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.

Our group, Trails to Empower Kids (TREK), is turning 17 soon, and what better way to celebrate than by heading back to the Visayas for one of our most ambitious projects yet—TREK Nasidman and TREK Ajuy. This wasn’t just any outreach; it was a summit-to-sea adventure, connecting mountain and island communities. It was ambitious, a bit crazy, and absolutely worth it.

At first glance, the odds were against us. Four schools. Two municipalities. One faced peace and security challenges, and the other involved remote islands that are tricky to access when the weather isn't ideal. On top of that, we planned this during a typhoon-prone month. To make matters even more challenging, the rising cost of living has affected everyone, making it harder to stretch resources. 

As always, we moved forward with faith and determination, and we were blessed throughout the journey.

Summit: Reconnecting with Panay Bukidnon Culture

Back in 2015, TREK visited three Schools of Living Tradition - Masaroy, Garangan, and Agcalaga - and had the honor of meeting Federico Caballero, a National Living Treasure from the Panay Bukidnon community.

The Panay Bukidnons, also known as Suludnons, reside in the mountainous areas of Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo. This time, we chose Cabatangan Elementary School, located in the Lambunao part of the same mountain range, as one of our recipients. I was especially excited because it allowed us to reconnect with a cultural community I've long admired.

Cabatangan Elementary School. Photo taken during our recon

However, just before the scheduled turnover, military activities in the area escalated. Our plan to personally deliver supplies, interact with the community, and let our volunteers experience the mountains had to be adjusted for safety reasons. We made the difficult decision to meet the school’s representatives at the jump-off point instead.

Though it wasn’t the interaction we had hoped for, we were still able to make a meaningful impact. Every student received a new backpack filled with school supplies, along with slippers, raincoats, hygiene kits, and storybooks.

After the turnover, we headed to Barangay Panuran for lunch at the Panuran School of Living Tradition (SLT).

Since community tourism is a key part of TREK’s mission, and with the hike to Cabatangan no longer necessary, we decided to visit Panuran SLT instead, originally planned as a side trip.

Though we were a bit disappointed that the Cabatangan hike didn’t happen, the day was anything but wasted. 

The Panuran community surpassed all expectations with their generosity. School officials, barangay leaders, tribal elders, and culture masters warmly greeted us. They even prepared a delightful spread of rice cakes, corn, peanuts, and drinks—our third breakfast that day! We had already eaten before setting out and again at the Cabatangan jump-off, thanks to the hospitality of the Barangay Captain.

Breakfast at Panuran SLT

What truly impressed us was the performance by the students and culture masters. A cast of about 30 put on a show that gave us rich insight into Panay Bukidnon life. It felt like watching a live musical, with scenes showcasing courtship rituals, formal family visits for marriage proposals, weddings, and traditional celebrations.

After the performance, we were treated to an even grander feast, featuring traditional meals for lunch. 

Since our plans for Cabatangan had to be canceled, we decided to hold a dental mission for the SLT students and some of their parents.

I have to admit, I felt a bit humbled by how much the community gave in comparison to what we could offer. I will make sure they remain in our thoughts and future plans.

Sea Journey: Sailing to Ajuy’s Islands

From Lambunao, where we stayed, we traveled early in the morning to Ajuy to board the boat that would take us to two island communities with last-mile schools.

The land trip took about two hours, and the boat trip to our first destination—Tagubanhan—took less than an hour. We were fortunate with good weather and the support of the local government unit (LGU). 

Once again, we were welcomed with a sumptuous breakfast spread prepared by the Barangay Captain of Tagubanhan, Girly M. Amante.

After breakfast, we headed to the school, where the students were already gathered, leis in hand, waiting for us. We got right to work. Our kitchen team began preparing lunch for the children, the dentists started accepting patients, and the rest of the volunteers organized donations, which included backpacks, raincoats, storybooks, and loot bags.

Meanwhile, we kicked off the program with a storytelling session, followed by a surprise birthday celebration for two of our volunteers—Lanie and Doc Jing. Afterward, we held the formal turnover ceremony.

