This post is way too late. Busy these days… no time to blog. Yet, I never failed writing down my experiences and reflections in my journal. I hope to update as frequent as possible.
Oct. 23 (Monday)
We woke up at 4:15 am, took showers, then light breakfast, then packed and left at around 5:00 am. We arrived at Tarlac at 8:00 am. The community took their breakfast at our place. We then left for Don Bosco Tarlac to see the place, to meet the confreres. Shortly after, we moved for Nueva Ecija and arrived at 12:00 pm. We stayed there for an overnight stay. We played basketball, football and volleyball against the trainees and the brothers mercilessly defeated the guys. We expected to eat out at Magellan's place, instead we ate in-the-house. Nevertheless, the fellowship with the confreres there is superb and entertaining.
Talking within: Strange Changes... which only you can spot. It is like an elephant hidden and covered with blanket inside a living room. The obvious could suffocate, and to deny this is a folly, as the elephant continues to mess the entire reality with all its dung.
Oct. 24 (Tuesday)
After the mass at 6:00 am, we had a little encounter with the assembled trainees. One of the brothers gave a life-vocation-testimony stressing that the very reason why we live is for us to be happy. We seek that happiness in our lifetime and even beyond that.
We had a quick breakfast then left San Jose, Nueva Ecija at 8:30 am. We were told we could reach Sagada in 3 hours. After 3 hours we're still in Nueva Vizcaya. We arrived at Banaue by lunch time. The trip was long, bumpy and winding. We all got dizzy. Some puked out. I'm glad I'm not one of them. We practically travelled the whole day and finally reached at Sagada at almost 6 in the evening. The rest is simply settling down and adjusting to the chilling climate. There was no availabale hot showers so we took an extremely cold bath. Everybody experienced coming out from the bathroom shivering. Now we understood how Jack (in the movie Titanic) have felt before dying. After night prayers, instead of retiring we assembled for a session of "Pusoy Dos" game which lasted until 11:30 pm. It is not a gamble of money or wealth, but a gamble of dignity. Losers suffer the painful ridicule and lashing sarcasm by everyone.
Talking within: When your heart is full of passion that you just can’t hold out but express and blurt how you feel, it is always wise to keep them for a while than explode in spontaneity. I don’t allow my heart to rule my mind, to rule my life. Feelings are valid as they are in themselves, but they can never be objective. The realm of self is never congruent with the reality outside.
Oct. 25 (Wednesday)
After lauds and breakfast, the community marched to the municipal hall to register, then went off for the Sumaguing Cave. Nature is fascinating as beauty is manifested in the work of art wrought by God. The world is seen in an essentially ordered reality. God keeps us. The experience is elating. The feeling is inexplicable. Inside the earth’s womb, we have crawled, climbed, jumped, swam, pulled, and slid. The best part is when we competed for that memory capture. We ate lunch back at St. Joseph’s inn. We rested a bit. We never expected our rector to give us money to buy souvenirs and stuffs. The whole afternoon was spent touring around town and buying souvenir items. We went to see the Hanging Coffins at Echo Valley which is a significant cultural imprint of the Sagada Ifugaos. The hanging coffins are said to be the exultation of the good souls. Some went to the Bokong falls, and other parts of the town. At 6:00 pm the community bonded before Mary through a special rosary, and before Jesus through the Eucharistic celebration. After supper, a native brought us to a tribal fertility dance. It is so amazing how the Ifugaos had kept their culture and traditions intact in spite postmodernity and influences of the American Episcopalian Church. Some of us joined the fertility dance in solidarity with their culture. The tribal dance lasted overnight but after staying their for a couple of hours, we headed back to our inn for rest. Again, the “Pusoy Dos” saga continued.
Talking within: Encounters when maximized may be short but may last forever. We find ourselves looking for the grandest there is, yet the grandeur we seek are only found in the simplest little things. It is our expectations that kills our dreams.
Oct. 26 (Thursday)
At 6:30 am we opened the day praising and thanking the Lord at His Table while relishing the rich experiences we are having at Sagada. We ate sumptuous breakfast then rendered songs for those who prepared our meals. We hurried off and left Sagada for Pampanga. We spent the whole day practically for the trip to Don Bosco Mabalacat. We arrived there at 9:00 pm. Looking tired and famished, we devoured the supper prepared for us. Understandably, we are all tired so we immediately went to wash up and head for their beds, but not for the four of us. The session of “Pusoy Dos” resumed until 1:30 am.
Talking within: As St. Paul also experience, I find myself doing what needs to be avoided and avoid what needs to be done. We are accustomed to take the easy way out. Who would want pain and suffering?
Oct. 27 (Friday)
We had mass at 7:00 am with the confreres of the house. The whole morning we went watching and assisting young people giving their best in sports competitions: basketball, sepak takraw, taekwondo, volleyball, badminton, etc. Late in the morning we visited Clark Air field and the controversial closed down Expo Filipino. After lunch time, we rendered a simple program to the hosts to express our heartfelt gratitude for receiving us. We left for Calubang and arrived tired at 7:00 pm.
Talking within: Instead of complaining for all the lack and the negative things I experience, I must not forget the meaningfully rich and exhilarating positive experiences I am blessed with. Why cry over a lost gift which was given freely? The reality of possessiveness is not about possessing, it is about being possessed. Gifts given, gifts received, when we possess the gift, we lose its giftedness; when we lose the gift, we save it.
My journey to Sagada is a journey within the deep recesses of my soul. It’s not about going to a place. It’s about finding myself. I’m so glad I found it.
