The spirit of volunteerism is without a doubt well and alive among Filipinos even until today. For all the economic hardships and the perennial political uncertainties that seem to define the facet of life in the Philippines, it is heartening to note that the Filipino spirit of bayanihan still pulsates within the veins of contemporary Filipinos. This phenomenon was evidently demonstrated during the holding of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games (SEAGames) in the Philippines.

I have witnessed ordinary Filipinos from working class families willing to commit themselves to nothing but service alone. These volunteers know that they won¡¯t be getting anything materially substantial, except perhaps the opportunity to partake in a rare opportunity to showcase our unique brand of hospitality.

Being a volunteer is nothing simple, au contraire, it is a pool of frustrations and triumphs, hardships and victories, smiles and frowns, aches and joys. These people sacrificed more than their time and effort for the greater glory of the Philippines, above all, they have shared a part of their lives, or should I say, shed an iota of their selves, so that the ideals and dreams of the SEA Games will shine on our shores.

Enduring the pressures that come with the very idea of the spirit of the SEA Games, thousands of volunteers willingly and silently served the various tasks and functions that moved the games towards its ultimate goal – friendly competition in the light of our common Southeast Asian heritage.

Without a doubt, the challenge of the volunteers, for all their differing socio-economic-politico-religious affiliations was one and the same, to keep the fire of dedication burning amidst the onslaught of organizational glitches that in more cases than one, caused doubts, confusion, and friction within and among the volunteers.

Despite the innate complexities that seem to characterize our social milieu, the volunteers have kept the fire, they have stayed on, they have endured, they are here, WE were here. Indeed, the volunteers have made the games possible. It is no mean feat, no less easy to duplicate. Indeed, the volunteers can look on, when the dust has settled, when the games have been won, the medals have been awarded, the accolades have been bestowed, the athletes and officials have left and that the biting reality of life settles back to view: that yes, WE, the volunteers can look with quite glee knowing well that in that short span of time the games rested on our shores, we have been a part in the life of an athlete, an official, a human being. That is something that cannot be taken, from us and hopefully, remembered respectfully by those who crossed our paths.