Lunch followed, and once again, the Barangay Captain floored us. The meal was a seafood feast: the best ceviche I’ve ever had, along with crabs, shells, squid, and more—truly a meal that can only be experienced in a community like this.

After lunch, a few volunteers, including myself, sailed to Nasidman. Our dentists stayed behind to continue their mission while the rest of us boarded a speedboat for the next island. The ride was rougher, and I ended up getting wet, but I wasn’t worried. In fact, I felt lulled to sleep and probably took a short nap!

When we arrived at the school, the children were waiting in one of the classrooms due to the rain. We continued with more storytelling while some volunteers set up the book and toy nook that the school had requested. 

Our very simple book and toy nook for the Nasidman kids

When everything was ready, we gathered outside for a simple program.

We wrapped up the day by distributing loot bags to the children and sharing snacks before heading back to the port to meet the rest of the volunteers.

Side Trips: Wandering Through Iloilo’s Wonders

As mentioned, as part of our missions, we like to include a bit of tourism. 

On our fourth day in Iloilo, we explored Lambunao, visiting the Mari-it Conservation Park, where we saw Visayan spotted deer, trekked to Montillano Falls, and ended the day with a relaxing stay at J-maire Farm Resort.

On our final day, we toured more of Iloilo, starting at Garin Farm, where we climbed the famous Stairway to Heaven, and then visited Miag-ao Church to give thanks. We also stopped at the weaving center in Indag-an, followed by lunch, a visit to Jaro Cathedral, and finally, some pasalubong shopping before heading to the airport.

This outreach was a wonderful exchange of kindness, and I can’t wait for more adventures together. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible—our generous donors, hardworking volunteers, and our gracious hosts in Lambunao, the Leal Family. I’m also thankful to the teachers, community members, officials, and students who warmly welcomed us.

I love the trail. Whenever I am able, I join the outreach of TRails to Empower Kids (TREK), a group I co-founded 17 years ago to support children living in the mountains. 

So even though I felt somewhat unprepared, I couldn’t pass up the chance to join TREK’s latest expedition to Romblon. What is typically a two-hour hike for locals and a four-hour trek for seasoned hikers stretched into a six-hour journey for our group.

The intense heat of the sun made the hike particularly tough, but the companionship of my fellow volunteers made the challenging trek bearable and even enjoyable at times.

Our destination was the Layag Cultural Minority Schools in Sitio Layag, Barangay Taclobo, San Fernando, Romblon, nestled on Sibuyan Island, a favorite among mountaineers due to Mount Guiting-Guiting. The students here belong to the Mangyan Sibuyan Tagabukid indigenous group, with very limited access to educational supplies.

Our initial visit to the school was on June 29, 2023. I was recovering from surgery then, so I stayed at the jump-off point. We returned on August 28, just before the 2023-2024 school year began. With unfavorable weather for hiking, we met the kids and community at Taclobo Elementary School, near the jump-off point, where we provided school supplies and conducted a dental mission.

Since then, thanks to our donors, we’ve been helping repair the school’s classrooms, which haven’t seen improvements since they were built in 1975. 

The Climb

We set off on the morning of Saturday, April 27. I boarded a bus at SM Megamall with two other volunteers, Sir Rey and Ailene, and we met the rest of the group at Batangas Port for an overnight ferry to Sibuyan Island. The smooth sail and calm sea allowed us all to have a restful sleep.

Early the next morning, before dawn, we arrived at Ambulong port in Magdiwang, Sibuyan Island. From there, it was over an hour’s drive to San Fernando, where the jump-off to Sitio Layag is located.

At Sir James’s house, the head of the school, we met community members who would help us haul donations up the mountains and teachers who would accompany us. We chose the longer but less steep trail among several options.

The lengthy trek, with much of the path exposed to the sun, was taxing. Volunteers who had visited the school before suggested taking the steeper but shorter trail on our way back. We arrived at the school by mid-afternoon.

