by Tamara Pastorelli
They spent 6 and 4 months respectively in the Philippines. Penelope and Emma recount their experience, through which they discovered the wisdom and beauty of Filipino culture and people.
Emma is 21 years old, lives in Figline and is in her second year of Education Sciences at the University of Florence. Penelope is a year younger, grew up in Incisa, has Uruguayan origins and, after graduating from high school, took a break to figure out what to do next. They have in common that they have been going to Loppiano since they were little and have been ‘trained’ by the “Gen”, i.e. the young people of the Focolare Movement. However, they did not consider themselves friends, at least until their paths crossed more than 10,000 km away, in the heart of Southeast Asia.
“I wanted to have an experience abroad to improve my English or Spanish, but I also wanted to see what the world was like beyond my everyday world,” says Penelope. Her eyes still shine with enthusiasm for the experience she had. Someone, understanding her need, told her about Bukas Palad, a non-profit non-governmental organisation in the Philippines that supports children, the elderly and the poor in urban areas of the archipelago, providing them with livelihoods and education. Penelope had never thought about Asia. “It scared me; I thought I would never set foot there. I tried to take the plunge and went there with the idea of wanting to help others.‘ She left in November 2024 and began working in the offices in Manila and Tagaytay, the little town of the Focolare Movement 60 km from the capital. “At first, I worked in a school canteen, taking attendance and serving the children after school,” she recalls. Then I asked if I could do more activities. So I worked in the office and in the kitchen. I was also included in the school staff for lessons and as a chaperone on educational trips.” Penelope was won over by the Filipino people: “There, everyone always gives 100% of themselves, despite the situations and problems. They behave as I would always like to behave: I give my best so that you, in turn, can give your best to someone else. Religion is also a great source of strength for them; they really trust in what God can give them.”
Emma’s journey, on the other hand, began on 31 January 2025. “I found out that Penelope and I were going to the same place just a week before she left. It was a really nice surprise for me!” Her eyes also sparkle as she thinks back on those days. “After my experience at Genfest in Brazil in 2024, I realised how big the world is, how many different languages are spoken, and that I only know Italian: a limitation when meeting others. So, I wanted to improve my English, but also do something concrete, really help, without thinking about myself and my studies.”
The first stop on Emma’s journey was at a private school, the Community of Learners, where she worked with the teachers. She taught in the mornings and had the afternoons off. “In those first two months, I stayed in my room because I was afraid to go out. Gradually, I put myself to the test and realised that I could manage on my own. At the weekend, Penelope and I would meet up. Her friendships with the locals became mine too.”
Emma’s adventure continued at a facility called Bukas Palad on the island of Cebu, in the centre of the Philippines. But first came Easter. The two friends spent it in Tagaytay, with the local Focolare community. They took part in the Easter Gen School: a three-day conference for young people who belong to the Focolare Movement in Asia. “It was wonderful,” they reveal. “There, we were able to meet many peers from all over the Philippines. It is thanks to them that we came out of that new ‘comfort zone’ we had built for ourselves in recent months.” Some young people suggested continuing their journey by participating in the Mariapolis, which was to be held ten days later in Davao, in the south of the country. It was holiday time in the Philippines, so there was no reason to refuse. “So we had a very powerful experience: every day something new happened. Many people, even those we didn’t know, made themselves available to help us enjoy our days, spending time with us and taking us to visit new places,” recalls Penelope.
Emma was welcomed for a few days by the Focolare community in Dumaguete, in the south of the country: “A very strong, united community.” Then, by a volunteer on the island of Bohol, “a beautiful place.” She confides: “Before leaving, I never expected to be able to visit all these places, to receive all this Providence!” And then there are those gifts for the soul, which remain etched in your heart forever: “This trip has left me with a great desire to live all the hope of the Filipino people. That light air you breathe when you are with them. The impression is that they are truly alive in spirit, alive inside.” Penelope shared Emma’s thoughts and adds: “One day, during Mass, a priest said something that opened up a whole new world for me: ‘Give what you don’t have so that it will be returned to you.’ This motto has become the reference point for my experience, which I have tried to live every day. It was the spark that helped me find my way again.”
