The playful weather posed little to no threat to 148 volunteers of the 2010 Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) event in Ifugao province. Braving the scorching heat with intermittent rains, the participants trekked a total of 15 hours on May 22 and 23 to donate much-needed school supplies to hundreds of disadvantaged grade schoolers from the remote barangays of Cambulo, Pula, Batad and Kinakin.
Each carrying clothing, provisions and at least two school packs weighing 1.5 kilos apiece, the volunteers walked mile after mile on rough terrain amidst the mountainous Ifugao region. A stunning view of the Banaue Rice Terraces offered the weary travelers a hearty spiritual and mental consolation.
Divided in to 12 groups, the volunteers settled in the rustic yet comfortable classrooms of Cambulo Elementary School where they were welcomed by the barangay captain, school principal and dozens of locals.
Group presentations were held at the night of May 22 to provide entertainment to both the locals and volunteers. Each group performed a song/dance number according to their pre-assigned popular artists.
The gift-giving to 300 students from grades 1 to 6 ensued the following morning. A dozen Ifugao youth performed the traditional Dinuyya dance, a testament to the preservation of the local culture and customs.
At 11.00am, the entire team started their gruelling 9-hour journey to Batad, where they would ride the jeepney back to Banaue town proper for the bus ride to Manila.
More photos from author’s Multiply site.
*Note: It has just come to my attention that an external site selling sexual performance enhancing drugs has embedded the same video on to their website to lure visitors. My apologies for that and I hope Google acts on this issue.
Thanks Rey! More power to you and ReyJr.com.
Maybe you would like to blog about mountaineering and promote AMCI’s Basic Mountaineering Course in the process 
Haha, unfortunately I’ve never climbed a mountain and wouldn’t know the first thing about it. woot.
I’ve attended a few charity events before and I always get that lump in the throat thing when you realize you’re helping people who really need it, and really deserve it.
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I think this is a wonderful endeavor, and again I shake your hand in promoting it. Awesome Jay-R!
Posted by reyjr at June 2, 2010, 8:33 am