The Outreach

As soon as we arrived, everyone got to work. The kitchen team, with help from community members, started preparing dinner for the volunteers, teachers, students, and some community members.

Some students and teachers stay at the school because they live far away. That’s why we donate sleeping mats, blankets, clothes, and food to the school. While the kitchen was busy, we organized the donations for the turnover scheduled for the next day.

Tired from the hike, most of us turned in early. The next day, we were up early, recharged, and started preparing. Some volunteers helped with breakfast and lunch, some organized donations, and others interacted with the kids.

Because only a few volunteers signed up for this outreach due to the location and duration, our turnover was simpler but still fun. Even the parents and other community members enjoyed and became part of the whole festivities.

We started with games, followed by the distribution of clothes, underwear, slippers, toys, loot bags, sporting goods, and other goodies for the kids. We also had special gifts for the school’s swimming team, which has been winning awards in competitions, and for students who stay at the school.

We also provided them with flashlights to assist them, especially during night treks, and whistles for emergencies.

Since it wasn’t our first time interacting with the kids, there was already a sense of familiarity, making our interaction even more enjoyable. 

After lunch, we began our descent using the shorter trail, which was steeper and included more river crossings, offering us different views.

One of the kids, Manuel, even took it upon himself to meet me at the river crossings to guide me, making sure I stepped on stable rocks and saw me off at the jump-off. We had ice cream afterward.

The Side Trip

We take voluntourism to heart. Before heading back home, we visited another famed attraction on Sibuyan Island, Cresta de Gallo. We had been eyeing this island famous for its sandbar since our first visit, and the weather finally permitted us to enjoy it.

The side trip was fantastic, allowing all the volunteers to continue bonding, reminisce about previous climbs, and discuss future projects. 

Cresta de Gallo’s pristine white sandy beaches and emerald-green waters provided the perfect backdrop for these conversations.

Last December 8th to 9th, to commemorate our group’s 16th anniversary, we returned to the community where our story began.

We are a volunteer-led organization of mountain climbers and outdoor enthusiasts united by the shared advocacy of aiding children and communities in the mountains and other isolated areas.

In Sitio Saybuan in Itogon, Benguet, we laid the foundation of our group, Trails to Empower Kids or TREK. We were 15 mountain climbers who wanted to give back to mountain communities, and we have been doing so for the past 16 years.

Though a bit overdue, we felt it was time to celebrate again with the community we love—Sitio Saybuan.

The volunteers and the teachers and students of Saybuan Elementary School

The community has always been on the back of our minds, but the planning was set in motion when a parent from the community, Ma'am Marivic Alvarez Alonzo, contacted us and invited us again to visit their community.

She said, “Na-miss na po namin kayo… Miss na miss na rin po kayo ng mga bata. Yung iba po graduate na po, pero may bagong pumasok. Sana makabalik ulit kayo dito sa amin.” (We missed you already. The kids also miss you. Some have graduated, but new students have come in. We hope you can come back.)

The group has been returning to Sitio Saybuan. We first revisited in 2010 and then again in 2017 to culminate the group’s celebration of its 10th anniversary. In 2020, during the pandemic when we couldn't physically trek, we sent aid to assist them with their modular distance learning. 

We didn't want our outreach activities to be one-time events. We want to witness how the community grows, check on the kids, and see how else we can be of assistance to them. Of course, our biggest wish is for our help to no longer be needed by the communities we serve and for our organization to become obsolete. That would mean all kids, regardless of their location, would enjoy equitable access to resources and opportunities. But for now, we will keep coming back to these communities. 

And every return to Saybuan feels like a homecoming.

From the moment I set foot at the jump-off, everything felt familiar—the trails lined with flowers, the hanging bridges, and the view of the mountains and the river. I remembered all our stories from the trail and felt warmth knowing that new stories will start.

At the school, there was hot coffee, rice cakes, and boiled root crops waiting for us. It was mid-morning, and I barely had time to finish my coffee when they announced that we could have lunch already.

It was early, but we had a full day ahead.

