TREK is a volunteers-led organization recently composed mostly of mountaineers from different organizations bonded together by the same advocacy of helping kids and communities who live in the mountains or other isolated areas. Back then, all we wanted was to share the joy of celebrating to kids. It was one of our co-founders’ birthday and it was already the Holiday Season. We had games and everyo
ne played, including the village elders. We also gave away backpacks filled with school supplies and other school needs. It was such a memorable event that we decided to organise more outreach activities. But as we continued, we realized that the communities we want to serve have more pressing needs. We saw communities with lack of facilities like comfort rooms, water, classrooms, and libraries. We saw the need to help preserve local culture. We also saw the need for interventions like feeding, distribution of hygiene kits, even medical assistance. Of course, we still make sure we provide each kid with their own backpacks filled with school supplies, footwear, raincoats, and mess kits. We also give each one their own art kits, storybooks or coloring books, and toys. Also clothes when necessary. We have a stable of around 300 volunteers, always ready to help from recon, to organization, to actual delivery of donations. To date, we have already organized 63 missions and projects, reached 62 schools, and served more than 10,000 students. Our missions are always fun. You get to meet like-minded individuals, immerse in our rich local culture, and of course, see more of our beautiful country. We take voluntourism to heart. Our past missions:
1. Saybuan Primary School, Sitio Saybuan, Itogon, Benguet, December 8-9, 2007;
2. Sentrong Paaralan ng mga Agta, Casiguran Aurora, May 1-4, 2008;
3. Lubo Elementary School and Tandudan High School, Kalinga, December 12-14, 2008;
4. Malibang Elementary School, Malibang Pre-school, Cacalaggan Primary School, Aurora Primary School, Flora Primary School and Lydia Primary Schools, Pudtol, Apayao, May 1-3, 2009;
5. Aeta Resettlement Site, Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Missions, Subic, Zambales, September 25-27, 2009;
6. Kalapnit Elementary School, San Luis, Aurora, December 12-13, 2009;
7. Polis Barrio School, Sitio Polis, Brgy Poblacion, Kibungan, Benguet, August 21-22, 2010;
8. Saybuan Primary School, Petican Elementary School and Tinongdan Elementary School, Itogon, Benguet, December 10-12, 2010;
9. Atan Elementary School, Purok Atan, Brgy. Runrono, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, August 20-12, 2011;
10. Sentrong Paaralan ng mga Agta, Brgy. Ildefonso, Casiguran, Aurora, January 21-22, 2012;
11. Tamsi Primary School and Kakidugen Primary School, Nagtipunan, Quirino, August 24-26, 2012;
12. Polis Barrio School, Palina Elementary School, Tabbac Primary School, Legleg Barrio School, Napsong Barrio School, Lanipew Barrio School, Batangan Bario School, Les-eng Barrio School, Gasal Barrio School, Lubo Elementary School, Tonquey-Nalusbo Primary School and Ewa-Bokes Elementary School, Kibungan, Benguet, November 30 - December 9, 2012;
13. Anahaw Elementary School and Lucban Elementary School, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, August 24-26, 2013;
14. Mapedya Elementary School, Papaya, Nueva Ecija, December 8-9, 2013;
15. Buscalan Elem School, Loccong Elementary School, Southern Tinglayan High School, Tinglayan, Kalinga, August 23-24, 2014;
16. Salvacion Elementary School, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte, December 20-21, 2014;
17. Sitio Naguillan Elementary School, Bubog Elementary School, Mudoc Elementary School and Simabang Elementary School, Fuga Isand, Aparri, Cagayan, May 29-31, 2015;
18. GAMABA Learning Center, Masaroy School of Living Tradition, Agcalaga School of Living Tradition, Calinog, Iloilo, August 28-31, 2015;
19. Bassao Primary School, Tawang Elementary School, Bonong Community School, Buaya Elementary School, Ubual Primary School, Balbalan, Kalinga, December 5-7, 2015;
20. Aeta Resettlement Site, Foundation of our Lady of Peace Missions, Subic, Zambales, April 23-24, 2016;
21. Balangabong Elementary School and Olango Annex School, Calintaan, Mindoro, August 26-29, 2016;
22. Old Maguisa Elemenatary School and Bandi Elementary School, Donsol, Sorsogon, August 17-19, 2018;
23. Lubo Elementary School, Tanudan, Kalinga, December 7-9, 2018;
