Project Nakar
Part ONE
By Neo
Part ONE of the Nakar outreach is created by Neo, one of the leads in the Philippine side of 1in3out. Only fitting since he was part of the very last group to visit this community to provide help back in 2017. This is 1in3out’s most ambitious outreach yet. A 7-hour journey outside of Manila. Through unmarked dirt roads. Against the strong current of the Agos River. A walk on Masanga Point with the Pacific Ocean watching us. Inside and out of the Canaway jungle. By foot or hours on a uncomfortable jeepney that needed some pushing. Only to reach the small town of Sitio Masanga, a community of the Dumagats (People of the Sea) where it’s residents rarely experience city life. The 2-day outreach trip led to an overnight stay in one of the local’s wooden huts, and had a Boodle Fight meal with everyone. The Dumagats welcomed us like we were one of their own. With children amazed at the site of the visitors from the city. Watched the sun set and rise, and our members enjoyed building camaraderie and trust over a campfire on the beach.
Here’s Part ONE of the outreach that features the trip itself. Stay tuned for more shots from Sitio Masanga.
Part TWO
It has been six years since the last time any kind of outreach group (private or government) made their way to Sitio Masanga, a small community inside the General Nakar, Quezon province. It’s not that this small community is desperate for help. It’s people has survived from local resources they raised themselves. Maybe the 7-hour trip from the capital (check out Part ONE) has led to the lack of help consideration. But to be ignored since 2017, through the pandemic and a list of super typhoons, the people of Sitio Malanga relied on each other, instead of hoping for help to come.
The idea of Project Nakar is as old as 1in3out itself. Delayed and postponed for the right time. We knew the task is a challenge considering the distance and the path we have to travel. We also knew that this outreach will take two days including spending the night in any room any of the locals can provide for us. We gave them clothes, bags of rice and groceries, slippers, vitamins and basic medicine. We ate with the locals, played games with them, and slept in their house. We don’t know when we’ll be back, or when any kind of help will walk into their community. Hopefully soon.
Special thanks to SoCal Pinoys for funding this outreach through the SoCal Gas 2022 Charitable Grant they awarded us last January. Also to Pasig pediatrician, Aldwin Castro, for providing all the medical goodies. Thank you for helping us finally make Project Nakar a reality.
Part THREE
By Robert
Part of the adventure is the journey itself, and the travel to Sitio Masanga is worth it’s own highlight reel. Edited by one of our leads, Robert shows us that jeepney ride trekking through the river. Resuscitated from a stall only to drive some more through muddy roads. That walk on the beach could’ve been beautiful except for the beach itself is full of sharp-edged rocks, added challenge is the dark catching up on them. The team managed to absorb their surroundings, and appreciate the simplicity of this kind of life, away from the usual urban city vibe they face everyday. The reel also features extended scenes with the locals, having dinner and breakfast with them, and highlighting more of the great time the kids had. Looking forward to our next trip to Nakar,
Jimmy Roldan
A resident since 1983 and former Barangay Captain of Sitio Masanga and neighboring communities. Neglected by any kind of help even before the pandemic, let's listen to his stories on how he and those he leads survived by relying on each other.
From the eyes of Jas
Check out this quick reel by Jas, one of our members in the Philippines highlighting the team’s trek to Sitio Masanga.
