562643
THE PHILIPPINES PROJECT
PROOF EYEWEAR X HELP INTL.
2
This project wouldn’t be possible without the team at HELP International. The nonprofit organization specializes in empowering people to fight global poverty through sustainable, lifeÂchanging development programs.
Special thanks to the Impossible Project for providing us with a camera and instant film to document the trip.
4 1
The team at Proof Eyewear joined HELP International to serve the people of the Philippines. The $15K project was funded by Proof Eyewear with the release of special edition sunglasses featuring Filipino inspired bamboo leaves on each temple. 100% of proceeds from the sale of the limited edition frames was donated to The Philippines Project where 13 volunteers executed projects relating to economic development, visual health, orphanage reconstruction, and empowerment of vulnerable populations. The projects provided solutions that wouldn’t pay off a problem temporarily but would solve economical and physical challenges for a lifetime.
8
10
Feb 5th
After 36 hours of travel, we landed in Manila Friday night and met up with the rest of the team for an overnighter in Terminal 3.
Feb 6th Early the next morning, we flew to the island of Cebu. Just after landing, we took a 5 hour
van ride; minutes in, we pulled to the side of the rode and enjoyed our first jawdropping sunrise accompanied by a breakfast of sweet bread. Once we arrived at Hagnaya Port, the team jumped on a 2 hour ferry ride north to Bantayan Island.
14
Feb 7th
Our first health screening was held in a gymnasium where we focused on eye issues, cleft lips, and club feet. Bantayan hadn’t had any previous health screenings because of how far away it is from any major metropolitan area. Three mayors and the district social welfare offices promoted the health screening weeks in advance so that people who were located on the island and islands surrounding could plan for the trip. The overlooked island is full of people whose lives have been put on hold due to these physical challenges. We spent the day screening people from young to old and scheduling their surgeries for the coming weeks. While families waited during the screening process, the other half of our team played basketball and colored with the children.
16
One boy that stood out to us was Gerald Borraska. Gerald is seven years old and was born with an eye issue that kept him from participating in a normal childhood. Most of the children that were screened that day had never attended school because they were either blind with cataracts or couldn’t walk from having club feet. Not only do these challenges effect people physically but mentally as well. Two sisters that were both completely blind were able to get a last minute cornea transplant from a donor. They decided to do one eye each so that they could both see and not have one stay blind. The change in their demeanor was remarkable. After the surgeries, the trajectory of their lives will shift dramatically. Over 200 people were screened and 64 surgeries were scheduled and funded that day.
18
20
Feb 8th Our second health screening was back on the island of Cebu in Bogo. The team screened over 100 people for eye issues, cleft lips, and club feet. After the screening, we jumped back in the van for a 7 hour drive to Oslob.
22
26
Feb 9th
We left our beach house at 6am to swim with the infamous whale sharks. Afterwards, we drove just one kilometer to Tumalog Falls where we swam in the shallow light blue water surrounded by trees and umbrella-like rock formations. From Tumalog, we hiked back up to our van and traveled to one of the most popular waterfalls in the Philippines, Kawasan Falls. Kawasan has two main waterfalls that are both deep enough for swimming. The first set of falls has a height of over 131 feet, while the second set has a wider area with a height of 66 feet. There is a smaller third falls a few kilometers away from the second falls, but it is rarely frequented by tourists. From Kawasan, we had a short trek back. We ate dinner along the beach and drove back to Cebu City for our flight the next morning.
28
30
32
Feb 10th
Our plane touched down in Manila the next morning where we were able to visit a halfway house for abandoned and sexually abused children. Two weeks prior to our arrival, a newborn baby (with her umbilical cord still attached) was dropped off on the doorstep of this government run house. Each night, the 40+ children would sleep on the floor in the main room. While we were there, the children read through our donation of books and danced to Justin Bieber songs. We each partnered up with a child and made tie-fleece blankets so they could each have a tangible memory of the day, but more importantly have something soft to sleep on. We left the halfway house for a 5 hour drive to San Fabian for our next set of health screenings. As we arrived at San Fabian’s rural eye clinic, we were met with dozens of families who traveled overnight to sleep in the clinic’s waiting room for the next day’s screening.
34
36
Feb 11th
Our first day at the eye clinic started with multiple health screenings and eye surgeries. Once a person with cataracts was screened, they would immediately prep for surgery. We were able to sit in on several operations and watch the outcome of patients seeing their loved ones for the first time in years. The doctors stayed up until 2am working on eye surgeries the first night.
42
44
46
Feb 12th Our second day at the clinic was filled
with more walk-in screenings and surgeries. The local volunteer staff took over the project while we visited a nearby school to donate books, teach the importance of hygiene, and of course celebrate Valentine’s Day in the local parade. That afternoon, we drove a few hours and took a short boat ride to Hundred Islands for ziplining, snorkeling & island hopping.
50
52
54
58
Feb 13th Our last project day, we flew back to
Manila to visit a house for patients who stay for surgery prep and recovery. Each patient has one companion to stay with them, so there are roughly 10-60 people staying at the house at any given time. Before we arrived at the house, The Philippines Project had already funded reconstruction of an abandoned area of the house to allow for more patients. The funding also went to remodeling three rooms and fixing the plumbing, electrical, and broken stairway. The expansion of the abandoned area & additional bathroom allows for both male & female spaces. Our creative director, Jacob, outlined two wall murals to brighten up the new expansion’s atmosphere and the team was able to fill in the lines with sunlight peaking through the open doorway. The afternoon was spent painting and playing with children recovering from surgery. Everything from The Philippines Project felt like it came to full fruition in those last moments of filling in the murals.
60
62
Feb 14th
Departure day. After ten days of squeezing into a van, dancing in orphanages, witnessing life changing surgeries, and becoming a family, we flew back home with bigger hearts and a greater perspective.
IWANTPROOF.COM/DOGOOD
2359002
THE PHILIPPINES PROJECT
64
PROOF EYEWEAR X HELP INTL.