VOICE Network

As a committed network who deemed of combating poverty throughvolunteerism, VOICE stands united with the UN Philippines for its StandUp Take Action, a global campaign to fight poverty.

Click these links to stand up and be counted!

How can you participate?

Stand Up - Calendar of Activities

Downloadable FORM:I Vote for MDG

For more details, visit: http://www.un.org.ph/standup

BENGUET Benguet State University drop your donations at the athletic oval, for details please contact (+6374) 422-2127, 422-2402.

QUEZON CITY: INSA - Institutional Network for Social Action, Miriam Collegeis accepting donations. INSA has plenty of Volunteers,  donationsneeded: rice, noodles, medicines, milk, (they still have plenty ofcanned goods). For inquiries, contact: TINA at 0928.4994272

MANILA: Center for Social Concern & Action (COSCA), De La Salle University Manila along taft avenue will be accepting any and all kinds of donation. Contact COSCA at  523-414

PASIG/MANDALUYONG:  Cartwheel Foundation,Inc is in need of volunteers. Contact: 09228404208.

SOUTH (Alabang, Las pinas, Paranaque): Social Action Office (SAO), De La Salle Zobel -- donate or volunteer. Contact Jay Jacinto at the Social Action Office 0927.5768409

CAVITE: DLSU-Dasmarinas is also accepting donations; pls proceed to the 2nd floor of SBC Building

CAGAYAN DE ORO: KKP-SIP - Kristohanang Katilingban sa Pagkabana-Social Involvement Program Contact XU KKPOffice, Room 102, Aggie Bldg, 858-3116 or 72-3116 local 3210 or 3215Fax No. Local 6. You may also deposit your cash to XU BPI Acct.,Dvsoria Brnch-CDO: 9331-0133-63, pls indicate in your... check/depositslip: Xavier University c/o OPLAN ONDOY.Then let us know forverification. If possible pls give/send through fax to KKP-SIO the copyof your deposit slip.

DAVAO: SICO - Social Involvement Office, Ateneo de Davao University

is accepting in kind donations for Ondoy victims. Drop off at theSamahan office in Jacinto campus or contact SICO at (082) 221-2411 (8353)

ZAMBOANGA: Social Awareness Community Service Involvement Office is accepting donations. You may bring them to the SACSI office. Look for Divine, 991-0871, loc 2224 or 2225.

(VOICE Members who are doing the same endeavor, please enlist thru email: voicenational@yahoo.com or send us message thru 09159262619.

Related Link:

Task Force Children for the Storm will be needing volunteersto rebuild/renovate 8 day care centers in Marikina City that werewashed away (literally) or damaged to the ceiling by the floods. Pleasevisit:  http://tfchildrenofthestorm.wordpress.com/ or email Sophia Garduce piapis2010@yahoo.com for details.

Note:

VOICEis working with the member organizations to help facilitate donationsfor the victims of typhoon Ondoy, and for your cash/check donations,please visit: http://voicenetwork.webs.com/getinvolved.htm. We'll be accepting monetary donations until December 20, 2009. Thank you.

REMEMBERING CORY AQUINO: AN INSPIRATION TO VOLUNTEERING

By Nathaniel George Hipolito

Withinthe first three hours of August first, we all bade farewell to an icon offreedom, grace and strength. President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino passed away, bearingthe Filipino people’s great admiration and respect. She was no doubt ournational symbol of hope, restoring democracy and the Filipino’s belief in theirabilities to make this nation great once again.

Itwould be wrong to assume that President Aquino single-handedly rose to thepresidency and for restoring democracy to this nation. Her humble persona wouldn’teven claim all the credit to herself. She shares the victory of the EDSArevolution with the millions of Filipinos who firmly believed that the Filipinocan rise, and a better future is waiting ahead.

Asher life story would reveal, one could say that Cory Aquino’s journey to thepresidency was through the great spirit and dynamism of volunteering. And shewas herself, a volunteer. Thrust from being the wife of the slain senator-heroBenigno Aquino into the political arena, she might have been initially hesitantof the enormous task ahead. But she nonetheless responded to a deeper call, afirmer belief made her take the plunge, offering a life of service, even untilher battle with cancer.

