Awesome time with CCT people in Palawan. Had quite an adventure too. Lost one sandal to the rough waves while island hopping. Merrel 'yun! Hahaha, I just considered it my donation to the coral reefs of El Nido. The best lunch I had was at McDonald’s El Nido. Sobrang gutom na kasi at yun ang unang kainan na nakita namin while traveling from Puerto. Imagine going to El Nido and having lunch at McDo??? Pag gutom ka talaga, lahat ng pagkain, napakasarap!
We had time to explore God’s creation as well. And the most beautiful of His creation? The human spirit. I saw it in our community partners, the entrepreneurs who continue to strive hard to give their families a good life. One was Kuya Jony who was wrongfully accused and spent five years in jail. During his stay there he planted lettuce and sold them. He earned enough to keep his kids in school. When he was released, someone allowed him to use a hectare of idle land, which he converted into a farm. He now supplies veggies and herbs to some of the restaurants in El Nido! Another is Ate Dolor who grew up in El Nido and had a piece of land near the beach. A developer approached her for a lease and put up several establishments on her land. Now that place is booming with tourists. She was able to put up her own resto-bar, where we had dinner and her place was full to overflowing! She is constructing a second floor and giving more employment opportunities to Filipinos.
Many more success stories have been shared. These are people who have started small and have become wealth creators, giving jobs to our countrymen, and showing their testimony that yes, our God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
Story and photos by Vanessa Velasco
(For more of her articles and travel images, check out her site.)
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