Day 1 : Our Arrival

Start of Day : Sunrise of Marinduque


We caught a stray Moriones


If smiles are worth a dollar each, Marinduque will be a rich province


To the Island and Back
Marinduque, Philippines

"How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will"

There are places that feel so familiar from the moment you step into its bosom and be welcomed by its open arms, you know you're safe and that you will have a grand time!

I had the same feeling coming to Marinduque.

Although this time this was not because of places like Paris' towering love edifices or Switzerland's white capped mountains, both places you fall in love deeper every time you visit, but the smiles of the people of Marinduque. Disarmingly different compared to other places in the Philippines, the smiles are so genuine, the conversations that accompany it and the gestures of the villagers-make you feel warm all over.

So when we started the GK Youth Build program last Monday, after waking up at 5 in the morning and travelling from Ortigas to Dalahican in Lucena , Quezon for 2.5 hrs, and to Balanacan, Marinduque for another 2 hrs, all the rigors of the road trip and the unfamiliar movement of the ferry, were all swept away as soon as we saw the giant statue of Mama Mary at the mouth of the port of the heart shaped island.

So today kicks off the first day of the rest of our lives. We are all excited at the prospects of what is in store. Excited, anxious, and just happy to just be there. We are just letting go, loosely opening our stance, and just ready to be cradled in the arms of Marinduque.

Watch a slideshow of the events from our stay in the condo to our arrival in Marinduque. Click Here