To kick off our outreach efforts in the Philippines, we started at a special place: West One Elementary School, where our CEO went as a kid. Marycel, our CEO, shared, “Even a small word of encouragement from someone went a long way. I remember as a kid, seeing someone like me share their life story and how far they had come gave me hope and excitement to try and do the same.”
Just the day before our visit, a category 3 typhoon had hit the area. There were trees down, roads blocked, and debris everywhere. Thankfully, the school was okay, and no one was hurt, but the storm meant fewer students showed up than we had expected. Despite all this, when we walked into the classroom with about 40 kids, the room was filled with joy and ease. You’d think there would be a somber mood after such a storm, but these kids were laughing, playing, and excited to meet us.
And we were just as excited to meet them! After a long 18+ hour flight, it was wonderful to finally see the students we’d been supporting from afar. But before handing out gifts, we wanted to chat with them, get to know them, and share our stories to hopefully inspire them.
Dave spoke first, sharing how his life in America and his service in the Air Force were possible thanks to his hardworking father, Rodeo Hernandez. Dave talked about perseverance and how sometimes, knowing you’re working for the future of your children and grandchildren can keep you going through tough times. It just takes one person to break the cycle of poverty and set a new path for future generations.
Next, our founders, Marycel and Rodeo, spoke. Both grew up in poverty in the Philippines. Marycel was a farm girl on the island of Perez Quezon, and Rodeo was a fisherman off the coast of Batangas. Like many kids in the Philippines, they were already working to survive at the students' age. They shared their life journeys, their faith, the challenges they faced, and the victories they achieved. Rodeo then invited the students to consider accepting Jesus as their savior, trusting Him with their lives both now and in eternity.
After the talks, it was time for gifts! We handed out brand-new fancy water bottles and Jansport school bags. But before giving the gifts, we asked each student their name and what they wanted to be when they grew up. One student stood up and said, “When I grow up, I want to have a lot of money so I can help people like ma’am Marycel!”
And that’s what Aspire to Dream is all about: inspiring others to love and help one another. There’s nothing we want more than to see the people we help become the ones who help others. Like a ripple extending outward, we hope our small acts of kindness will multiply as others do good in their communities.