Community Thursday with @SteemPh presents @WalkOfHope ~ An interview with @ImmaRojas

Greetings to all the lovely communities!

It is an honor to welcome you to Steemph’s Community Thursday. Before we proceed to our curation, we have a very special guest today, no other than @immarojas. First of all, who is she in Steemit?

Ms. Miel (@dreamiely) said, “She is Ate to some, Lola to most, and a good friend to a selected few. A regular photo enthusiast, who shares breath-taking captured moments. She is also your friendly neighbourhood curator. Her passion mostly lies in helping others, enabling blockchain and cryptocurrency in improving the quality of life for those who need it the most”.

It’s a privilege to interview the heart behind WOH or also known as @walkofhope. For those who are unfamiliar with WOH, @immarojas will give us a preview of their team. I’ve prepared questions that she wholeheartedly answered, answers that will surely enlighten us about their noble works, vision, and mission.

Image Source: @flabbergast-art

When did you start the Walk of Hope?

When the project was approved by the Steemph core in December, it was just Music and Arts Tour, based on @steemph earlier projects.

@walkofhope was the theme conceived in February as suggested to @flabbergast-art. I suppose it started end of March when he traveled to Negros, as his old paintings are in Bacolod where the tour should kick-off. These paintings were left in its’ museum from an earlier Tour of 2012.

What inspired you to do it?

Inspiration was seeing Marlon (@flabbergast-art) from our previous Steemph’s Music and Arts projects where special kids in Caloocan, out of school youth in Cavite were taught arts and played music with. I mean with Marlon, he is happy doing this with no expectations in return.

What is the main advocacy of WOH?

From previous projects with Marlon, WOH is to bring music and arts to the underprivileged Filipinos in Visayas and Mindanao. As it will kickstart in Bacolod, it will go from town to town, arranged by LGU for our artists’ safety.

This tour will culminate in Luzon where Marlon’s paintings will end in Vigan. This project is also to promote Steemit Philippines in lieu of its charity initiatives in promoting the platform:

1. A platform for the voices of the creatives of the country to be heard.
2. A platform for their works and as means to earn from them.

For Marlon Ponsoy, it is for him to share our Ilocano culture and learn other provinces’ culture throughout the country.

The other artist is Filcon Rivera, known as Tatay Dagsa,from Bayawan City. His advocate is Share the Road, Clean the Air. Tatay Dagsa for his advocate cycled the whole Philippines years ago using a bamboo bike, and another time using a scooter made of driftwood that he made himself.

What was the journey like in the beginning?

In 2017, Steemph was raising funds through posting for the expenses with all the project, this is what it needs to run, for the duration of the tour. The LGU is also involved but limited. For example, with our last art workshop in May, art materials and snacks were what we provided so it was necessary to post for funds. And of course, support is needed to promote WOH and hopefully gain more attention to what it’s doing.2018 is just the beginning for WOH.

How is the WOH doing today?

So far we’ve done bamboo planting in April, art workshop in May and that was almost 3 weeks with 40 kids in attendance in total. In June were painting on skimboards and flat skimboarding competitions , all in Bayawan.

Last Saturday, Marlon had a speech promoting WOH and Steemit Philippines in Silliman University in Dumaguete. He also performed with his indigenous instruments, together with Tatay Dagsa and another creative from Bayawan. As he is awaiting for a date of an art exhibit in Dumaguete, he was invited to do another workshop and exhibit in Silliman. For this tour to really kick-off from Bacolod, they need to finish their commitments in Bayawan.

Can you share with us your most unforgettable experience in WOH?

Moments were seeing all those amazing pictures of the kids during last May’s workshop with the most poignant was seeing the kids during the painting and skimboarding competitions as I was there.

I would suggest for anyone to join any charity activities as seeing the enjoyment and happiness of the kids are like no other. As for making the event possible, together with the other Creatives of Bayawan, that was cool.

