Seventeen years on, the thrill of returning to the trails never wanes.

For our 17th anniversary outreach, we decided to go back to Sitio Polis in Barangay Poblacion, Kibungan, Benguet. This was our fifth outreach to this remote community, continuing the bonds we first formed in 2010 and strengthened over subsequent visits in 2012 and 2017, as well as through our pandemic aid in 2020.

It felt like coming home. This year’s outreach held even greater significance as it was also our Christmas celebration in the mountains.

Before trekking to Polis, we stopped by Kibungan Central School, another recipient of our aid during the pandemic. It was our first visit to the school. We held a simple gift-giving ceremony, with presents coming from ninongs and ninangs who fulfilled the kids’ Christmas wishes based on letters sent a month earlier. After the program, we shared lunch with the community and some members from Sitio Polis who would later help us haul our donations through the mountains.

After Kibungan Central School, we began our hike to Sitio Polis. The start of our journey was a mix of nostalgia and discovery, with familiar faces greeting us. Seeing former students, now young adults, step forward to help us carry donations was profoundly moving. The path itself held memories: the familiar long staircases we had to descend, the long hanging bridge we crossed, and the mountain trail leading to Polis. The trek was as tough as ever, with steep trails that tested our endurance. Yet, it was even more beautiful, with blooming flowers and newly installed handrails making the journey safer.

In Polis, we were welcomed with warmth and hospitality. Hot cups of lemongrass tea and rice cakes awaited us — a thoughtful gesture that made us feel at home once again. 

Despite being tired from the overnight journey from Manila to Baguio, the long jeepney ride to Kibungan, facilitating morning activities at Kibungan Central School, and the exhausting trek to Polis, our team still found the energy to embrace the tasks ahead with enthusiasm.

Our dental mission team promptly began providing their much-needed services, while other volunteers prepared for the turnover program with unwavering dedication and energy.

The next day, shortly after breakfast shared with the community, we gathered the kids and fitted them with new TREK shirts, jogging pants, and shoes. Once everyone was ready, having completed their dental checkups, we assembled for a short program. We began with a prayer, including a moment of silence for our departed volunteer, Busi, whose last project was providing pandemic aid to Polis Barrio School and Kibungan Central School.

We then proceeded with the distribution of gifts for the kids. Once again, we had our TREK X Conquer backpacks for each child, part of our ongoing collaboration with Conquer Outdoor Equipment. Through this initiative, our group sold backpacks to volunteers, friends, and families, and for every backpack sold, one was donated. Fortunately, we sold enough to provide for all the children of Sitio Polis.

Each backpack was packed with school supplies. In addition, we distributed new umbrellas, hygiene kits, and loot bags to each child. For each household, we provided grocery packs. As requested by the teachers, we also gave the school sleeping mats, sports equipment, mirrors, and more school supplies.

Seeing the children’s smiles as they opened their backpacks and the gratitude of the parents as they received their grocery packs reminded us of the true spirit of the season. It was a moment of simple yet profound happiness, one that left all of us feeling grateful and fulfilled.

This mission was particularly special for me as it coincided with my 50th birthday. Celebrating this milestone in the mountains, surrounded by co-volunteers and the community we have come to love, was a gift beyond measure.

Our volunteers managed to surprise me with a second birthday celebration at Sitio Polis, complete with cakes and balloons. I was amazed at how they carried the cake up the challenging trail without a scratch. The first celebration had been at Kibungan Central School.

Another highlight was reuniting with Dempsey, a boy we first met in 2010 who inspired the design of that year’s TREK shirt. Now a young man and a farmer, Dempsey has become more than just a celebrity among us TREK volunteers. He is a hero to his community and a source of pride for the entire country.

Dempsey's mother, the president of the Parents and Teachers Association, expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the community. The program concluded with a touching song performed by the teachers and parents, dedicated to us.

As we began our journey back, our physical burdens were lighter, but our hearts were full. The scenic beauty of the mountains, coupled with the knowledge that we had made a positive impact, filled us with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude.

Seventeen years is a long time, but our journey is far from over. The trails we walk may be rugged and challenging, but they are also filled with moments of joy, connection, and purpose. Here’s to many more years of empowering kids and transforming lives, one step at a time.