Almost two decades after Trails to Empower Kids, or TREK, started, we continue to travel to communities that are not always easy to reach. These are places where help does not always reach, and where even simple things can make a difference.

For our 46th mission, we found ourselves back in San Luis, for our third outreach in the municipality and our seventh in the province.

Getting to San Luis

One of the challenges of organizing these outreach programs is logistics. Transporting donations has always been a challenge for us. With the volume of donations we collected, even after already sending two batches to Aurora, we still had so much left to bring.

It was a happy problem, though, and we solved it by going ahead of the group two days before the outreach. My mom, on her second TREK, and my baby dog Aeon came along with me. We took the bus, which had enough luggage space to accommodate the extra donations, something we couldn't manage as easily with the three rented vans we would be using for the rest of the group.

Going ahead gave me the chance to bring my mom to the beaches of Baler, which she was visiting for the first time. It also gave us time to help our Team Leader, Noel Dulay, with the preparations before the rest of the volunteers arrived.

On outreach day, the volunteers started arriving as early as 4:30 a.m.

We regrouped in Maria Aurora, where we had breakfast before continuing to San Luis. From there, the adventure really began.

Reaching Dibut Beach, our jump-off point for the boat ride to Diotorin, was not exactly a straightforward drive. The roads were steep, and some portions were unpaved, which became quite a challenge for our rented vans.

But thanks to our drivers’ skills, we reached beautiful Dibut Beach safely and immediately started loading the donations onto our boats.

From Dibut Beach, we continued by boat toward Diotorin, the remote coastal community where the outreach would take place.

We were relatively blessed with good weather. Although the boat ride took more than an hour, it was a beautiful way to see the San Luis coastline. 

As we approached the community, the first thing we saw was the students. As soon as they spotted our boat, they started waving.

When we reached the shore, they ran toward us, took our hands, and greeted us with mano, a Filipino gesture of respect where one takes an elder’s hand and gently brings it to the forehead. Some of the children hugged us, too. A few even walked with us to their school, which was just a very short walk from the beach.

It was one of the most heartwarming welcomes we have ever received.

A Day with the Students

Once we reached the school, it was time for our usual TREK program.

Diotorin Integrated School is located in Sitio Diotorin, Barangay Dibayabay, San Luis, Aurora. The school has more than a hundred students, from Kindergarten to Grade 7. Some of them are from Indigenous Peoples communities.

The school recently became an integrated school, which means students can now continue their education up to Grade 7 without having to leave their community after elementary school. This is especially important for families here, as continuing their education used to mean sending their children to schools farther away, something that not everyone could afford.

We had been researching Diotorin Integrated School for years and had wanted to include it in one of our outreach programs. It just took us this long to finally find the time and opportunity to get there.

During out turnover ceremonies, while our kitchen team was busy preparing lunch, we handed out cookies to the students. After that, we had games, with the usual running, laughing, shouting, and competitive spirit that somehow appears whenever TREK kids and volunteers get together.]

After that, we distributed their gifts. 

Before the outreach, we had asked each of them what they wanted. As always, the wishes ranged from practical school items to simple things they had been hoping to receive.

This has been my favorite part of our outreach programs. These kids live in geographically isolated areas and have very little access to some of the things they wish for. Most of their wishes were very simple. There was even a kid who asked for nothing more than bread. Seeing their reactions when they finally received what they wished for was precious.

After the wishes, we distributed school and personal essentials. The students received umbrellas, backpacks, school supplies, tumblers, and hygiene kits.

We also turned over supplies for the teachers, solar panels, and a few AM/FM radios for the parents.

Then it was time for lunch. The kids had spaghetti and chicken, while the volunteers had something just as special. The parents prepared a spread of local dishes for us, including fresh fish and shrimp.

It is something I always appreciate about these outreaches. We arrive thinking about what we can give, but the communities always find their own way of giving back.

School Head Sir Mark Anthony Neypes also shared his gratitude to TREK and the volunteers for bringing much-needed support to Diotorin Integrated School, a “last mile” school.

“Sa tagal na pong nakatayo ang aming paaralan, ngayon lang po sila nabigyan ng napakarami at nag-uumapaw na gamit.” (In all the years that our school has been here, this is the first time that our students have received such an abundance of supplies and things they need.)

His words were a reminder of just how much these simple things can mean to a community that is far from the usual sources of assistance.

Staying a Little Longer

With the outreach done, we had time to enjoy the other side of the trip: exploring new places and spending time together as a group.

We spent a night at Dibut Beach. For our group of around 30, we rented one big cottage and six smaller ones at Israel Beach Camp. The big cottage had an open kitchen and dining area, which became our common space for the night and the perfect place for everyone to gather.

I always miss these moments when everyone is simply together after a long day.

Our volunteers prepared dinner, we ate well, and we shared stories about the day's adventures. There was no rush. Just good food, good company, and that familiar feeling of being together after a successful TREK outreach.

Breakfast the next morning was just as good.

Afterward, we continued our Aurora adventure with a visit to the newly opened National Museum Baler, followed by a buffet lunch along Sabang Beach, before making our way to Villa Aurora Eco-Tourism Area, or VAETA.

Discovering VAETA

The drive took us deeper into the Sierra Madre, along winding, dizzying roads that seemed to go on and on.

From the parking area, we crossed a hanging bridge and followed a moss-covered cement trail to reach the villas. Others in our group took 4x4 vehicles that crossed the river.

VAETA is still relatively new and developing, and the accommodations are simple. Some villas have private toilets and baths, while some rooms have bunk beds. There were very few mattresses available.

There is electricity but no cellphone signal, and there are no food outlets.

For us, though, none of that was a problem. For our group, having a solid roof over our heads instead of sleeping in tents was already a luxury. And we came prepared, with our sleeping bags, food, and other provisions for the stay.

One of the highlights of our overnight stay at VAETA was the trek to Ubot Falls, a 14-meter waterfall that drops over a rocky wall into a natural pool. 

After the trek, we got to swim and spend some time by the river.

I also liked that VAETA is locally managed, with members of the Egongot Indigenous community helping manage the area, protect the forest, and guide visitors.

VAETA was a fitting way to end the trip. After spending the weekend giving back to a remote community, we got to slow down, explore somewhere new, and simply enjoy being together.