LOS ANGELES – In March 2013, ABS-CBN Foundation’s Jo Ann Kyle and Joannie Feliciano introduced to LA-based Fil-Am media the Greenfund Philippines project — a program which sought to alleviate poverty the Philippines by transforming remote communities into eco-tourism troves.
Now, with the introduction of “Voluntrip,” ABS-CBN Foundation now looks to bring Filipinos in the US on a tour of the Philippines unlike any other. The program is a unique tour that combines leisure, environmental advocacy, philanthropy, and social awareness.
Program participants (dubbed as “Voluntrippers”) will be able to visit various eco-tourism sites in the Philippines where they can experience and support local community-led projects and initiatives.
Voluntrip
The program’s main objective is to highlight the grandeur of the natural wonders of the Philippines. It is also intended to inculcate a sense of philanthropy and volunteerism in the participants, as they experience the local projects that were originally designed to become self-sustaining communities that protect the local ecosystem.
Voluntrip sites include Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Sibuyan Island in Romblon, Sorsogon, and Bicol, among others.
Palawan is widely considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, while Sibuyan Island boasts of the most dense and most diverse ecosystems on the planet.
According to Feliciano, Sibuyan Island’s ecosystem was on the brink of total failure. However, with the help of Greenfund Philippines, it is now a thriving eco-tourist spot.
Meanwhile, in the cultural havens of Bicol, Feliciano said that part of their stewardship work includes “reforesting the coral reef” in the region.
“We encourage that each person that travels [with Voluntrip] will have something to share, to leave behind with the communities,” Feliciano said. This is part of the program’s philanthropy and social awareness arm.
“The communities are hungry to learn,” she added. Feliciano said that these ‘somethings’ can be as simple as sharing books with the locals, or sharing stories and anecdotes from their own lives.
Feliciano said that Voluntrip is not just a trip, it’s an experience. By visiting the most breath-taking habitats, Voluntrippers will experience the Philippines like never before.
“Voluntrip is not just for the youth, not just for the retirees,” Feliciano noted, “It’s for everyone.”
While the prices for the tour packages are still being finalized, Feliciano said that ABS-CBN Foundation wants to make sure that the packages are competitively priced but they don’t short-change the Voluntrippers who are expecting to go on a most unforgettable journey.
“This is our way of taking it a step further, to help these people and communities that we have helped [sic],” Feliciano said, “It’s something that we can be proud of.”
SocialProject.PH
Prior to Feliciano’s presentation at the Consulate on Wednesday night, Justin Garrido of SocialProject.PH also introduced their program which also offers a unique way of giving back to the Philippines.
SocialProject.PH is a “crowdfunding” platform (similar to KickStarter) that connects inspiring initiatives that look to serve communities in the Philippines with supporters and benefactors from all around the world who want to make a difference.
“We’re focused on addressing poverty, as well as social and environmental challenges by looking at sustainable solutions related to education, health, livelihood, environment, as well as youth empowerment,” Garrido, co-founder of SocialProject.PH said.
The platform processes payments and contributions securely vial PayPal Adaptive payments, which charges donors only if a project is successfully funded and only after the 30 to 60-day fundraising deadline.
According to Garrido, SocialProject.PH already has some project-partners that are operating in the Philippines. One of them is Hapinoy, holds financial literacy training program for Filipinos in the Bicol and Tarlac regions.
“I’m actually going back to the Philippines – to Cebu – to meet social entrepreneurs, and to see if there’s any project that we can feature,” he added. Aside from Cebu, Bicol, and Tarlac, Garrido said that he’s also been frequenting Davao lately, in an effort to “have a full spread of the Philippines” to explore and discover innovative livelihood project that they can connect with donors through SocialProject.PH.
“Although there are a lot of other crowdfunding sites, we’re focused on social good for the Philippines,” Garrido said. More than just a donor, Garrido said that those who support their featured projects would feel like a partner, if anything else.
Garrido said that anyone interested in supporting the program should go to SocialProject.PH on the Internet. The website is already live, and the team is already in the process of uploading material about the next project.
Three P’s
Philippine Consul General Ma. Hellen Barber-De La Vega lauded the efforts of the people behind Voluntrip and SocialProject.PH. She said that both projects offer channels or platforms where people can also be part of a good combination of the three P’s – people, planet, and profit.
“A balanced approach integrating these three issues is what we are marketing these days,” De La Vega said.
“I welcome these projects, and hope that the [young professionals] will explore and join them, to empower poor Filipinos, especially in the rural areas,” She said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 7-10, 2013 Sec A pg.1)
