daluyan entry

I thought I'd share my entry to Daluyan, ISO's (Institute of Social Order) yearly publication. Every volunteer last summer was supposed to write an entry about his/her experiences:

Introspection: Rethinking Idealism
By Eric Uy

It turned out that my month-long volunteer work for ISO was anything but immersion in programs for areas in Quezon or Camarines Norte. They weren’t able to squeeze me because two volunteers had already confirmed for programs- and they were only supposed to have one volunteer for each location. I was devastated. I was expecting something akin to involvement with community development projects. But luck was against me. For the most part, I was confined to a computer station, squeezing the littlest drop of creativity I had to redesign their website. I was more than apprehensive about this daunting task. It had been a very long time since I last flaunted my skills on Flash or Photoshop- not to mention that I have to learn how to use Dreamweaver!

Things started to get better eventually. My long forgotten fervor for design was rekindled, and I was actually building tangible skills for web design. What’s more was that I got to know the people behind ISO, people who have dedicated their lives to social development, people whose lives may inspire me in choosing what to do after college. These became more than a consolation for not making it to the immersion program. Luck was actually on my side.

When I, along with the other three volunteers, chanced on having some of the staff for a casual chit-chat over mirienda, my initial interest in their lives took another turn. I had to ask what motivates them in their job. That particular question was loaded with our notions of “the development worker”. I was surprised to hear that it’s not exactly their original idealism that inspires them. Ate Ging, coordinator for IFARMC Lamon Bay, for instance mentioned that it’s the joy with fellow co-workers that inspires her to retain and do her job well. Ate Norie, Value-based Education officer, on the other hand, said that it’s not about the vision of what it is to be developed for the people ISO assists; it’s the feeling of being with the people of the community as they improve that drives her- no matter how small those improvements maybe. Ultimately, she said, that grand vision of development wouldn’t be tangible- not in her lifetime at least, she comically shared.

On development work, I had in mind toiling everyday to create a society where everyone has equal chance to better his or her life. I guess youth has something to do with this arguably naïve notion of development- evidently a close resemblance appeared in the younger ISO staff. Perhaps my real question was how would I endure a career on social development? Would the sort of idealism I have suffice to motivate me to go to work everyday? Will this kind of idealism last or is it merely transitory? What would my motivation be in working if my grand notion of development wouldn’t materialize?

Reality check. It was foolish to assume that the life I would lead should be solely based on this notion of idealism, on making sure that everything I do would be in line with this particular vision. I realized that development work is life like any pursuit of any vocation; that it’s about the people you do it for and with more than the idea of pursuing something good. I can say that the same thing seemed to take precedence between ISO and the people of Jomalig, whose company I enjoyed for a very brief period.

Knowing the people behind ISO enabled me to rethink my kind of idealism. I realized that while the vision of development could remain intangible, people who you do it with and for could certainly couldn’t. What’s more is that they can reveal pieces of that grand vision. It became something to look forward to in the future. Post-graduation scenario seems less dreary and more exciting. Those precious conversations enlightened me on what development work really- or more accurately what it is not solely about.

So it happens that after my volunteer work didn’t only let me regain some of the skills I’ve long forgotten and develop new ones, it also opened my eyes that to what’s in store after college, which I need very much in my senior year. Most importantly, the people I spent my month-long volunteer work have made me recognize that it’s people that matters in the future I’m planning for myself- not the idea of me pursuing something grand. Thanks to all ISO staff for this great experience!