We divided ourselves into three teams. I joined the first team that arrived in Saybuan, composed of dentists and volunteers who could assist with the dental mission we prepared for the students and some members of the community.

Immediately after lunch, we started preparing the area where we could conduct our dental mission. Once ready, we asked kids to line up so they could listen to a bit of a lecture on proper dental care, then brush their teeth together. After these, they were ushered to the area where they could wait and then register for the dental mission. Our dentists checked their teeth, extracted teeth that needed extracting, then applied fluoride. And gifts awaited them afterward to reward them and give them a good overall experience.

Our hardworking Dental Mission team

While this was ongoing, our team that handled the marketing of ingredients for the volunteers’ and the community’s meals arrived and started preparing already.

Even without good sleep and after a long, tiring journey, everyone chose to help rather than rest. We spent the afternoon until late evening unpacking our boxes, sorting, and repacking.

Early the next morning, even before the sun was up, we already started preparations for the day’s program. 

Our third and last group arrived, responsible for the program. Councilor Norberto Pacio, who has been helping us since before we started, also arrived with welders who installed the solar lamps we donated for the community.

Councilor Norberto Pacio with our volunteers Izyan, John Rex, Karyl, and Ponga

We created a simple program. We started with games. Some members of the community performed. Then we gave Ma'am Marivic, Saybuan Elementary School Admin Alvin Balbines, and Councilor Norberto time to give their speeches.

TREK Anniv events coincide with my birthday. This time, I celebrated with Karyl, John Rex, and Bench

John Rex hosting our program

Ma'am Marivic said that she is thankful that her request was noticed, and we chose Saybuan again as a venue for our outreach.

“Wala akong ibang intensyon kung hindi mapasaya ang mga bata at mabigyan sila ng pamasko. Sa tulong po ninyo, nagkaroon ng ngiti ang mga bata ngayon.” (I don’t have any other intention but to make the kids happy and give them Christmas gifts. With your help, the kids have smiles on their faces.”)

But I think more than the kids, it is us, the volunteers, who are happier. While we are the ones giving, the joy the kids and community give is much more.

After that, we handed over our donations. We started with backpacks with school supplies, hygiene kits, and loot bags. All these were gathered through the generosity of TREK’s sponsors.

Some of the students with their backpacks, loot bags, hygiene kits, and school supplies

Then, we called each kid, and they received a sack full of goodies from their "Santas." About three months ago, we asked all kids to write their Christmas wishes, and we looked for sponsors for each one.

With my inaanak Shin Zhi who wished for Hello Kitty stuff

Members of the community also brought home grocery packs. Our friends from UnionBank Digital sponsored grocery packs for all 65 households of Sitio Saybuan.

UnionBank Digital Team with some of the grocery bags they packed for the community

We had lunch afterward with the community. It was a simple lunch of a noodle dish or pancit, pork adobo, and fried chicken but, like all the other meals we shared with the community, it was memorable.

Kids also got treats from Goldilocks Bakeshop

After lunch, we packed our bags and headed back to the trail with new memories of Saybuan.

Trails to Empower Kids’ most recent mission, which is part of its 15^th-anniversary trilogy, was TREK Romblon. 

The activity benefitted the students of the Layag Cultural Minority School of Sitio Layag, Barangay Taclobo, in San Fernando, Romblon. The school is located on the island of Sibuyan, a popular destination among mountaineers because of Mount Guiting-guiting. The school lies in the same mountain range and our volunteers fondly call it G1. 

We conducted our recon on June 29, 2023. I was still recovering from a recent surgery, so I just joined the trip to Sibuyan but did not climb to the community.

It took our volunteers, who struggled because of the steep and slippery trails, more than four hours to climb. So, we just decided to schedule the outreach during the summer months so that the climb would not be too hard for them.

Recon Team - Doc Jo, Ponga, Uncle Benjie, Ailene, Sir James, Sir Ervin, and Chris

Our group’s mission is to help kids who live in the mountains and other far-flung areas, and we go there ourselves, no matter how far or difficult. But of course, we must balance that out with our volunteers’ safety. 

