Photo By Cpl. Robert Williams | Lance Cpl. Jessica Pak, from Garwood, New Jersey, and two brothers, Rakeem and Jay who...... read more read more
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PUERTA PRINCESSA, PALAWAN, Philippines– The Marines of 9th Engineer Support Battalion have been working on the Humanitarian Civic Assistance projects at the Concepcion and Binduyan elementary schools since they arrived in the Philippines. The Marines built pathways, laid cement and built overhangs at the project sites, but will walk away with so much more.
While working on the HCA projects, many of the Marines have been bonding with the children by sharing their food and interacting with them.
“This one boy here, named Rakeem, calls me Momma Pak,” said Lance Cpl. Jessica Pak, a metal worker with 9th ESB, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “Ever since I’ve been here I’ve treated him like he’s my little brother. I give him my Meal-Ready-to-Eat for lunch. He always follows me around and holds my hand.”
The HCA project at Binduyan Elementary School is complete, according to Pak. Throughout the time of the Marines and children being together, the kids have learned new skills for the future.
“They’ve noticed what we’ve been doing,” said Pak, graduate of Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, New Jersey. “They took the rock and sand and made their own cement. They’ve even started making their own projects.”
Pak grew up in the blue-collar town of Garwood, New Jersey, according to Pak. Her dad was a welder and her mom had various jobs to support her and her two brothers.
“My father would leave for months at a time to go to various states to have a welding job,” said Pak. “We really didn’t have a lot.”
She was getting ready to do an on-camera interview about her working on the HCA project, when Rakeem signaled her that his home was nearby, according to Pak.
“Rakeem took me to his house. When I walked over his mom and his dad were outside sleeping,” said Pak. “They had dirt floors and one hammock to sleep in when I realized that they had nothing.”
That day she decided to make a difference in the life of Rakeem’s family, according to Pak.
“When I get a chance this weekend, I’m going to buy them a bunch of supplies,” said Pak. “Then I’m going to give them money so the parents can afford for their children to go to school because they have five kids.”
She is glad she made that decision, according to Pak.
“It makes me feel really great. “Being able to make my own money and helping out another family makes me feel like I did something”
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2015 02:23 |
| Story ID: | 178419 |
| Location: | PUERTO PRINCESA, PH |
| Hometown: | GARWOOD, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 450 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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