A service organization in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro sent off 11 bulingits (literally “dirty”) volunteers to the frontiers of the southern Philippines to help poor communities develop their human resources potential.

The Community Outreach and Resource Development Volunteer Program-Year of Service (YOS) of the Jesuit-run Xavier University, held a send-off event yesterday.

Among the volunteers were seminarians of the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and two members of tribal communities in the province of Bukidnon.

Jesuit priest Roberto Yap, president of Xavier University, urged the volunteers to focus on their work.

“What matters now is what you will do today,” he said.

Father Yap said the university was sending the volunteers to “geographical and spiritual places where others do not reach or find it difficult to reach.”