Last October 23, a group of 9 young individuals made a journey to different parts of our country to make a difference by doing good and getting dirty. Green Cross Philippines continues its advocacy of social responsibility and "voluntourism" by encouraging tourists to be more than tourists and be transformed into vanguards and stewards of the environment.
Janine Ramirez one of the lucky voluntourist who took part of the Do Good, Get Dirty program, shares her insights as she experiences Dumaguete and collects trash along the beautiful shorelines of Apo Island. Janine Ramirez is a well traveled writer and a business development consultant. She has experience in doing international sales traveling to various countries. She wants to use her skill to help better humanity.
We asked her about her experience in the Do Good, Get Dirty campaign.
1. What were the instances during your Do Good Get Dirty trip where you wished your friends were there with you?/"I wish you were here" moments
The food trip was awesome! And every time I'd have a really good meal, I wish I had my fellow foodie dirends with me. Also, swimming with the seat turtles was something I wish I could share with friends and family. Lastly, I wish my family could see me facing my fear and jumping off the 30 foot cliff!
2. What was your most memorable experience in your Do Good Get Dirty trip?
The top 3 moments in Do Good Get Dirty was 1) Swimming with the sea turtles or pawikan; 2) Jumping off the 30 foot cliff in Siquijor; and 3) The beautiful sunset on Coco Grove Resort in Siquijor
3. How can/will you continue to do good, get dirty despite the end off your epic journey?
There are a lot of things I can do in my day-to-day that will minimize my negative impact on the environment. One very crucial thing is to stay informed and read up on environmental issues. Aside from using less energy and producing less waste, I've also decided not to eat beef because of the beef industry's high carbon footprint.
4. How would you encourage your friends and family to do the same?
The best way is to keep friends and family informed of the issues I get to read about. Not everyone is aware. And if you make people more aware, they can make better decisions for themselves and the world.
5. What do you love to do during the weekends or when there is a long weekend ahead?
During weekends, I honestly prefer to relax and be lazy! I'm happy to spend time with my dog. But I also hope to explore the Philippines more. There is so much to see and learn!
Thank you Janine for sharing us your story. You got us all inspired to do good and get dirty whenever we travel and make a difference.
You can follow Janine and her adventures at FindingMyJaninay.wordpress.com.
