Chronicles of the Daily Grind

Date: April 20-29, 2008
Venue: Negros Island (Victorias City, Bacolod City, Granada, Kabankalan City, Hinobaan)

a very successful and heartwarming camp.
as a facilitator, it's energy draining, enervating, tiring...
yet the enthusiasm of the students is recharging,
especially when they are enjoying and responding well to the formative activities we have set for them.

from the week-long preparation to until the duration of the camp, i've been sleeping at an average of 4 hours a day. no wonder as soon as i was back home, i slept straight almost the whole day without taking lunch.

the affair is advantageous for me as a practical trainee to get to know some of my charges, the student leaders. i have come to know a little bit deeper each of them. it's amusing to listen to their stories. we have mixed and grouped these students so that they get to encounter other students from different levels (grade school, high school, graduate, college). it's amazing how they easily bond together and get to accept each other.

listening to their stories, i get to resonate with them. their point of connection to sharing their experiences as students revolves into one favorite refrain: "their teachers." indeed, whether good or bad, teachers will definitely leave a lasting impression to their students.i remember myself doing the same.

this camp has given me a preview of what to expect and not to expect this school year. a relevant question to ask myself is: what could i do this year to make a positive difference in the lives of my charges.

of course, there were many lessons which i personally learned. each moment captures one formative lesson that is worth reflecting. yet, more than reflecting, what is important is to enjoy the moment.

as one of my first activities as a practical trainee, i saw myself being stretched. i saw my tendency to be overcome by work and tasks and the irrational need to complete them. but then, i have found value in relaxing a bit despite the demands and pressures. health is of primary importance when it comes to the mission.

if i were to sum up the days i just had, it is but an "encounter to enjoy."

Labels: apostolate, camp, events, formation, outing, personal, practical training, youth

Posted by brodiz at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

after five days as a practical trainee,
i can't imagine myself doing the following:

1.) giving goodnight talks to dbyc, boarders and salesians
2.) playing organized basketball game with the employees
3.) conducting and teaching the four-voice choral piece, "you'll never walk alone"
4.) eating fishballs and kikiam while being watched by the dbyc young people who are engaged in prayer.
5.) learning "crazy" unfreezer activities from ma'am reggie and sir gary.
6.) committing to memory 20 names of young people in a day.
7.) spending my monthly petty cash in just six hours.
8.) meeting someone without knowing that she is the principal
9.) bro paul and i are talking about someone without realizing that the person is just two steps away from us (bro. paul blushed)
10.) practicing in playing the guitar to animate the mass

many surprises are still ahead. indeed, there are still many lands too explore. there is still one big self to know and to stretch. there is still more in this life to discover.

Labels: events, personal, practical training, random thoughts, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

now open: a new chapter!

SATURDAY:
i left db postnovitiate at 9:30 am. i never thought that fetching is that sooner. i rushed packing my things. we arrived at db mandaluyong at 11:00 am. i was warmly welcomed by the community. yet, immediately after lunch, Bro. Abe and I rushed for DB Makati to at least watch the DBAA one-day league. i met familiar faces from db tarlac, former teachers and friends. at 6 pm, we head back home. after vespers and supper, the community as a sign of welcome, celebrated my arrival with the film viewing of vantage point (which i already watched) coupled with pizza hut supreme and sausages. i stayed late until 12:00 am unpacking my things.

SUNDAY:
i woke up at 6:30 am, had personal lauds and meditation. today's the birthday of fr. demet, our vicar. i attended and assisted the mass at 8:30 am at savio parish. i was introduced to the people as the new brother assistant. after the mass, we headed back to the school to meet the youth of dbyc for their catechism. at lunch time, we celebrated the birthday of fr. demet. food is great and abounding. before taking lunch i stepped the scale to watch my weight. it's marked 62 kilos. we'll see if i would gain or lose weight. the food here is great. i'm afraid i might achieve the former (gaining weight). i couldn't sleep for afternoon siesta. i just finished unpacking and organizing my things in my room. at 4:00 pm i went down and assisted the dbyc. i met a lot of young poeple, i've been knowing their names here and there, trying to commit them in my memory. they are such nice people. at 5:45 pm, i gave the closing talk (aka goodnight talk) of the dbyc. i met bro joji and marnel who'll be attending the 6 pm mass. after supper and rosary, fr. demet gave his goodnight sharing his reflection of his 64 years of existence. then, fr. eli, fr. abel, bros. abe, lonx and i met for the preparation of the salterrae.

