Day 8: Ang Pilipino Ay Ako!

We left our friends in Cavite today with tears in our eyes and inspiration in our hearts, genuinely not wanting to leave our new family. Over the course of just four short days we have been reminded of what is important in this life we live, learning more in this brief period of time than we ever could in the classroom. Not only have we experienced the power of genuinely caring for your community and it's members, but we have also seen the direct effect of being selfless with the little that you have. We have learned that raising up a generation of strong, passionate leaders and caring, committed members undeterred by daily tragedies and obstacles is key towards creating the kind of world that we all want to live in.

These lessons will stay with us always and we will all do our best to put them into practice, making Kuya Ef and DTC proud. We would also like to encourage others within the United States and in other locations to learn more about the Dynamic Teen Company and Efren Penaflorida. Our lives within the US are blessed more than we can imagine, and it is only fair to pay it forward when we can. It is incredibly difficult for us to convey the power of our experiences in Cavite, but if we could, we would talk about the amazing Filipino smile; the overpowering smell of polluted rivers, burning garbage and the sight of shoeless children who play there. We would talk about the kindness of strangers; how to precisely aim your bucket when you are flushing your toilet (okay, so we're still working on that one); the little girl calling you mommy, and the uncertainty of her future. These are just a few of the things that we have experienced so far, and we can in no way do them justice with words. Our hearts have been changed, and there simply are not words for that.

And so now we come from this incredibly inspirational, but also heart-wrenching experience, into the beauty of Boracay and are forced once again to confront the extremes that seem to define the Philippines. In this beautiful island paradise we were greeted with Beachfront Inn, where the waves lap only steps from our door and a string of bars and restaurants await us just down the beach. We are ready to take on our next adventure, but will always remember what we learned, the people we met, and the power within ourselves to truly make a difference.

All our love,

Matea & Rachel