However, since the school had urgent needs and classes were opening, we decided to do an advance mission on August 28, a day before the opening of schoolyear 2023 – 2024.

Among those urgent needs were construction materials for the classroom, which were really in a sorry state. The classrooms were built in 1975 and have not been renovated ever since. 

We also wanted to help the teachers who attend to students who stay in the school during weekdays. These students live hours away from school, so they just decided to board in the school together with the teachers. They needed food supplies, sleeping mats, and some forms of entertainment like board games and sporting equipment. And, of course, since it was school opening, all the students needed school supplies. 

These students, who are members of the indigenous group Mangyan Sibuyan Tagabukid, have very limited access to these necessities for school. They live very simple lives, mostly relying on farming and mountain guiding, and very often do not have funds to buy these.

So, we gathered funds, rounded up volunteers, and prepared for a day filled with fun and food. Plus, one of our volunteers, a dentist, offered to lead a dental mission. 

We decided to just hold the activities at Taclobo Elementary School, which is located near the jump-off to the trails leading to the school. The students will just go down the mountains at meet us there.

With Principal Mario Romano of Taclobo Elementary School

Initially, we were very worried that the kids would not be able to go down. The weather was so bad, and we did not want to risk their safety. We told the head teacher, Sir James Pantonial, that it was okay if the kids did not attend the activities. In that case, we would just send up the donations.

We had a lot of talks about postponing. First, two typhoons were hovering over the country. Then, Starlite Ferries cancelled their Saturday trips to Sibuyan, which we only found out when we were already at the Batangas Port. 

But we really wanted to conduct this outreach as promised. So, we sailed to Odiongan Port, then traveled by land to San Agustin Port, before boarding the Starhorse Ferry, which sailed us to Sibuyan Island.

The morning of the activities, the kids started arriving early. We were not even ready with their breakfasts yet. Good thing we had leftover porridge for them.

While the kitchen was busy, Doc Jo and Ponga, our volunteers, started gathering the students for the dental mission. They began by teaching the kids how to brush properly. Then, they were all led one by one to our makeshift clinic for check-ups and fluoride.

While these were ongoing, our kitchen team, led by Uncle Benjie, finished preparing their breakfasts – sopas or macaroni soup made with elbow macaroni, various vegetables, and meat. We also had puto or steamed rice cake for them, prepared by the family of Sir James Pantonial. 

Our host, Sir Mario Romano, Principal of Taclobo Elementary School, had a videoke machine set up, which had the parents and students entertained.

By lunchtime, it started to rain, so we led the students to the classrooms and had pancit, adobo, boiled egg, and rice. Each one received a plateful, and most finished. Of course, it was delicious because it was lovingly prepared by our volunteers, who were assisted by the volunteer mothers of the Layag community.

We asked students to pick their own toys and handed each one a plastic envelope filled with school supplies. Every kid went home smiling.

This is my favorite part of every TREK mission. Those smiles easily wipe away all the exhaustion and stress. It also gives us the strength to pursue this advocacy.

And since we prepared extra sets, we were also able to turn over a few for Taclobo Elementary School.

This mission would not have been a success without our donors and volunteers. We also got a lot of help from the teachers of Layag (Sir Ervin Raras, Ma’am Jonally R. Rutor, and their head, Sir James Dominic Pantonial), Principal Mario R. Romano of Taclobo Elementary School, PNP personnel of 3rd Platoon PMFC Talaba-Substation, and all the volunteer mothers. 

TREK’s 15^th Anniversary

Our group’s 15^th-anniversary celebration consisted of three parts. We decided to have an outreach in each of the Philippines’ major island groups – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Our Mindanao leg was held earlier this year, which I was unfortunately unable to join because of the surgery. Our volunteers went to two schools - Keupiyanan Te Balugo – Sitio Bongbong Extension and Panayaban Te Binasalan.

These schools were all beneficiaries of our pandemic program as well, designed to help these schools with their modular learning.