PresidentCory Aquino’s and Ninoy’s lives have deeply inspired many people to go beyondthemselves, to volunteer for something greater for the nation. I was still agrade schooler when the EDSA Revolution happened. But through photo and video documentariesof that historic event, I surmise that the years and weeks leading to the EDSArevolution in 1986 were filled with endless stories of volunteering, especiallyfor the marginalized. Although always wary of soldiers of martial law, people werehungry for avenues to share skills, and serve. Volunteer organizations thenwere borne out of and were further rationalized because this deep desire toreach out to those in the countryside, especially among the youth.

Asthe clamor for peace and democracy grew louder, people from all walks of lifesacrificed for a common goal, for a common purpose. With great determination togain freedom back, people contributed their resources, gave time and presenceto that historic event forever remembered as the EDSA Revolution.

Thegreat outpour of support that happened in 1986 wouldn’t have been possible ifnot for countless volunteers nationwide, working quietly and carefully, at timesevading arrest – just so to restore freedom and hope. Truly, the spirit ofvolunteering was at work at EDSA and we found in Corazon Aquino, an inspiringbeacon of hope.

Nowthat she has passed, her legacy of self-giving, of working through and with volunteerswill always be remembered. Through Corazon Aquino’s life of commitment, she hasshown genuine leadership by example. Cory celebrated people power, and how thispower- this giving of selves for others and for country can truly be the pathtowards freedom and change.

by Nathaniel George Hipolito (volunteer writer)

Would you leave a lucrative career as a lawyer, and anurse to serve in Mindoro? How could a leadership and academic awardee choosevolunteering over a possible corporate career to work with the Igorot inBaguio? Would you be willing to be assigned in Negros Occidental, Bukidnon orLanao del Sur, and speak a new language? Who would dare to take this leap offaith?

Apparently, there still are people who defy logic andleave comfort zones, successful careers to lend voices for the marginalized.Their choice is to take on a life-changing journey. Volunteers are proof thateven in these times where the youth are oftentimes seen as apathetic, even intough times, young people dare and speak of hope through serving.

For a few months to a full year, young people apply andget accepted to volunteer service programs in the country to immerse themselvesin a new language, new culture and new environment, all to bring positivechange.

The Associate Missionaries of the Assumption (AMA),Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP), Miriam Volunteer Mission (MVM) and theYear of Service (YOS)  are sending a new batch of volunteers for thisschool year. These volunteer sending organizations recruit, train and fieldvolunteers to schools, parishes and rural organizations. Volunteers work withdisadvantaged and marginalized communities who lack human resources. YOS issending its 16th batch of volunteers to work in organizations in the Visayasand Mindanao mostly in the field of agriculture and education. Working withMaryknoll Mission areas, the handicapped and rural organizations, MVM issending its 6th batch of volunteers. AMA is sending its 25th batch ofvolunteers, some to work in parishes. And JVP, founded in 1979, is missioningits 30th batch of volunteers to render faith-driven volunteer service fromIlocos Sur to South Cotabato.

The volunteers that AMA, JVP, MVM and YOS send serve asteachers, trainers, researchers, parish workers, and community or youthorganizers. Because of the lack of human resources in the areas where they aresent, volunteers often assume more than one role. With a modest allowance, theylive in simplicity and in solidarity with the community they are in. Workingside by side with indigenous peoples and non-government organizations, thevolunteers share their knowledge, skills and talent to promote positive changein their areas of assignment.

The four volunteer sending organizations have, over thesummer months prepared the volunteers for service. Skills training, orientation,and immersion are just some of the preparations volunteers went through. Therespective program officers and staff, along with the former volunteers are keyplayers in these weeks and months of preparation. Those who have been throughthe volunteer service program now actively support the current batch ofvolunteers. The "alumni" of these volunteer service programs speakabout how volunteering has changed their lives and passing on the culture,tradition and eventually inspiring the volunteers in their desire to make apositive difference.

As they have heard from former volunteers, the months toa year in their areas is definitely not a walk in the park, nor a vacation.Motivated by the desire to serve and give, volunteers realize that there ismuch work to be done, goals to be achieved and change to look forward to.Volunteers who are placed in new environments oftentimes have stories ofanxiety, fear and frustration. Rural students may learn slower than their urbancounterparts. People's organization members may lack unity and may lackdirection in their programs. The organizations may not have enough capacity fortheir programs. All these need the volunteers creativity, perseverance andresourcefulness -but through their respective volunteer sending and hostcommunities, hopefully these shall be turned into joy, fulfillment and meaning.

