A First-Time Visitor Shares Her Impressions of the Philippines

by: Lori Harnage

December 2024

Lori H

What to say about the Philippines? The country is beautiful – full of lush trees, mountains, and gorgeous sunsets. And the best bananas and mangoes I’ve ever eaten! But the best thing about the Philippines, by far, is the people! Beautiful people, inside and out. They possess gracious spirits and kind hearts. The people I met welcomed me so warmly, and I miss them.

During my recent trip, I got to see first-hand how family-oriented and caring the people are. I went to celebrate with the women from three barangays as they completed the ARISE training in organic gardening through a partnership with Side by Side Alliance. Every woman in the program was committed to learning and implementing the new skills so she could grow fresh produce and feed her family with this healthy, nutritious food.

The beauty of the ARISE gardens was incredible to see, each one as lush and full as we visited them, walking from place to place in each community. The women had obviously worked hard for months to prepare the soil, nurture the seeds, make the organic fertilizers, plant, tend, and harvest. And their labors
were not in vain. They had food for their own families, but even more, so they were able to share or sell  within their communities.

Even though their gardens were ripe with vegetables of all sorts, the most beautiful thing to see was the bond that was being built between the participants of the ARISE project. These women were not only excited for their own gardens but also for their neighbors’ as well. The encouragement they gave to each other, and the laughter and joy we witnessed among them were the highlights of my trip. They are now experiencing true community among their groups and are learning to lift each other up in prayer. It’s a beautiful thing to see hope for the future growing in these barangays! This is what will bring me back to see these women again… to come alongside them, to join them in prayer, and to praise God for His faithfulness in all our lives!