Hey everyone! So, our search for a community to benefit from our solar home system project has been…a journey. Let me tell you, finding a place truly in need of electricity isn't as easy as you might think!
We got a tip about Sitio Dalipay, Cawayan in Manito. Apparently, it's known locally for its gorgeous river – which, as it turns out, is totally true!
The Trek to Dalipay
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| Trekking break: Exhausted but the views are worth it! |
Getting there was…an adventure. We drove as far as we could, but ended up parking along the highway and hiking the rest of the way. A paved path led us to Purok 5, then it was straight into the jungle! Who knew such a beautiful, untouched forest was just minutes from a more urban area?
The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, the breeze was cool and refreshing, and the birds were singing their hearts out. It was completely captivating!
We thought we'd found the famous Dalipay River when we saw a small marker, but nope! The locals told us we had another hill to climb. After a quick chat, we started our ascent. The view from the top was breathtaking! The river itself was crystal clear and so inviting. People were swimming and having picnics – it was idyllic.
Finding Our Beneficiaries
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| An interview with a resident of Sitio Dalipay, Cawayan, Manito. |
Initially, it seemed impossible to find anyone living up there. We saw no houses, no signs of life. Then we met a man near the river who pointed us in the right direction (thank goodness!). He warned us that going further up the hill on our own was risky – we could easily get lost. He suggested we talk to the folks in Purok 5, as many of the uphill residents have family there.
Back down the hill, we found a friendly elderly person who directed us to a store, and the store owner sent us to a barangay official – a real lifesaver!
This barangay official was super chatty (in a good way!), and after a long conversation about our solar project, he led us to a group of people we hadn't seen on our trek.
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| Discovering a hidden community nestled in the hills. |
The first Purok we visited was amazing. After explaining the project, everyone wanted to be included! Their gratitude was overwhelming. The idea of having decent lighting for the first time in years, and being able to charge their phones at home, was incredibly exciting for them.
We then trekked up to another Purok – another hill climb! We found a few more families, and the reaction was the same as before – pure joy and relief.
Success!
This time, our search was a success! Thanks to that incredibly helpful barangay official, who knew his community inside and out, we found our beneficiaries much more efficiently. We're so excited to get started on the project and bring light to these deserving families!
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