At the start of the new year, Sacred Hearts Academy went on a mission trip to the Philippines. Junior Inez Cabasug attended this trip to learn more about her Filipino heritage, while also serving the community.
On that trip, they worked with the elderly and children in the Filipino province of Bagong Silang. They served them food, tutored the children, and engaged with the elderly. They shared the Hawaiian culture with them while they stayed at the convent and performed hula to the community by sharing Hawaiian culture.
Cabasug not only hoped to learn more about her culture but also learn more about the way of living in the Philippines. On this trip, she was able to learn more about her culture while also learning more about the children who don’t have the same life as her. Along with learning more about her culture, she also got to experience Filipino culture at its finest and eat a lot of cultural food.
“I (was) a bit scared to go on this trip because I have never been to the Philippines before despite being Filipino, but honestly, I’m excited to learn more about my culture and my heritage because I’m so detached from it. I’m also really excited to help the children in need.”
She hoped to learn more Tagalog words on this trip mainly because along with herself, her mother and her grandmother are not familiar with Tagalog. She would also like to learn more about the Philippines in general.
“It would be nice to communicate with my family in their native tongue,” she said.
While on this trip, Cabasug hoped to gain a sense of community and responsibility, mainly because she had been spending time with those who came from impoverished communities. This will help her feel thankful for what she had and what her parents can give her when children like them don’t have the opportunities that she had back here in Hawaii.
“I am so thankful to Sacred Heart Academy for providing me this opportunity to go to the Philippines while learning about the culture, helping to serve the community, and bonding with my class with my classmates and peers who are also going on this trip.”
