In the service of others

Volunteering gives me a sense of self fulfillment. The thought that you have brought improvement to someone’s life is truly priceless. My love for charity projects started during my sophomore year in high school. We were immersed in an underprivileged community for a day. I stayed with a family living under the Iyam Bridge in Lucena City. I will never forget this family as they welcomed me wholeheartedly and even prepared a good lunch for me despite their current status in life. They shared how hard life is for them and it was evident. I was struck. Strong emotions welled up and made me in tears. That moment, I felt really blessed of what I have right now. 

In 2007, my parents introduced me the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a non-profit organization for girls committed to shaping leaders of the future through community service, where it ignited my passion for service. Various charity projects were initiated with the help of our advisors. There were Medical and Dental missions, Orphanages and Home for the Aged visits, and Tree Planting projects to name a few. Through this organization, I understood how you live a life of continual service, that each day, you can do something great and significant on someone’s life.

Moreover, entering St. Scholastica’s College was a blessing. It helped me to become more active in the community and understand the current social issues in our country. The Mass Communication department gave me the opportunity to go out of my comfort zone and see the reality. My thesis mates and I volunteered for the MyShelter Foundation where we had to immerse, understand the living condition of the less fortunate people, and find ways on how we can help improve it. We created a documentary for the foundation with the hope of inspiring millions of people. We wanted to show how a little light makes a family’s life brighter through our thesis production. I once said “You don't just write/produce your thesis to get a grade or to comply with the school's requirements. Your main goal is to create a change that would help the society”.

The day I received my diploma, I promised myself that I will continue to live a life of service. Currently, I am helping in the family business while taking freelance jobs. I spend my spare time volunteering for various organizations. Then, I found the Benita and Catalino Yap foundation through Joanna Armenta where I volunteered to be one of the contributing editors for CSR stories. 

Sharing your life in the service of others is the best thing that you could experience on this earth. And as I was scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed this morning, I saw a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve”.  

Author: Rogeanne Maica L. Ylagan