24. Pinagbayanan Minority School, Kalansan Minority School, Kalangigan Minority School, Aglimasan Minority School, and Ignonok Minority School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, May 31 - June 2, 2019;
25. Keupiyanan Te Balugo, San Fernando, Bukidnon, June 27 - 30, 2019;
26. Malacbalac Elementary School, Brgy. San Vicente, Claveria, Masbate, December 6-10, 2019;
27. Bato-ili Elementary School and Salafay Elementary School, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, October 7, 2022;
28. Panayaban Te Binasalan and Keupiyanan Te Balugo, San Fernando, Romblon, April 29-May 1, 2023;
29. Layag Cultural Minority School, San Fernando, Romblon, August 29-22, 2023;
30. Saybuan Elementary School, Sitio Saybuan, Brgy. Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet, December 8-9, 2023;
31. Layag Cultural Minority School, San Fernando, Romblon, April 27 - May 1, 2024;
32. Cabatangan Elementary School, Lambunao School of Living Tradition, Tagubanhan Elementary School, and Nasidman Elementary School, Lambunao and Ajuy, Iloilo, August 21-25, 2024
33. Kibungan Central School and Polis Barrio School, December 8-9, 2024
TREK10for10
In celebration of our 10th year, our group went back to ten of its partner communities, which is our
1. Mapedya Elementary School, Papaya, Nueva Ecija, March 25-26, 2017;
2. Sentrong Paaralan ng mga Agta, Casigura, Aurora, April 29-May 1, 2017;
3. Balangabong Elementary School Annex, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro, May 6-7, 2017;
4. Anahaw Elementary School and Lucban Elementary School, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, June 10-12, 207;
5. Loccong Elementary School, Tinglayan, Kalinga, August 19-21, 2017;
6. Kalapnit Elementary School, San Luis, Aurora, September 23, 24, 2017;
7. Polis Barrio School, Kibungan, Benguet, October 28-29, 2017;
8. Tamsi Elementary School, Nagtipunan, Quirino, November 18-19, 2017;
9. Malibang Elementary School, Cacalaggan Elementary School, Aurora Elementary School, November 30-December 2, 2017;
10. Saybuan Primary School, Itogon, Benguet, December 9-10, 2017
TREKTrese
COVID Relief for Schools
To help schools with their needs for modules, the group is currently organizing fund raising campaigns. She following schools have received assistance:
1. Pinagbayanan Minority School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
2. Kalansan Minority School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
3. Kibungan Central School, Kibungan, Benguet;
4. Polis Barrio School, Kibungan Benguet;
5. Itogon Primary School, Itogon, Benguet;
6. Domolpos Community School, Itogon, Benguet;
7. Keupiyanan Te Balugo, San Fernando, Bukidnon;
8. Keupiyanan Elementary School, San Fernando, Bukidnon;
9. Ignonok Elementary School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
10. Kalangigan Elementary School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
11. Kalangigan Elementary School - Aglimasan Extension, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
12. Bato Ili Elementary School, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro;
13. Salafay Elementary School, San Jose Occidental Mindoro.
Continuing our advocacy of helping schools during these difficult times, we are again supporting schools with their distance learning requirements.
1. Ignonok Elementary School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
4. Kalangigan Elementary School, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
5. Kalangigan Elementary School - Aglimasan Extension, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro;
6. Bato Ili Elementary School, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro;
7. Salafay Elementary School, San Jose Occidental Mindoro;
8. Ulango Elementary School, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro;
9. Balangabong Elementary School, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro. TREK Relief Opps
TREK also conducted relief work for kids and their families affected by calamities.
1. Relief Ops for the Victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, Tanay, Rizal and Pangasinan;
2. Diniog Elementary School, Dilasag, August, September 2011;
3. Habagat Typhoon Victims, Rizal, 2012;
4. Relief Opps in partnership with Tulay Lingap with Padre Pio for Yolanda survivors;
5. Taal Relief, Balayan, Batangas for residents from Agoncillo and Lemery, January 25 - 26, 2019;
6. Marinduque COVID Relief Efforts, 2020