AMA, JVP, MVM and YOS continually support to theirvolunteers throughout the year through various skills enhancement seminars andsessions. Personal support is also ensured through area visits, and regularcommunication between program officers and volunteers. These organizations havealso devised programs to respond to the needs of the volunteers' families,recognizing their key role in a volunteer year's success.

These young people mayhave come from different provinces in the country. They may speak differentlanguages. Some have professional experiences and some are just out of college.They may have various motivations in joining the volunteer service programs theyhave chosen, but a common thread runs through all these. Their desire to serve,give and offer their skills for the communities that need them most is the onething spoken loud, clear and hopefully, understood.

We're encouragingvolunteer organizations to send volunteer articles at voicenational@yahoo.com

By Betty Uy-Regala

Tuesday,April 7, 2009 at 12:26pm

For the past three years, summer to me meant going to the CCP after work toattend the acting workshop in the evenings. This year, although I know I willmiss it terribly, I decided not to enroll -- lest I be nominated alongside Hogito the National Artist for Acting Workshops -- and just act by joiningproductions. To officially start my summer acting season, I was invited toperform at a national volunteer summit for youthvolunteers in Guimaras on April 1.

The organizers sent me a two-and-a-half-page script mid-March for a monologuebased on a story of a youth volunteer in Bulacan named Maricel Barahan. Since Iwas swamped that time with the Bowfinger project, a writing racket and, lateron, had a severe case of owl obsession, I only read through the script and didnot really study it.

Acting and volunteering are two things close to my heart. I felt honored thatthis network of volunteer organizations spent time and money so I could performfor its members in one show only. The pressure of giving them a show wasoutweighed by my love for the craft. Two days before my flight, I did thecharacter profile, analyzed the script, and finally buckled down to memorizationwork which extended until before the show started. Hello memory medications.

During that trip, I contemplated about certain choices in my life. It helpedthat Pagatpat Resort had that serene feel to it. In acting, there is no rightor wrong choice, there is only a choice that works in a scene.

In between rehearsals, amidst poor mobile signals in the resort, I texted Hogi,Haidee and Opa saying that this time I would like to experience the higherchoice. Of foregoing my owl obsessions, which limit rather than expand myalready limited understanding and experience of life. Of not settling for thegivens. Of not accepting everything that comes my way. Accepting is a principlein improve and had been a principle in my life prior to my formal actingtraining.

Acting allows firsthand discovery by 'being' the character. I am discovering alot of things about others and myself because acting is a study of characters.It is essentially a study of human nature and how people relate with oneanother. I remember a class we had with Sir Dennis Marasigan, our beloved andmuch respected teacher, on April 2, 2008, a Wednesday.

We were discussing the character?s objective. "Simplify the objective ofthe character in one (verb) word," he said. "In real life," heasked us, "what's that one thing you wouldn't compromise? That is yourmain objective in life." Tears immmediately formed in my eyes. I?vecompromised so much in the most important areas of my life that I can?t answerthis simple question. Good thing I was wearing eyeglasses that day and myclassmates, including Hogi, did not notice the unfolding of my mini drama.

The show in Guimaras went well (for one, I successfully memorizedtwo-and-a-half pages of lines!), and after that trip, I am aiming for thehigher choices. I want to have experiences emanating from those choices.

****

Betty was one of the volunteer artists for the V-Monolugue during the 3rd National Volunteers Summit.

With the theme, "Filipino Volunteering for GlobalCitizenship: Education and Environment", the 3rd National Volunteers' Summit, was held on April 1-3, 2009 at the Pagatpat Resort in East Valencia, Buenavista,Guimaras Island. It was participated of about hundred volunteers, volunteer managers, and volunteer advocates from different part of the Philippines.

After the successful gathering of about 300 volunteers in the past two National Volunteers Summit (NVS) in 2005 and 2006, the Volunteer Organizations Information Coordination and Exchange Network is set for another meaningful collaboration of people working towards national development.

Read full article at Daily Tribune: http://www.tribune.net.ph/20090401/life/20090401lif3.html