October 28, 2007

The Essence of Volunteerism

I gave this speech during the Graduation Ceremonies of the LDS Seagull Rescue Technicians last October 27, 2007 in Dagupan

Ladies and Gentlemen, a pleasant day to you all.

I would like, first of all, to say how deeply honored I am to be invited to address you on a subject that is so dear to my heart.

When I was first invited to speak to you about volunteerism and its importance, I thought it would be a very easy task. After all, I have been fortunate enough to be raised by parents who instilled in me a keen awareness of the needs of those around me and who planted the seeds of volunteerism in my heart. I have done my share of volunteer work: from fundraising and outreach activities to feeding programs to teaching out-to-school youth to medical and surgical missions…

As I matured in my personal and professional life, I encountered amazing people who thought nothing of working in behalf of others without expectation of pay or other tangible gain. These individuals became my personal heroes. What they did and what they continue to do is the standard that I aspire to.

Despite all of this, however, I find it difficult to adequately communicate the essence of volunteerism. I cannot find the right words that would inspire you the way I was inspired by the people I’ve met in my life.

So I decided to cheat a little bit, get some ideas from others, and do an informal survey of healthcare providers among those on my mobile’s phonebook.

Out of the 505 relatives, co-workers, friends and acquaintances listed there, 136 worked in providing health care in one way or another as doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, or EMTs. I did not text 6 since they were part of the group that invited me to speak to you today.

I asked all 130 the same questions: 1) How would you define volunteerism? 2) Why should one volunteer? And 3) how often do you volunteer?

Forty seven (47) ignored my text. Three (3) answered “Hu dis?” Two answered “Are you serious?” One (1) answered, “Ano yan? Pang-Miss Universe?” Another one (1) gave me my favorite answer, “Walang hiya ka. Naka-roaming ako. May bayad ang incoming text messages mo!”

Among the remaining 76 who gave me sensible and heartfelt answers, I noticed a recurrent theme. They defined volunteerism using practically the same terms: selflessness, personal choice, service, initiative, passion, self-fulfillment…

Taking all of their responses together, I came to define volunteerism as “a personal choice to perform selfless acts of service to meet the needs of others out of one’s own initiative and passion for a cause without expecting any remuneration except self-fulfillment and the betterment of one’s fellowmen.”

You might wonder how I would personally define volunteerism. For me, volunteerism is all about turning passion for service into solutions. An anesthesiologist friend once told me, among the various branches of medicine, it is in emergency care and rescue that one is present and ready to be of assistance when a casualty needs help the most.

Inherent in the practice of emergency care and rescue is a facet of volunteerism. Emergencies don’t go on holiday. Disasters are not scheduled. This is why anyone involved in emergency care can be compelled by circumstance and his conscience to volunteer.

We cannot deny the fact that we live in a country that is disaster-prone. The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ocean, the world's largest factory of typhoons. It makes up part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire" with more than 200 volcanoes within its boundaries. We are located in a tectonically active region between the world's largest earthquake generators – the Pacific and Eurasian Plates. We mostly live in narrow crowded streets that are difficult to maneuver in when fires occur. We have inadequately guarded borders easily penetrated by terrorists. In short—sadly— we are a disaster waiting to happen.

What does all this mean?

It means that we have to be vigilant. We have to be prepared. And we have to be willing and able to volunteer our services when our fellowmen and our country need us the most.

Allow me, at this point, to add one essential ingredient that will make volunteerism truly meaningful, positive and helpful— that essential ingredient is what you have just done: proper training.

Volunteering is not just about one’s passion, beliefs and convictions. One must also have the necessary skills to supply what is needed. This is why I commend all of you here today. By learning the essentials of disaster preparedness and search and rescue operations, you are making yourself ready to serve when tragedy strikes. You are ensuring that you know what to do when it needs to be done.

The next question we have to consider is: WHY VOLUNTEER?

There are so many reasons. Among the 76 friends who answered my text message, there appeared to be at least 50 different reasons. As much as I would like to enumerate all of them to you today, it would take too much time. Baka alas-dose na ng hating-gabi, nandito pa rin tayo. Neverthless, there was once again a recurrent theme among the responses I received: it is a duty… It is a responsibility… To give back to my community… To give thanks for the blessings I have received… Because there is a need… Because I can… Because it fulfills me… The list goes on and on.

However, I believe that the most important reasons to volunteer are stated concisely in the creed recited by search and rescue technicians:

It is my duty to save a life and to aid the injured. I will perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, "That Others May Live."

We need to volunteer our skills and services because it is our duty as citizens of our country to “save a life and to aid the injured.” We need to train and volunteer so “that others may live.” At its most extreme, we have to be ready to lay down our own lives so that a stranger may live.

The ultimate irony of the field you officially enter today is this—that the people you save during disasters and whom you bring to definitive care mostly go home complete while you who start the rescue efforts with the most energy and the highest of ideals, often leave the scene of a disaster broken in spirit.

In the aftermath of the destruction brought about by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Emergency physicians in Louisiana coined a motto that I believe fits everyone who works in emergency care and rescue. That motto is, “First to arrive. Last to leave.”

This is my challenge to you: To be willing to be the first to arrive and be the last to leave. Always keep in mind, however, that you must likewise punctuate your volunteer service with time to recharge yourselves and deal with the stresses inherent in SAR operations and disaster management. Never forget to consider your innate human imperfections and the fragility of your own human emotions.

The answer of one of my friends to my question, “How often do you volunteer?” really struck me at very core of my being. He said:

I volunteer when I can and when the urge of generosity spurs me. But I know, deep in my heart, that I don’t volunteer as much as circumstances require me to, as much my conscience compels me to, as much as my country wants me to, nor as much as people around me need me to.

Volunteerism is not merely a conscious decision to help others. It is a way of life. Every nation and every country has aspects of volunteerism entrenched in its culture and its traditions. It is a remarkable way for people to make a difference in the lives of others.

The concept of volunteering to contribute to progress and development is a very old one. However, the idea that volunteerism should be tapped and should be directed towards meeting the needs of a nation and of a people is new. It may be sound like an ambitious idea, but I personally believe that volunteers have equally ambitious hearts.

The points I want you to consider as you volunteer are these:

1. Turn your passion for service into solutions,

2. Always be prepared,

3. Be willing to be the first to arrive and the last to leave

4. Make volunteerism your way of life, and

5. Do all this so that others may live.

Annually, the United Nations honors volunteers on December 5 during the International Volunteers’ Day. However, allow me to celebrate that day prematurely. For today and at this moment, I honor and salute the volunteer in each and every one of you.

Congratulations and thank you very much.