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

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

yesterday we attended a forum for discernment regarding the zte-nbn scandal at mhc shrine at paranaque with fr. archie intengan,sj as the speaker. it ended at about 10:30 late in the evening. i received a very striking remark from a priest after the forum, "were you able to find the truth?" i could only grin at this sarcasm.

obviously, fr. intengan is inclined to the administration's side. yet, it was not a waste of time to attend the forum. it all the more enhanced the validity of my reading of the events. i may not adhere to the convictions and motives of lozada, but i still believe in his testimony. it's inconceivable for me for him to have planned all these. i was also intrigued by the presentation of the wiretapped conversations between lozada and de venecia that were now available in the internet, the youtube and other blogsites. if indeed these were all true, how were these apprehended. the fact that these could be apprehended, it would be possible that anyone of us could be wiretapped. if we would be regarded as the "enemy," it's not surprising that our conversations be recorded and guarded. where is that right of privacy that is enshrined in our constitution?

for all we knew, we thought the speaker was only fr. intengan. we never thought that asec. ricky saludo would defensively present the side of the administration hrough this forum, initiating with a statement that goes something like, "90% of what fr. intengan had said is new to me as i have just heard now." come on, an outsider has more knowledge and insights rather than somebody from the inside? then this is proved further how, during the question and answer portion, he was so uptight in defending. he strongly asserted how this administration has been seriously fighting corruption. it was a good slap on the face in that argument when somebody asked something like, "if the adminsitration is serious about fighting corruption, then why they have saved erap from conviction." his response: (1) there are noble clamor, also on the part of the church, for erap to be set free, (2) he's beyond 70 years old. i could only laugh at this superficial and insufficient response.

i pity, those church workers who attended and who were easily swayed by their propaganda. they admitted that they first believed lozada and eventually shifted to discrediting him just because of the wiretapped conversations and the contrary version of the administration, while attacking the credibility of lozada.

i am not pro-lozada. i am pro-truth. and the truth is that corruption is rampant and prevalent in this administration, no matter how they would deny it. and the people know this. and the government would challenge us, why don't we file a case? they would always ask for evidences. where is the evidence? would somebody corrupting leave an evidence? would somebody asking for a "lagay" ask for an official receipt? and what if there are no evidence? then, they are clean!?!

i agree with fr. intengan at one point. we need a social reform. but the question is: where and how would this start? we would often clamor, "let's change the system. let's reform the society." i never thought that the system or the society has grown to be "beings" greatly paralyzing our lives. yet what makes up the system or the society are the people. the individuals. we. and let's take it more personally, "i."

Labels: events, philippines, politics, postnovitiate, reflection, social awareness, society

Posted by brodiz at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

i have prepared well. i was planning to bring laptop, karaoke, and make the most of this last day of catechesis class. to our dismay, there was none. i really don't want to end our class like that. i've been pondering on other possibilities, other days, it seems that this was really the last and opportune moment to gather them.

almost all of my student passed and are about to graduate this april (except for the 4 who had to stay behind because of backlog subjects). they have invited me for their graduation. it's a pity i couldn't come because it's in conflict with our scheduled annual retreat.

i handle 70 students, although 20 to 30 in average attend my class, considering it's scheduled at 1 PM at the most unholy hour of the day. according to them, they are one of the most notorious sections in the graduating class.


i would normally arrive in class at 12:45 PM, and i would not find any single soul in the classroom. it's very seldom when i meet students ahead of me, learning after that they had to go home for lunch yet.

at times, their last period of class in the morning would extend until 12:30 PM or somtimes beyond more. this would eat up my catechesis time. they had to go home to eat their lunch. some would skip my class because they want to sleep. some do not really want to attend at all.

i would observe that the few who regularly attend my class found in their conscience my efforts of being with them.

for the whole year i could say that we have only met for more or less 10 meetings (that would mean two and a half months regular class of one hour a week). i am supposed to discuss to them the 10 commandments. we only reached the fourth.

yet despite all these, i really enjoyed this year of catechesis. more than they have learned from me, i believe that i have learned a lot from them. i am not sure if all the things i have taught them would sink into them, or at least produce a minimal effect. but that is beyond my control. i would have to allow God's grace to work as i tried so hard to plant in them the seeds of the love of God.

yet, i have learned a lot from them. this experienced formed in me a different catechist compared form the previous years. i never scolded them. i never got angry at them. i learned how to understand their situation. i learned to become patient. i learned how to get down to their level. i learned how to reach out to them. i learned a lot from them personally as some would spontaneously open their life to me. i learned that what they long for: a friend who doesn't label, somebody on their side. i may not have captured all, though i really tried, but i have learned how to capture some hearts.

students in public schools, especially those belonging to the worse section are often neglected and labeled. these are the ones who needed more attention and appreciation. concretely, this experience allowed me to understand our option for the poor and marginalized. it takes a lot from me. i am a salesian, and this has to be lived by.

Labels: apostolate, catechesis, events, insights, introspection, reflection, youth

Posted by brodiz at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments

this morning i received this rosary personally made by rey in response to (more than an exchange of) the jersey i gave him. realizing further that he personally made this rosary, i felt that my share is of lesser value than his.

i further affirm his simplicity after learning his rosary-making as a hobby. while i devote much time in blogging and in other entertainment, his is to stay silently in one corner as he would enjoy himself creating these marian beads. i would say that this indeed is a marian devotion.

pondering on these events led me to the awareness and realization of simple living and enjoyment, a more noble expression of the evangelical counsels, which i am expected to radically live.

thanks, rey, not only for the rosary, but for the example.

Labels: events, insights, introspection, marian, random thoughts, rosary

Posted by brodiz at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

i particularly pertain to the coffee maker.
i accidentally broke it this afternoon.
its glass shattered into pieces,
causing even cuts and scratches in my left arm and hand.

the implication: the end of the coffee days.
i'm sorry coffee lovers.
i suggest that you'd rather take "nescafe."

Labels: events, postnovitiate

Posted by brodiz at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments