How 3 Weeks In A Philippines Soup Kitchen & Orphanage Changed My Life | Pause With Purpose

Summary of YouTube Video

Key Concepts:

• Burnout and recalibration
• Volunteering in a soup kitchen and orphanage
• Simple living and humility
• Filipino cuisine and culture
• Serving a less privileged community
• Community building and creating joy
• Gratitude and resilience
• Sustainable living and reducing food waste
• Dreaming and finding hope
• Prioritizing service to others

Purpose of the Trip

Justinda, a chef from Singapore, explains that she was burnt out from running her business and decided to put things on pause to reset her priorities. She wanted to slow down and recalibrate, moving away from the fast-paced city life and material consumption of Singapore. She also wanted to serve a less privileged community, leading her to volunteer at a soup kitchen and orphanage in Bulan, Bulacan, Philippines for three weeks. Her partner adds that this trip is a calling for her to help others and see a different perspective on life.

Initial Preparations and Announcement

Justinda is excited to experience the local markets in the Philippines and learn about traditional Filipino cooking methods before the influence of modern convenience foods. She hosts a party for her family to break the news about her trip. The menu includes vegan versions of Filipino dishes, such as vegan pizza and a Filipino dish, to introduce them to the cuisine she will be working with. She addresses her family's safety concerns about her going to the Philippines.

Immersion in the Community

Upon arriving in Bulan, Justinda is welcomed by Maria, the co-founder of the soup kitchen and orphanage. Bulan is described as a middle-class province that attracts poorer people from other provinces. Justinda expresses her hope that the experience will help her view life through a different lens, appreciating simplicity and humility. She discusses with Maria about teaching them different menus with more vegetables for the orphanage.

Learning Traditional Filipino Cooking

Justinda visits the local market to learn about the ingredients and traditional cooking methods used in Filipino cuisine. She observes that steaming was more common in the past, while frying is now prevalent. She hopes to incorporate traditional methods to promote healthier eating habits by reminding the community about less processed foods.

Observing the Soup Kitchen

Justinda learns about the soup kitchen's operations, which has been running for three years and staffed primarily by local neighbors who volunteer their time in exchange for payment. She observes their cooking process, aiming to identify areas for improvement. She wants to help a different community as she used to cook healthy, organic meals for affluent clients in Singapore. She learns that before they used to eat vegetables and fish and only eat meat once every Sunday.

Serving the Community

Justinda is surprised by how efficiently the soup kitchen team can prepare meals for a large number of people daily. The soup kitchen serves a diverse demographic, including the elderly and children. Maria recounts how she used savings from working in Singapore for 15 years to buy land and start the feeding program and gift-giving to the children in need and senior citizens. Maria also shares her personal history of growing up poor and wanting to help others to escape that cycle.

Visiting Willing Hearts Orphanage

Justinda visits Willing Hearts Orphanage, which has been in operation for 16 years and houses 24 children, mostly rescued by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). She notes the children's resilience and hope despite their difficult pasts. Maria's approach to caring for the children involves creating a safe environment where they feel trusted and supported. The children share their dreams, such as becoming a chef or fashion designer.

Visiting Renee's Family

Justinda visits Renee, a 14-year-old boy, and his family, who live in impoverished conditions. Renee's father is old and unable to work, and four of his siblings live in the orphanage. Justinda is heartbroken by their living situation, noting the lack of proper housing. She learns that Renee doesn't want to stay at the orphanage because he feels that nobody take cares of him. She witnesses the family collecting and selling plastic to earn money.

Justinda reflects on the imbalance between the rich and the poor, expressing her desire for a more balanced society. She discusses with Maria how to help Renee avoid becoming a "Garanguni" (scavenger) permanently and improve his life step by step. They purchase a bicycle with a sidecar for the family to help with their livelihood, replacing their broken one.

Midnight Wholesale Market

Justinda and the team visit the midnight wholesale market to source the best deals on produce for the soup kitchen. The menu is determined by the most cost-effective vegetables available. Justinda is impressed by the team's resourcefulness and knowledge of the market.

Preparing a Vegetarian Meal

Justinda decides to cook a vegetarian meal for the soup kitchen staff as a gesture of gratitude and to demonstrate the benefits of a plant-based diet. She shares her personal experience of improving her health by cutting out processed foods and adopting a natural, wholesome diet. She adapts a Filipino dish, Giniling, by replacing pork with tofu and barbecue jackfruit to substitute pulled pork.

Pizza Party Preparation and Execution

Justinda plans a pizza party for the neighbors, orphanage kids, and soup kitchen staff as a farewell celebration. She wants to introduce them to vegetarian pizza options and reduce their reliance on processed meats.

On the day of the party, the community collaborates to prepare the ingredients and set up the event. Despite her initial nervousness about the reception to a vegetarian pizza party, the event is a success.

Observations and Reflections

Justinda witnesses the joy and laughter shared during the party, emphasizing the simplicity of life and the importance of community. She reflects on the changes in her thinking after spending time with the community of social workers, who prioritize serving others. She wants to integrate the lessons she has learned in the Philippines into her life in Singapore.

Post-Trip Developments

Upon returning to Singapore, Justinda and her partner are starting a new food business focused on providing wholesome meals and supporting the community's lifestyle. They have hired a Filipino chef who used to work in a plant-based restaurant. The business aims to prioritize people first, inspired by the service-oriented approach they witnessed in the Philippines. Justinda commits to saying "yes" more often to helping friends and relatives in need, prioritizing service to others.