1. It’s Quick – 3-4 hours and we’re done. So if you’re scared, or not used to this sort of thing- welcome to the club. I’m not used to this either and I know for a fact that if I have to stay the whole day every week I probably can’t sustain it very long.
2. It’s Fun – What’s strange is that once or twice last Saturday I was thinking “I wonder how much longer it will be till I get to go home” because I was missing my little baby. But when I got home and saw the photos and looked at them with my wife, I realize – that it actually was fun.
3. Transpo is easy – We just meet in one place in Sta Rosa (Laguna Bel Air 2, CJRS Building) then have a quick Powwow there and then convoy to the place. Last week there were enough cars so I left mine in CJRS and just rode with someone.
4. You get to meet people – people just like you. They’re interesting and nice to talk to. Here are the people I met in trip #1 – http://lifeafterondoy.com/ZeoA
5. It’s an escape – Ok so it’s not Boracay but it’s still an escape from our sickeningly routine-like world from Monday to Friday. Look at the headline – this is a list of “selfish” reasons remember? Just being real. The easiest way to forget your problems is to help other people with their bigger problems. When my wife and I come home the first thing we do is give each other this “look” and I know what she’s thinking and she knows what’s on my mind too- “Thank God for everything in here”.
6. It’s Disturbing - ok so I don’t know why this is a Selfish Reason but think of this. If you will willingly pay 150pesos to watch Paranormal Activity only so you can stay sleepless for a week I think that maybe somehow someway you want to be disturbed! Hahah.. The truth is, these outreaches are not as disturbing as I thought they would be. My first time I was thinking “What the heck am I doing in this car? Why am I not at home right now watching TV?”. But when we missed a week last week I was kinda wishing I was there.
7. It’s Addicting – They say “Charity is the last legal way to get high”. I dunno who said that but I heard it more than once. It’s true. So if my list of selfish reasons somehow convince you to come… it’s being selfless and the ensuing highs of that.. that will make you stay.

All Life After Ondoy really is- is just a way to keep on Volunteering all the time. I’m not delusional enough to think that this website will solve all our country’s problems. I do believe though that if we all learn to pop our own bubbles once in a while and see what’s really out there, then maybe collectively we can make this place a little better. Or a lot.

Details for This Saturday

Place: Kaingin. We’ll convoy there. It’s just 20 minutes away from our meeting place. It’s a flooded area close to Ciudad. The water is still leg-high where they live. Don’t worry we’re not gonna wade there. At its worst-  it was chest high.
What will we do? Games with kids, feeding, distribution of goods. Not sure about Medical. Last Saturday we had a doctor and a nurse giving free checkups.
What to bring? Food. I’ll update this page. Probably boiled eggs again. Also- always bring the magic three when you come- Sunblock, Off lotion, and Alcohol (rubbing).

Can I see Photos of Kaingin? Yes. Tada…

How to Volunteer

Shoot me an email right away at stefan@lifeafterondoy.com

That’s it!