i was invited last tuesday to deliver this speech about volunteerism to more or less 150 UST volunteers in their first general assembly, andami diba, sna ganyan din kaactive ang mga tamaraws. Since i was informed by Unicef only on monday night, eto ang aking munting nakayanan Am posting this for tamvol to read, though some of you my have heard portions of it already, try nyo lang.hehe
Tamvol, naimpressed ako on how they handle their volunteer org. UST-UNICEF. all their projects are for long term, not dole out. They've adopted a public school to teach and support, they have regular activity with kythe, they have their own fund-raising campaigns. and they have 400 new members.
Greetings!
In my desire to meet good-hearted Tigers, I put myself at risk today of probably not giving you better words of wisdom that I would like you to carry with you as you traverse the adventure of the exciting world of volunteerism. I was only informed last night by UNICEF, that you’re officers are looking for possible speaker that would grace your general assembly, and since I only was able to prepare this morning, I am entirely relying now on Divine Providence to help me organize my thoughts for you today. (Honestly, nanginginig po ang isang Tamaraw na humarap sa napakar aming Tigers! I didn’t expect na ganito kayo karami!)
I was asked to thrive on discussing to you today what volunteerism is all about. And so with my restricted time to prepare allow me discuss this concept based solely on my limited personal experiences. Anyway, it will only take me maximum of 15 minutes as I was told, and 15 minutes more dahil madaldal po ko. By the way, I commend you guys for choosing the right organization to join here in UST.
Let me start by giving you some definitions of volunteerism. In literal understanding, we define volunteerism as giving time, energy, skills, talents and resources without expecting anything in return. It is basically derived from the most basic of all values, people helping people - A concept that’s been present since time immemorial. Another, In organizational point of view which would reflect our respective organizations, I would have to define it as an organized period of substantial contribution to community or society, recognized and valued with minimal or none at all monetary compensation. It would seem then as collective undertaking of groups of men working on the same interest, the same, people helping other people. Now, coining this term in the realm of politics, we can define volunteerism as an activity geared towards solving variety of urgent problems - counteracting problems of bureaucracy, reducing state expenses, promoting more self-initiative autonomy and participation among citizens who undertake the ministerial responsibility of the government and the market in protecting the welfare of the people. In other words, we see volunteerism forming a third sector aside from the state or the government and the market in addressing societal problems (ad lib: expound on the definitions)
Perhaps you do understood volunteerism based on this concepts. Let me give you my own interpretation of what is volunteerism.
Personally, I understand volunteerism as a burning passion (mas lumabo ba?).It’s a fire flaming in our hearts that burns our entire persona and creates ashes of positive values and positive vibes in us. It is inexplicably coming from nowhere that transpires in our hearts to make wholehearted (I said wholehearted) efforts of contributing to our society even in the smallest possible way.
In time, you’ll face criticisms from your parents, from your peers ( ad lib, share your personal experiences, in tagalog na lang) for doing this worthy task, but I’m sure that relentlessly, you would still remain doing this endeavor. Am I right? (ad lib, share your first volunteer experience)
Moving on, I honestly have one point to share with you this afternoon as you go on with your volunteer opportunities. But first, let me just enumerate first the qualities of volunteers I’ve met along the way. And I’m sure you’ll see yourself in them as well.
First. WE, VOLUNTEERS THINK FROM THE HEART AND NOT FROM THE MIND!
We unceasingly devote our time and effort; Despite everything that may happen to us, we don’t care, because our hearts tell us that we are needed. We never doubt our capabilities in volunteering; and this is how our hearts talk to us. (add more)
Second. WE, VOLUNTEERS, HAVE EXTRA STAMINA, WE NEVER GET TIRED
We don’t feel disgusted when things go wrong. We never feel exhausted after long hours of service. (naniniwala kayo?) There is no such thing as failure in everything that we do. Because our actions our coming from our hearts, WALANG SAYANG, WALANG PAGOD. And it will not be a failure as long as we know that we could still meet our objectives and there are ways to continue the project. We are always positive. For us volunteers, there is no such thing as failed project, only unfinished project. And as it is unfinished, we continue, we go on.
