WEEK FIVE: MA Founders Volunteer with All Hands and Hearts
Thu 16 Jul 2026
Annie Gault, MA, Marketing Coordinator
Mark & Lynda Bridge, founders of Mark Antony Estates, spent 6 weeks volunteering on the remote Philippine island of Catanduanes, helping to build a school for children in need. The island is frequently hit by typhoons, leaving communities reliant on disaster relief charities - like All Hands And Hearts - to rebuild their infrastructure. Their journey has now come to an end and we are all immeasurably proud of the commitment they showed and what they achieved!
CLICK HERE to read more about what inspired Mark & Lyn to dedicate themselves to this cause.
Week Five - Journal
Crossing the Finish Line in Catanduanes!Five weeks... "It's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that our time with All Hands & Hearts in Salvacion has come to an end".
"Reflecting on the whole experience, it's been a brutal, beautiful test of endurance. We traded every home comfort for a cramped 2m x 3m bunk room, non-stop mosquitoes, bucket and ladle showers, and a high-carb diet that pushed our stomachs to their limits. Battling relentless heat, tropical storms, and physical exhaustion while handling heavy manual labor - shifting tons of aggreate, sifting endless sand, and wrestling warped timber - was easily some of the hardest work we've ever done.
"Yet, looking back on what we've built, every drop of sweat was worth it. The canteen stands strong, typhoon proof, and built to last 20 years to feed 30 local children. We're leaving this community with lasting infrastructure, incredible memories, and deep friendships forged with the local families, masons, and international volunteers".
Thursday: Passing the Baton & Street Karaoke.
Mark handed over the site drainage project to then focus entirely on framing out the remaining internal stud walls in the canteen. Meanwhile, Mark & Lyn were awarded Fundraiser of the Week for the third time and presented with official AH&H fleeces to take home!
The approaching typhoon brought heavy winds, forcing them to cancel the scheduled basketball game, but the storm ultimately passed safely wide. With the weather holding off, the village hosted a massive street karaoke session. Staff, volunteers, masons and locals formed a huge circle right in the middle of the road, passing snacks, drinks, and the microphone around under the stars.
Friday: Final push & Casino Night.
Mark was allocated another helper on the canteen, for a fnal push to get the build across the finish line. His work day was slightly disrupted by a video interview with the media team and an official feedback session with site leadership, leaving him with just four hours of actual labor. Still, almost all major construction hurdles were cleared by tool-down!
"The staff had so many warm, generous words for us regarding our work ethic, positive attitude, and integration on site. To top it off, one of the staffers cooked us her favourite pasta meal as a farewell treat, followed by a camp Casino Night where we were asked to dress up... in our absolute finest work cargo pants, of course!"
Saturday: The Final Shift & Farewell Virac.
The final day on site had arrived. Mark spent the morning putting the finishing touches in the canteen joinery with Thomas, a French volunteer. Meanwhile, Lyn took the lead on organising and directing a massive, site-wide cleanup, getting thewhole volunteer team working efficiently to leave the building site spotless.
With the work complete, they packed up, said emotional goodbyes to those remaining on base, and joined 12 colleagues in a hired van (suitcases roped to the roof again!) for a final send-off night in Virac. There they rented out a private Karaoke room at the Lucky Hotel, checked out a local street game show, and ended the night sharing beers at a local spot before heading back to the hotel through the quiet, deserted city streets.
Sunday: Waving goodbye!
Up early for breakfast at the Lucky Hotel before a quick 5-minute transfer to the tiny Virac airport.
"We sat in the departure lounge reflecting on the intense, life-changing five weeks we've just spent on this island. At 9:50am, our flight lifted off the tarmac, and we officially waved goodbye to Catanduanes. What an unforgettable journey".
"I am genuinely in awe of you both for embarking on this journey, sticking with it when it was difficult, and seeing it through to an incredible end. You've inspired me to do something similar if I should get the opportunity and I'm sure those children will have much better futures thanks to you and the other volunteers!"
- Annie Gault, Marketing Coordinator
Take a look at the finished project!
See what the volunteers' back breaking work and everyone's generous donations have helped to create for the children of Catanduanes.
