As of latest count (15 November 2007), 3,923 volunteers have spent 185,239 hours doing community work.
December is International Volunteer Month, and December 05 is International Volunteer Day. Intel Involved volunteers talk about what’s in their heart, about why it is great to help others, and why volunteering is good for the soul.
Intel in the Philippines boasts of the highest volunteer participation rate among all Intel sites across the globe. A whopping 80% of Intel’s employees in Cavite do volunteer work. As of latest count (15 November 2007), 3,923 volunteers have spent 185,239 hours doing community work.
Here’s a sampling of why Intel employees become Intel Involved…
Believing in the act of volunteerism is one reason Intel employees volunteer in the community.
"I really believe in the act of volunteerism," Joan Bernadette Quitoriano
"We join Intel Involved because we want to help put green back to our environment by planting trees. We believe that we are responsible for our deeds, good or bad. We should invest in a greener foundation for our grandchildren in the future," Sydney Egasan
"I want my husband to experience how good it is to volunteer, and how we help the environment," Mariechel Llaneta
"I am happy to join Intel Involved!" Rhodony Ramirez
Volunteers have extraordinary stories about why they volunteer…imagine combining full time work and a commitment to the community?!
Rene of CVAT. Being an Intel Involved is being a man for others.
Rene of CVAT. Rene Del Rosario is currently a CVAT–CPU manufacturing technician working at the New Generation Burn–In (NGBI) area. He started working at Intel in 1989, as an End–of–Line assembly production operator. He became part of Intel’s Technical Skills Improvement Program (TSIP), a technical upgrading program between Intel and Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), and was then promoted as a T9 equipment technician in 1993.
Rene has been an active Intel Involved since 1997. As part of the Intel Involved’s Steering Committee and Marketing and Communication (MARCOM) Team, he has made his presence felt through his calls for action.
How does Rene do it? "Normally, ginagawa ko ang aking volunteer work sa days off ko. Kung 3 days yan, 3 days din ako nandito. Minsan araw–araw pa nga ako lumalabas," says this soft–spoken all–around nice guy. (Normally, I do my volunteer work on my days off. If I have 3 days off, I’m also here for 3 days. Sometimes, I even volunteer every day!)
The Divine Divina. Divina Balmedina shares her story. "I started as volunteer in Makati but I attended 2 volunteer activities only because I moved to Cavite. Here in Cavite, there were volunteer activities led by trainers. At first, I was hesitant to join the activity here in Cavite because I was afraid to be rejected, being just new to this place. I tried to join one activity and I was so happy that they welcomed me as if I were a real volunteer. Now I’m one of the Safety team leaders and I’m very happy doing volunteer work, especially when we conduct safety trainings for students and teachers. Knowing that safety is very important in our daily lives, I’m very proud and honored to share to them what I’ve learned here in Intel. Volunteering will always be a part of my life because I enjoy it and I love it!"
Jake and his fulfillment. And, in the words of Jake Armocilla: "I started volunteering 2005. I initially joined Alternative Learning System as coordinator and Head of English Module. I was overwhelmed by the needs of our community, especially in education. We have a lot of out–of–school youth in Gen. Trias, with reasons ranging from infrastructure, family problems, poverty. I was able to encounter students as young as 14 and as old as 70. Teaching the module was easy; teaching discipline to students was a lot more difficult! Motivating these students to study and pass the exam was the greatest challenge since we teachers, are not giving them any grades at all. Mobilizing volunteers and preparing materials was not an easy task. You have to sacrifice almost six months of your Saturdays to teach out of school youths.
No parties/gimmicks during Fridays since you have to master how to deliver your lesson. Seeing students appreciate your efforts and receive their diploma was one of my greatest achievements!
Aside from ALS program, I also joined Project WET, ISMEA, Pick A Name, Adopt a School and VMGP.
I volunteered because there is greater self–fulfillment in serving and helping others. Reaching out and sharing some of your time means a lot to those who are in need of any assistance you can give. It is not a matter of how big or small your contribution is; what matter is you contributed!"
