One does not need words to know one’s stories. ⁣

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I do not speak the language of the Maligcong tribe in Bontoc, but I still heard their stories. I heard the story of their history through the tattoos etched into the skin of the elderly women. I saw their culture through their dances, the ornaments on the women’s heads, and the way they conversed with each other. ⁣

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I felt their happiness with how they laughed and danced. The slight smiles told ’thank you’ in a way that could never be trans

The main mission of the Share A Smile Project is One Lamp, One Family. Before joining the team, I also wasn’t aware how huge the impact of solar lamps are. ⁣⁣


Most indigenous communities have limited access to electricity. Some don’t even have at all. Imagine living hours away from the town with no source of light. The adults sometimes have to travel hours just to get home. The children have to do their schoolwork. Why not do their schoolwork at daytime? Because they also have to walk home

The last time someone visited the tribe of Agta Tabangnon in San Rafael, Prieto Diaz was 10 years ago. Since then, no one really bothered to take the time and effort to make them smile. One of the locals told us that they weren’t expecting us to come anymore. There was a storm the day before and she assumed that we weren’t going to push through with the mission. ⁣

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When she saw our vans coming, she said that she was surprised and excited. After an hour of hiking, we finally reached San Rafael

I used to dislike kids, but then when I had my internship almost 2 years ago, I got incredibly fond of them. ⁣

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As a volunteer, I always make sure to place myself where I can interact with the kids. I always like hearing their silly jokes and animated stories. I like how smiley they get when I tell them how much I like their eyes or hair or shirt. I like it when they ask me 3000000 questions about my tattoos. I always find it funny when they try to guess what my name is. I like talking to shy

We all knew what Batangas looked like after the ashfall because of the news, but seeing it in person still alarmed me. The streets, houses, and plants were all bleak and grey. ⁣

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The first time Share a Smile went to Batangas for a relief mission, we were able to enter Maria Paz. It was so close to the Taal volcano that we can see its steam up close. The town felt eerie. It was only 5 in the afternoon, but there were not a lot of people in sight. ⁣

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When we checked our maps, we were surpris

(1/2) I wish I can explain how cold my body went when I first stepped into the doors of Tanauan’s Gym 2. For a second, I thought a new world cracked open and I was forced to watch a scene from a dystopian movie. It took me a minute to snap back into full consciousness and comprehend that it was all a reality. Lips trembling and hands shaking, I approached my co-volunteers. ⁣

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We were all wearing masks, but we could still see each other’s emotions in our eyes. We all looked around, took a mome

(2/2) Asking for help didn’t start as easy as I hoped for. I composed a paragraph and sent it to all the Facebook groups I belong to. I messaged two of my closest friends and begged them to help me. ⁣

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Donations came pouring in at around lunchtime. When the day ended, along with other volunteers’ donations, we were able to gather supplies enough for everyone in Tanauan Gym 2 and other evacuation centers. ⁣

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I thought going to Batangas for the second time would be easier. I was wrong. We we