Joel Quek

What is your favourite memory from the trip?
A question asked by many. To be very honest— and as cliché as it sounds, there are simply too many to name. From the countless morning assemblies with the children playing 'Bomb!', to cooking Singaporean cuisine for them alongside an amazing team of head chefs, and even the honour of attending a local Barangay festival— every moment of the trip was special and unforgettable.

The children of Alao Elementary showed me what pure, unconditional love looks like, and what it meant to truly put others above oneself. I remember when Edison was knocked out cold after a fall during 'Bomb!'. The kids immediately stopped playing and rushed over to his aid, carrying him over to us for treatment whilst also fanning him and providing him with a cup of water. Some of the children would also selflessly share the many spoils we gave them with their friends, ensuring that everyone had something to eat. These small actions, albeit being an everyday norm to the children, showed me a glimpse of what true 'kampong spirit' was.

They showed me how happiness could be found in every little thing. Over there, there was no such thing as rules for games, anything was a game to them. The kids were just happy to run about all day long chasing each other until their lungs gave out or they fell, in which they would just pick themselves up, brush their scrapes, and continue playing. Toys there had no fixed definitions. I was especially amused to see some of the kids playing skipping rope with a rope fashioned out of tree vines, with some even using tree branches as a swing. Whilst their play may seem insignificant, it showed me the tangible value of simplicity and the importance of slowing down and enjoying every small thing in life.

They showed me what it meant to dream big, even when circumstances may not always permit or be the most ideal. I remember a rather intelligent kid named John, whose dream was to become a doctor— a dream that involved jumping through many systemic and financial obstacles that lay in his path. Yet, he remained unfazed and steadfast in his desire to achieve that dream.

These were just some of the many unforgettable memories and insightful experiences I gained over the course of the trip. The children of Zambales showed me a whole new way of life, one that was so poor, yet so rich.

Whilst some may question the true value of our impact on the children's lives of given the short time frame we, I am confident that our time there has meaningfully impacted their lives in one way or another, and so will every other iteration moving forward.

Beyond just the tangible long-term aid in the form of solar-powered lights, our time with the children definitely created lifelong memories for both them and us volunteers, something that became very apparent to me when one of the kids proudly showed me a Polaroid photo of a group picture taken with members from the previous edition, still preciously stored in its original Ziploc bag. These kids, despite their youth and innocence, definitely care and will remember our time with them.

This to me, is the most invaluable contribution we have brought to them. I hope that the global exposure we brought to them, be it through the exchange of our culture, our daily interactions and encouragements, we have inspired them to be curious learners who will strive to achieve great things in their own unique ways and individual lives as they grow up.

So perhaps, I will never be able to single out one memory that made this trip so special, but rather, the concoction of experiences and emotions is what made PL12 such a core memory for me. It has been an honour to be a part of PL12 and I will forever be grateful for every moment, every verse and every soul I've met through PL12. Thank you.

With love,
Kuya Joel