Volunteerism is only innate to some. It is for people gifted with a heart of passion to serve others who are willing to offer energy, time, and resources to those in need. DeAnn Hollis once said, “The heart of a volunteer is never measured in size but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others,” and indeed it is.

This is the value that Eduardo Jarina carried wholeheartedly for more than six (6) years.

Jarina, 66 years old, a retired Master Mariner and a member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) for eight (8) years, has silently served the people of Central Visayas by tirelessly offering his time repacking relief goods in DSWD Field Office 7’s Regional Warehouse in Cebu City.

He started in 2016 at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City. He transferred to the Regional Warehouse shortly after learning that the facility accepts volunteers, as it is more accessible from where he resides.

Jarina credits being part of the PCGA with finding this lifelong dedication: “As a Coast Guard Auxiliary, we perform duties as directed by our station commander. DSWD activities are one of our mandates in the field of saving lives. We are bound to help people in distress without any reservation.” He added that this led him to know the disaster response side of the department.

He is volunteering under PCGA’s agreement with Field Office 7.

Valdemar Paloma, DSWD-7 Regional Warehouse Manager, witnessed Jarina’s dedication, citing his commendable volunteer attendance, especially at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and during Typhoon Odette Disaster Operations.

“Dugay na si Sir Eduard na volunteer, kabalo na sya sa process sa pagpacking. Round nana niya tanan, pwede na sya mag vacuum diin siya na ang nagtudlo o naghatag og technical assistance sa atong bag-ong volunteers sa pag gamit sa machine. Siya na pud among gitugyanan kay na-master na gyud niya (Sir Eduard is a longtime volunteer. He already knows the entire packing process and is an expert in using the vacuum sealing of rice bags. He now extends technical assistance to our new volunteers),” Paloma expressed.

Paloma expressed that Jarina was a big help to the Field Office’s operations, especially when there were no Cash-for-Work (CFW) beneficiaries to do the repacking.

“Kadtong time nga wala pa ang mga CFW, kulang gyud ang manpower nato dinhi sa warehouse. Dako kaayo og tabang si Sir Eduard. Sigi siya og volunteer, every day gyud na. Naa siya pag pandemic, naa siya pag Typhoon Odette operations. Maka pack siya ug 100 Family Food Packs ug 50 bags of 6 kilos rice per day (At the time when there were still no CFWs and we lacked manpower here in the warehouse, Sir Eduard was really a big help. He volunteers everyday even at the height of the pandemic and during our Typhoon Odette operations. Mr. Jarina can pack 100 pieces of Family Food Packs and 50 bags of 6 kilos of rice per day),” Paloma said.

‘Yolanda’ Experience

 Like most community volunteers, Jarina also had the eureka moment that ignited his passion for service, and this was when Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated his hometown on Bantayan Island. The island is one of the worst-hit islands in Central Visayas. Power and communication lines were cut off, and ports were destroyed, leaving it completely isolated.

Jarina recalled seeing members of the PCGA responding on the ground. From then on, he was certain he wanted to be part of the team.

“Before ko nag PCGA, kadtong Yolanda. Unang naka-abot sa amoa sa Bantayan Island ang PCGA. Sila ang unang nakahatud sa amoa og hinabang ug pagkaon. Didto una nakong nahuna-hunaan nga ganahan ko mo-apil inig retire nako (When Typhoon Yolanda hit Bantayan Island, the first responders that I was with were members of the PCGA; they brought help and food. It was at that time that I told myself I would join them once I retired,” he said.

Prior to his retirement, Jarina was the captain of a cargo ship sailing internationally.

He added that he was elated when he learned about the partnership with DSWD: “mas nalipay ko kay worth it kaayo akong otso oras nga trabaho kaysa moadto sa ubang activities nga taas ang travel time, gamay na lang mahibilin sa paglihok. Mas happy ko diri. (I am happier here and I think my time, eight-hour duty, is with it, unlike other activities that require more travel time than the job itself).”

Sense of Fulfillment

Serving for more than six (6) years at the warehouse, Jarina undoubtedly stood with the people of Central Visayas, especially those affected by disasters and calamities.

He serves his community not only because PCGA is the Field Office’s partner in food packing for disaster response but also in a way that feeds his heart and soul.

“I consider volunteering in this government agency [DSWD] to be much more worthwhile than spending my own money on giving donations. I can help more people in need without limit. At the end of the day, after looking at my output, all I can say is that I am happy. The kind of happiness and fulfillment that no one else can even imagine,” Jarina said.

When asked when he could still volunteer at the regional warehouse, Jarina simply said, “This is a lifetime commitment.”

People like Eduard Jarina are not just like anyone else. They are people with a calling for service, ignited by humility and empathy, regardless of age, gender, or social status. ###

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