What piece of advice can you give to all the communities?

Steemit is a platform where our voices can be heard. It empowers Steemians to not only better themselves, but also to help anyone or a population in need and also to bring change in the world, whatever it is that we want to change.

According to Marlon, music is a universal language where it unites all culture. As for music and arts, it’s the soul of a nation. Oh, there’s a quote from Marlon that I’m still trying to understand, “In helping others, you are also helping yourself”.

And before we ended up our conversation, Lola Imma (@immarojas) generously shared photos of Walk of Hope’s previous activities. Let’s look at each of them and feel the love behind those images!

Bamboo Planting

Image Source: @flabbergast-art

Painting

Image Source: @flabbergast-art

Skimboarding

Image Source: @immarojas

I also want to share words from her that will teach us a great lesson in life. Lola Imma said, “I don’t want attention. What’s important is on what I do that it may touch and inspire other Pinoys, to reach out with what they can and bring happiness to those in need. We can bring change if we want to. Less words but more action. Believe that one person can make a difference.”

Once again, thank you so much Lola Imma for sharing your precious time with us. To my fellow Steemians, always remember that in times of darkness, never stop walking with hope!

As another page is about to close, another book is about to open. I’m proud to present to all of you our curation for the day.

Here are the simple guidelines for curation:

1. Minimum 300 words or 3 stanzas.
2. Minimum 2 pictures. Must be credited if not original.
3. Must be at least 90% original content with sources clearly credited. 100% Original content preferred.
4. With the exceptions of Tuesday Community Competitions & Thursday Community Outreach Day. All posts must be tagged #SteemPh to be eligible for curation.
5. Posts must not be more than 4 days old.

We will be curating SteemPh wide across all the hubs and using @SteemPh.Trail to upvote suitable posts. If a post already received an upvote from the trail, it cannot receive another.

But wait, there’s good news!

Since my column is about the Community Outreach, everybody has the chance to be featured. What does it mean? I have the privilege to choose from other countries aside from my very own motherland (which is the Philippines).

Another thing is that there’s no required limit on your post payout, so those who already have a high post payout can still have the chance. But of course, we must give way for community posts that are not earning much.

All topics about helping the community and the people are wholeheartedly welcome.

There are no colors, races, and nationalities; we are all God's children. Let’s support one another and never leave each other behind!

Come on, Let's start!

Walk of Hope : Promoting WOH and Steemit Philippines in Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines

Author: @walkofhope

We are living in a Modern Music Era and it’s refreshing to know that there are still people who proudly used the indigenous instruments. Aside from being Music and Arts lovers, they are also into ecology drives and one of them is Zero Waste. May the God continue to bless their journey!

Philippines Outreach

Author: @wilsonblue5

They proved that every gift is precious as long as it’s from a sincere motive. The kids were able to receive new umbrellas and school supplies. They also made a medical mission where a total of 32 children had a free circumcision. Overall, 1000 children benefited from the 3-day outreach!

Ulog 24: Feeding Program for Severely Wasted And Wasted Students (YOU CAN FEED THEM TOO!)

Author: @christianyocte

Since July is Nutrition Month Celebration, these hardworking teachers were able to feed 250 students per feeding program. It is important that every student is healthy and fit, it will help them to excel more in their academics. Take a look at their sweet smiles; they are enjoying the free food!

Humanity still exists. Let’s grab each other’s hands; wonderful things can be achieved.

Disclaimer: The photos are from the respective authors.

Hey, there’s more!

Here's the daily schedule that you can check out.

DAY	TOPIC	WRITER/CURATOR
Sunday	Travel	@rye05
Monday	Short Stories & Poetry	@johnpd
Tuesday	Community Competitions	@romeskie
Wednesday	Finance	@webcoop
Thursday	Community Outreach	@escuetapamela
Friday	Food	@iyanpol12
Saturday	Arts & Crafts	@olaivart

That's all for today and see you again next Thursday!