The idea of volunteer vacations is nothing new. Back in college, my best friend had volunteered to go to Ifugao province to teach English the entire summer and see the Banaue Rice Terraces. The idea struck me as very revolutionary and noble, not to mention impressive: making a difference was something every “iskolar ng bayan” had in mind, and here she was, my friend, shaping young minds at 17.

Such volunteer programs aren’t limited to universities anymore, and these days, people like many us who weren’t advanced in mind and heart at 17 can still make a difference at 30, albeit only for a few days.

Hands On Volunteer Vacations is one such program that enables travelers, both local and foreign, to travel throughout the Philippines and do something purposeful.

“People no longer leave their own shores purely to enjoy the sights and sounds of another nation. Travelers of the new millennium seek relevance and practice what they embrace, even away from home,” explains Wynn Wynn Ong, president and chairperson of Hands On Manila, a nonprofit organization that organized the Hands On Volunteer Vacations project.

Meaningful holidays
With the Philippines’ 7,107 islands,there’s so much that a traveler can see–and do.

The ultimate getaway for travelers joining the Hands On Volunteer Vacations involves diverse activities such as tree planting and studying biodiversity in Mt. Halcon in Oriental Mindoro; organic farming in Alaminos, Laguna; and trail mapping and marine biodiversity evaluation in Bohol.

Local treehuggers who want to make a difference in other neighborhoods can help clean up the seven basins of Jawili Falls in Aklan or learn the process of extracting piña [pineapple] fiber, which is used in weaving the Filipino formal wear, barong tagalog. The latter is an age-old Filipino tradition that was revived only two decades ago.

Hands On Volunteer Vacations also encourages a cultural exchange between the traveler and the people in the communities they immerse in. Aside from being able to share their expertise, volunteers will gain in-depth knowledge about Filipino culture.

Interested volunteers are encouraged to attend an initial orientation before choosing a project and scheduling their trip. Safety and logistics are assured through Hands On Manila’s partners–the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Tour Operators Association, and the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies.

While Hands On Volunteer Vacations was officially launched this year, Hands On Manila’s work started in 2000. The group, which is now 6,000 strong and a partner to more than 85 organizations, has bridged the volunteerism gap for visitors from Korea, Japan, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, mainland China, Poland, US, Denmark, India, and Spain.

For inquiries on volunteer vacations, call (+632) 843 5231.

Image: “Sunset Texter” by Jeridaking