami ng kulang sa pagkabata nila.

Ang sarap pong pakinggan na sabay-sabay silang sumasagot sa mga tanong ko. Kahit deep inside sa sarili ko, tinatanong ko, naiintindihan kaya nila ako? Tumingin ako sa mata ng mga bata tapos parang nangungusap na may sasambitin na “Ma’am Shirley nabitin po ako, pwede pong magtanong?” Saya pag ganoon noh?

Minsan na akong nagturo sa private school bilang religion teacher at nanariwa lahat yong yayakapin ka na lang bigla ng bata dahil sa tuwa at paglalambing nila. Tatawagin ang pangalan ko na may tuwa sa mga labi dahil masaya sila sa Christian Living at recollections nila. Ang saya kaya noon di ba? Kaso pandemic eh kaya bawal pa. Malungkot lang kasi hindi ko makita nang malinaw ang mga mukha dahil sa facemask. Pero sa ngayon, sapat na muna ang mag-uusap kami sa mata.

Tinapos namin ang araw sa isang Santa Misa at doon nasabi ko sa sarili ko. Lord, thank you sa regalo ng buhay sa mga bata kanina. Napatunayan ko pong kailangan namin ang isa't isa. At sana'y magtuloy-tuloy na. I love you Lord.

Thank you po dahil ipinakilala Mo ang JVP sa akin na siyang dahilan para makilala ko rin ang mga bata.

Who we are

The Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation Inc. (JVPFI) engages in nation-building by recruiting, training and sending volunteers
for a year of service to marginalized communities and areas with the greatest need. Jesuit volunteers empower these communities as teachers,
formators, community organizers, or enterprise development officers assigned to under-resourced schools, parishes, and NGOs across the country.

VISION

A just society that celebrates the fullness of life realized with the help of a community embodying Ignatian Spirituality.

MISSION

We aim to form a community composed of volunteers, former volunteers and associates who nurture and live out the principles and values of Ignatian Spirituality embodied in and realized through their individual vocation.

HISTORY AND REACH

In 1980, nine young Jesuit Volunteers set off to serve in the peripheries of Mindanao. Now on its 39th year, JVPFI has successfully deployed over a thousand volunteers to 317 partner institutions in marginalized communities across the nation, serving where they are needed most.

CORE VALUES

SERVICE that builds.
SOCIAL JUSTICE that empowers.
SPIRITUALITY that loves.
SIMPLICITY that frees.
SOLIDARITY that unites.

JVP COMMUNITY

JVPFI has Local Chapters in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Manila, Naga and Zamboanga.
Former Jesuit Volunteers form the Network of Leaders who support the Volunteer Service Program through recruiting and supporting current Jesuit Volunteers and organize activities to promote volunteerism, camaraderie and the JVP Core Values.

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

Guided by the wisdom from over 39 years of experience, JVP, through its Volunteer Service Program, is able to provide the necessary support to ensure the volunteers are effective in their service.

•Skills Training
•Formation and Spiritual Direction
•Financial needs
•Community
•Parents’ meeting
•Ensuring safety and security

Reach Us

jesuitvolunteersph@jvpfi.org

Visit Us

National Office: Room 220 MVP-CSL Building, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City

Contact Us

Direct Line: 426-5908
Trunkline: 426-6001 local 4880
+63 966 901 8554
+63 928 481 7837

Ang Paglalakbay

A Story of a Mangyan Jesuit Volunteer

BE A JESUIT VOLUNTEER

Bringing Hope to the Nation's Margins.
Be where you are needed most.

For 42 years, Jesuit Volunteers have been sent to work with schools, parishes or non-government organizations (NGOs) to:

Teach in under-served areas.
Train grass-root community leaders.
Assist cooperatives.
Implement livelihood projects.
Minister to the disabled and abused.
Engage in youth formation.
Advocate environmental issues.
Uphold the dignity of Indigenous peoples.
Fight for the right of the oppressed.We are inviting brave souls who are eager hearts to take the road of loving service for God and country.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Single, under 35 years of age
A college graduate or a graduating student
Physically fit and emotionally-balanced
Willing to serve, share knowledge and skills in a community for at least 10 months
Determined to make a positive difference in the lives of others
Sincere in the desire to serve where there is a need

Consider JVP.

JVP Batch 42 Application Pack