Third. WE TAKE RISK!
We fear nothing, when we know we will be of help to other people. We continue despite being cursed. We remain un-coerced despite being rejected. ( ad lib: I myself am weak, and I’ve never thought I’d be become a leader…, another, UNICEF experience, manning booths)
Last. WE ARE THE GREATEST FRIENDS PEOPLE COULD EVER HAVE.
Our immersion with the community has turned as into better interpersonal raconteurs. As we see, converse with different classes of people, we get to understand to intricate reality in social classes. And so we become better persons, emphatic to our social world.
I don’t mean to say that these alone are the characteristics of volunteers. Along the way, am sure you’ll discover even among yourselves the qualities of a true- blue volunteers mysteriously transforming your lives. Are you seeing yourself now? Don’t you actually feel special?( ad lib)
The reason I’m telling you these characteristics? I’d like you to examine yourselves and make pure your intentions now. Why join this organization? Volunteerism is a fun thing, it’s an adventure that will provide you fond memories to reckon. But more than that, it is also one source of hope particularly for our nation that is being marred by social degeneration. And more than the feeling of satisfaction, I know you’ll feel better when in your own simple ways you know you’ve rendered your nation a service, making a stake in nation-building, or nation-rebuilding.
During my interview with the Search for Best Student volunteer, in which one of your officers right now, Valerie, was likewise a finalist, I was asked this question. As president of a volunteer organization, how do you motivate your volunteers to continue with this task?
I answered it by enumerating first the types of members joining our organization based on my observation. And there are actually four.
One. Those who by nature have an open heart, mind and open hands.
Two. Those who search for fun, pastime, have nothing else to do.
Three. Those who only search for friends and companions
Four. Those whose primary purpose is to improve themselves.
I see no problem with the first type of member, you only guide them, but with the rest, we need to address their respective cases. Whatever their intention might be in joining the organization, I accept and commend their discernment in choosing our organization. I do believe that each person has his own innate goodness, and this has actually brought these other types of members to our organization, what we have to do then is nurture this innate goodness in them.
I have two borrowed quotations that I usually would tell my co-volunteers. One is from my Idol Martin Luther King Jr. that says, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t need to have a college degree to serve. You don’t need to have your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”(ad lib)
Another is a cliché that says, “No act of kindness however small is ever wasted. But this time I added something to it. “No act of kindness however small is ever wasted as long as we do it wholeheartedly.” (ad lib)
I do appreciate the effort of some members who join the organization because they would like to improve themselves, ordinary people who eventually do extraordinary things. In my observation, people who eventually turn out better in the organization are these amateurs; they may be amateurs but the courage that they have in pursuing their goals leaps them to become even better than professionals. Trust yourselves that you’ll do great in this task. Remember, Noah’s Ark was built by amateurs, Titanic was built by professionals.( ad lib, Kares story)
Perhaps, you do get my point now! Or did you? Volunteerism needs a heart, more than anything else, if your heart is here and you’ll do every volunteer opportunity with all your heart, you’ll never go wrong. Make ready your heart, and everything else will follow. It’s the only key, the only requirement for you to go on in this journey.
Now, As you journey in this exciting adventure, you’ll discover the many benefits volunteerism has to offer. I wont dwell on this matter. I want you to be surprise as you discover them. (kunwari magugulat din kayo ha!)
AD LIB, UNICEF EXPERIENCES AND WORKING WITH CHILDREN
Guys, you have the power to change this world only with the weapon of a sincere and loving heart. You are just starting
Am now ending this speech and I’d like this to be an encouragement to all of you: You have not done enough, so long as it is possible that you have still something to give, some thing to share, something to do. Go share, give what you have, coz giving much is receiving much! Trust me!
thanks for posting this jap. 
