00:00Apol and I did not just fulfill their simple wish.
00:04Just this July, we went to one of the farthest places in Norzagaray, Bulacan,
00:10which is called Sitio Iligan.
00:17We are now at the top.
00:19Because the water level is low,
00:22usually, boats can go as far as their community.
00:27But because the water level is low,
00:30we need to walk.
00:32And then,
00:34it looks like we will have to climb this mountain.
00:39Before, the water level was high.
00:41Boats can go as far as their community.
00:43But there is no water until now.
00:46So, it's a bit tricky.
00:48We will have to climb.
00:57I am with this journeyman,
00:59a native of Sitio Iligan, July.
01:03He is the one who is supposed to charge the cellphones and flashlights
01:07of his fellow residents in Sitio Iligan.
01:11Why do you need a cellphone?
01:13Because of the emergencies.
01:15Emergencies?
01:16Yes.
01:17Like what?
01:18Like when there is an illness, a child.
01:21Is there a child there?
01:22Yes, there is.
01:23Last time, there was a child there.
01:25Who?
01:26The one who was hit by a car.
01:28He was not able to go to the hospital
01:30but we were able to stop the car.
01:36So, for emergencies like that,
01:38you really need communication?
01:41Yes.
01:43The problem is that there is no electricity.
01:47When we arrived in Sitio,
01:49July and I went home.
01:51Yes.
01:52Yes.
01:55Are you going to charge?
01:57Yes.
01:59What are you going to charge?
02:00Okay.
02:02Flashlight.
02:03Cellphone?
02:04No.
02:05Okay.
02:06Who else is going to charge?
02:08Cellphone.
02:09Where is the cellphone?
02:10I don't have it.
02:11I don't have it.
02:12I don't have it.
02:13Is there no charge?
02:14No.
02:15Who is this for?
02:16This is for you.
02:17Okay.
02:19After we collected the cellphone and powerbank
02:22that will be charged by the residents of Dumagat in Kapilang, Barangay
02:26So, we will now lower all of these flashlights.
02:30Let's walk.
02:31We might reach Gildilim.
02:33We have a lot of flashlights but there is no electricity.
02:37We went down the mountain again
02:39to go to the charging station.
02:43I was with the children who will be watching TV.
02:49And after a few minutes,
02:51we arrived at the barangay where we will be charged.
02:56So, we are here at Barangay San Lorenzo.
03:00It's about 30 minutes away from Pampang earlier.
03:04We will be here.
03:05We will be able to watch TV.
03:06We will be able to charge.
03:07Let's go.
03:13We are here.
03:14We are here.
03:15We are here.
03:16We are here.
03:17We are here.
03:18For many years,
03:21this has been the usual situation of Sitio Iligan.
03:24They have to cross mountains and rivers
03:27to charge their cellphones and powerbanks.
03:31It takes a lot of time and effort
03:33for something that is considered
03:35their primary need.
03:39It's hard, ma'am.
03:40Because, first of all,
03:42like now, a lot of people know how to use their cellphones.
03:44When their cellphones run out,
03:46they still have to ride a bike
03:48or ride a motorcycle
03:50before they can charge their cellphones.
03:53According to Julay,
03:54they started using their cellphones
03:57when they had the opportunity
03:59to work in the village.
04:02For example, like me,
04:03I have a family.
04:04I need to be able to talk to them all the time.
04:08For example,
04:09they need to call me
04:12in the village.
04:14As you know,
04:15we are a bit sad
04:17because even if we have a cellphone,
04:19when it runs out,
04:21even at night,
04:22we have to cross the river
04:24to charge it
04:25because we don't have electricity there.
04:28It's a privilege for them
04:30to have electricity in their community.
04:33They also have to spend more
04:35on crossing the river using a bike
04:37whenever they need to charge their cellphones.
04:40As for cellphones,
04:42we don't use them as much
04:44like other people
04:46who need to charge their cellphones.
04:48It's enough for us
04:49if we just have a phone number.
04:52We just need to call our number
04:54for three days
04:55and that's it.
04:57What's important is
04:58that our cellphones are charged
05:00because up there,
05:02there's a signal.
05:08So,
05:09we went to the remote village
05:11and brought a small gift
05:13for the residents here.
05:16When July opened,
05:18there was no sign of happiness
05:20on their faces
05:21because it contained
05:23solar panels
05:24that were a big help
05:25to their village.
05:28These solar panels
05:30were a gift
05:31of the help
05:32of our viewers.
05:38Our small solar panels
05:41gave light
05:42to the faces
05:43of the residents of Iligan.
05:45Finally,
05:46they have light.
05:48This path will serve
05:50so that they can finally cross the river
05:52in order to charge
05:54their cellphones.
05:58The children were filled with smiles
06:00when the bulbs
06:02with the solar panels lit up.
06:05We also gave them
06:06a small gift.
06:20These small surprises
06:21came from far away.
06:24Simple things
06:25that will stay
06:26in their hearts
06:27for the rest of their lives.
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