Service that Builds Communities
Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay – In the easternmost part of Sibuguey Bay, in Barangay Concepcion, stands the office of the Kapunungan sa Gagmay ng Mangingisda Fishermen Cooperative (KAGMAFICO). Founded by a fisherfolk organization and registered as a cooperative in 2023, KAGMAFICO is still in its early years. Despite its vast knowledge of the coastal value chain and a wide network of partners, the cooperative is still taking steps to strengthen its management and operations.
Supporting this journey is Hyacinth “Hya” San Pablo, a volunteer from Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP). Embedded in the community, Hya works closely with the cooperative’s staff, providing support in progress tracking, documentation, and administrative tasks.
Beyond routine tasks, she also spends time guiding staff members, clarifying roles, strengthening teamwork, and helping align daily work with the cooperative’s long-term direction.
“We support them so they can grow into their roles and contribute more confidently to the cooperative’s goals,” she shares.
Hya is one of hundreds of Jesuit Volunteers serving marginalized communities across the country: individuals motivated by faith, solidarity, and a deep commitment to service. Through their work, they support grassroots organizations that are building change from within.
In 2024, Jesuit Volunteers Philippines partnered with the Peace and Equity Foundation to deploy volunteers to partner communities, particularly those engaged in coffee and aquaculture enterprises. Through this partnership, volunteers like Hya share their skills while learning alongside communities striving for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Rooted in Service: Walking with a Coastal Community
A Sociology graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, Hya joined JVP after learning about the program during her senior year. Having long been involved in volunteer work, she saw JVP as a natural extension of her values, and an opportunity to serve by simply being present with communities.
Founded in 1980, JVP is the country’s first and longest-running development volunteer program. It deploys teachers, parish workers, community organizers, and enterprise development officers to underserved communities across the Philippines.
Through JVP’s matching process, Hya was assigned to KAGMAFICO in 2025. There, she worked closely with officers and staff, many of whom were volunteers themselves, supporting administrative work and helping strengthen internal systems as the cooperative continued to grow.
What stood out most to Hya was the community’s clarity of purpose. The fisherfolk were not driven by outside agendas. Instead, partners came in to support a vision the community already owned. Despite limited resources, their commitment to both livelihood and environmental care remained strong.
Nearly seven months into her stay, Hya had become part of everyday life in the community. Treated like family, she witnessed grassroots development up close, one rooted in relationships, patience, and respect for local ways of living. For Hya, service was not about leading change, but about walking with a community that already knew where it was going.
Where Vocation Meets Community
Pau Colina joined JVP during his formation years at San Jose Seminary. Already engaged in volunteer work, he saw the program as a way to deepen his vocation through lived experience in the community.
JVP matched Pau with the Impalutao, Dalwangan, Sawaga Agrarian Reform Cooperative (IMDALSA) in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, a cooperative that is primarily engaged in coffee production and marketing.
Like Hya, Pau was assigned to strengthen internal systems. He supported documentation and financial record-keeping, standardized report and purchase templates, drafted communications and board resolutions, and assisted the cooperative’s manager with daily operations.
While values formation was his original role as a project community organizer, practical realities, including financial limitations and organizational readiness, led him to focus on management and governance support instead.
Working alongside farmers reshaped Pau’s perspective on rural life. He learned to slow down, to let go of idealism, and to respect the rhythms and culture of farming communities.
“You can’t rush people or processes. What matters is staying with them, especially during difficulties, and learning how to accompany, not control,” he reflects.
According to Cora Llauderes, general manager of IMDALSA, Pau’s work has enabled the cooperative to advance its mission through its management support and values-formation.
“As a small cooperative, we are grateful that JVP volunteers like Pau assist us in addressing gaps and strengthening our service to the communities,” she said.
Beyond Volunteerism
For both Pau and Hya, service proved to be more than a program assignment. It became a shared journey of growth.
Their presence strengthened host organizations. At the same time, the communities shaped them — deepening their understanding of grassroots development, patience, and human relationships.
In the end, it is a two-way path: communities are strengthened, and volunteers grow in skills, perspective, and vocation.
Service, in this sense, does more than support organizations. It builds communities, from within.
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