TALKING WITHIN:
i'm still feeling a little nostalgic. i am still missing my companions... i felt that i haven't said goodbye enough. nevertheless it's time to move one. i've been adjusting. i couldn't imagine myself missing the structures of the seminary which i previously abhor. life is fast-paced... there will be shifts in lifestyle. yet, i still hold onto God and pray that i may not be drowned and be consumed. nevertheless, i am consoled by the fact that God is with me, and i am looking forward a fruitful journey of this new chapter of my salesian life.

Labels: events, formation, personal, practical training, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

the day of my exodus comes closer now. feelings of nostalgia and sadness are starting to overcome me.i am the first to leave the postnovitiate... the haven, my home. barely two days to go and i haven't packed my things yet.a greater portion of me doesn't want to leave. but this is not a separation anxiety about the place and my comfort zones.this is about holding onto the people i treasure, the persons i have learned to love. they will surely be missed. i know it's not the end of the world. we'll still be meeting each other again some time. yet, the postnovitiate journey and the everyday encounter with them as a community will soon end. i don't think we'll ever be assigned together again into another community.



surely, you'll be missed!

i have found a "home" in you. leaving the postnovitiate doesn't mean leaving "home."
the jingle of the radio station 97.9 home radio is correct:
"home is where you place my heart."
you will always be in my heart.
wherever i may be, i would carry this "home" with me.

God Bless!

Labels: formation, personal, postnovitiate

Posted by brodiz at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments

I find this story amusing...

Karpintero itong si Pedro at isang araw eh gumagawa siya ng isang bahay sa tabi ng ilog.
Sa lakas ng pagmamartilyo niya eh nalaglag ang martilyo niya sa ilog.
Umiyak siya at lumitaw yung guardian angel niya,
"Tutulungan kita, Pedro"
Sabay lundag sa ilog.
Lumabas ito na me hawak na gold hammer,
"Ito ba ang martilyo mo?"...
"Hindi po."
Lundag uli ang anghel at lumitaw na me silver hammer,
"Ito ba?"
"Hindi po."
Lundag uli sa ilog ang anghel at lumitaw na me ordinary hammer,
"Ito ba?"
" Opo!"
Natuwa ang anghel.
"Dahil honest ka, bukod sa martilyo mo,
sa 'yo na rin ang gold and silver hammer!"
Makaraan ang ilang araw, naglalakad si Pedro sa ilog
at kasama ang misis niya.
Eh sa katangahan, nalaglag si misis sa ilog.
Iyak si Pedro.
Litaw si guardian angel.
"Tutulungan kita."
Sabay lundag sa ilog at ng lumitaw eh kasama si Diana Zubiri.
"Ito ba ang misis mo?"
Sagot si Pedro, "Opo!"
Nagalit si anghel, "Sinungaling ka. Akala ko pa naman eh mabait ka."
Nag-reason-out si Pedro,
"Sorry po, angel... kasi kapag sinabi kong 'Hindi',
eh lulundag ka uli sa tubig at paglitaw mo eh kasama mo si Katrina Halili.
At kapag sinabi ko uli na hindi siya ang asawa ko,
eh lulundag ka uli at ang tunay na misis ko na ang kasama mo.
At dahil sa kabaitan ko, eh ibibigay mo din sa akin sina Diana at Katrina.
Mahirap lang po ako at hindi ko kaya ang me tatlong asawa,
kaya 'Yes' na lang ang sinagot ko nung una."

Tanong: Naniniwala ba kayo kay Pedro o Hindi?

Labels: jokes

Posted by brodiz at 5:21 AM | Permalink | Comments

this evening i sort-of attended the graduating students of don bosco canlubang's high school department. as the gradutaing ceremonies unfold, flashes of memories from my own high school graduation play before my mind. i've been discussing to one of my confreres how ceremonies differ now in reference to our experiences. i could feel from our graduating students the ambience of gratefulness and great pride of having been formed in this institution. seeing this rewinds in me the similar feeling i have felt before when i was there, wearing my barong, seated among the group of gentlemen eager to reach the apex of high school life.

indeed, high school life is a treasure worth to keep. though a delicate stage of formation, it highlights our initial youthful enthusiasm as we face life as human person. more than the lessons learned, it's a journey worthy to look back into as we trace the path and the state of where we are right now. God indeed has a hand in this.

for this experience, i get to be all the more proud to be a bosconian. yet, what's even more amazing is that i am not only proud of being a bosconian, i feel all the more proud and relevant as a salesian. and as a salesian, i now take part in the formation of these young people, as i did take part in the formation of our recent graduating class. i pray that God may maximally use me in this mission of touching lives.

Labels: events, graduation, insights, life, reminiscing, salesians, youth

Posted by brodiz at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments