PACKING

• Mattress, blanket/sleeping bag, pillow. We do not provide bedding so you should bring what you need to be comfortable. Sometimes previous volunteers leave items behind, but we can not guarantee it.

• Work clothes. We provide short-sleeved work shirts, but you should bring durable and comfy long shorts (knee-length or longer), light pants, or leggings. 

• Long-sleeved shirt for pouring concrete + as protection from mosquitoes

• Normal clothes for after-work, days off, and community events.

  • Bring light, breathable clothing

  • No short shorts - it is culturally inappropriate 

• Credit/debit card - it might be dangerous to travel around the country with a large amount of money. 

• But you will still need to withdraw some personal CASH as some places don't take cards. The best is to withdraw cash when you visit a city as there might not be a lot of ATMs around. Before your departure, confirm with your bank that you will be traveling so that your transactions are not flagged up as fraudulent.

• Personal first aid kit, including any medication, e.g. paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, antidiarrheals, etc.

• Sunscreen SPF 50! This is absolutely necessary to protect yourself from the Filipino sun! It's also how the locals look so young! 

  • Please be mindful that you will likely spend a lot of time in the ocean, so we recommend bringing reef-safe sunscreen. Some sunscreens are falsely marketed as “reef-friendly” so check the ingredient list! 

• Power adapter - if needed. 

Power sockets in the Philippines are type A and B 

• Unlocked phone for a local SIM card

• Small fan - or clip-on for your bed

• Lock for luggage - robbery is not an uncommon threat in the Philippines and this can help you stay safe

• Water bottle - we provide safe drinking water but for easier accessibility, a reusable water bottle is preferred. 

• Mosquito net - This is highly recommended due to the risk of dengue fever in Leyte. 

• Mosquito repellent - very important! 

  • There are lots of mosquitos and insects but limited supplies in the area, so we encourage everyone to bring their own.

  • The airport sometimes doesn't allow aerosol cans in checked bags, so you should consider bringing a different form of bug spray. 

• Personal medication: Please bring enough for the duration of your stay on the program. Note that shipping to the Philippines may be unreliable.

  • Due to the threat of Dengue, we recommend the use of acetaminophen over paracetamol.

• Vitamins, food supplements, comfort food. - Highly advisable to bring any supplements that you regularly take at home, or any food that will make you feel more at home.

• Gatorade, Powerade, electrolyte-replacement powder - it is very hot, and the work is intense, so this is very important

• Lots of socks (these tend to disappear in a communal living environment)

• Personal coffee

  • It can sometimes be hard to find coffee in the area. There is mainly instant coffee that is very sweet. 

  • A french press for those of you who like a nice cup of coffee in the morning

• A travel mug - if you want to drink out of a non-plastic vessel we recommend bringing your own mug

• Lightweight waterproof rain jacket or sweater for the rare chilly nights

• Personal items, toiletries, towel - we don't provide towels 

• Sanitary products: Tampons are not widely available in the area. Make sure to bring enough for the duration of your stay if not use a reusable alternative like menstrual cups or period underwear.

• Sharpie (for marking your belongings) - Sometimes people get items confused with their own or borrow things without asking (if you grew up with siblings, you understand!). It's a good practice to label your items. You can also label it before you leave home. 

• Personal snacks and drinks - Anything that would make you feel comfortable as options might be limited around

• Eye drops and eye wash - we will have basic eye drops and eye wash but you can bring some if you have sensitive eyes or use a lot

• Earplugs and a sleep mask

  • Sunrise will be around 5:00 am when the program starts. If you struggle to sleep with light, we recommend you bring a sleep mask. 

  • If you didn't know, the Karaoke Machine was invented in Japan BUT the Karaoke Sing Along System was invented by a Filipino. That being said, Karaoke is very popular in the area, and sometimes the neighbours will sing late into the night. If you are a sensitive sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs.

  • The local roosters also love a good karaoke jam early in the morning.

• Backup battery charging pack or Portable solar power charger.

  • This is recommended, but only bring if you would like. There are constant power outages; they don't last long. The time ranges from 2 minutes to the longest we’ve experienced was almost 3 hours. 

• Personal speaker - it always comes in handy, especially on the work site. It's not compulsory, but volunteers are usually happy if they bring it 

• Headlamp or flashlight - handy when the lights go off but you can also rely on your phone if you choose to

• Sunhat or umbrella OR umbrella hat if you want to be fancy since it will be the rainy season.

  • Your face will thank you when you sweat the sunscreen off.

  • You can also find many sun hats in Maasin if it's something you wish to buy in the country

• Sunglasses - It can get pretty bright on hot sunny days.

• Swimwear: 

• Sense of humor!