Chronicles of the Daily Grind

This year's theme: AIRBORNE in connection with our theme Ascende Superius, 53 campers were divided into 8 groups assuming these images of FLIGHT. I would surely miss those creative yells:


Hukbong Maya... Lilipadlipad!

Naglalagablab, naglalagablab... Arcane Phoenix!

Warriors of the Lord, Angel!

Jollybhe! Jollybhe! Yeah!

1... 2... 3... Eagle's Fayth!

Fly, Fly, Fly... the Firefly!

Teen Titans... Hey!

Dragons... Roar!


Sino nga ba ang nanalo sa yell? nakalimutan ko na...
please fill me in.

Labels: camp, random thoughts, youth

Posted by brodiz at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

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

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

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 entry has been circulating the net for two years, yet it is good to reflect this sad "exaggerated" reality. In little ways it's true for young people. I'm posting and saving this for future use.


Dear Anak,

Naipadala ko na yung 50 thousand pesos na tuition fee mo. Pinagbili na namin ang mga kalabaw natin. Ang mahal pala ng kursong COUNTER STRIKE. Wala na din pala tayong baboy naibenta na din para dun sa sinasabi mo na project nyo na NOKIA N75. Ang mahal naman ng project na yun. kasama din ang 7 thousand dun para sa field trip nyo sa MALL OF ASIA. Anak malayo ba yun? Mag-ingat ka sa pagbibiyahe mo.

Isasanla pala namin ang palayan natin para mabili mo na yung instrumentong I-POD na kinakailangan mo sa laboratory nyo.

Anak, komportable ka ba dyan sa boarding house mo, saan ba kamo yan sa VICTORIA COURT? Maganda ba dyan? Di ba mainit dyan?

Anak, kamusta na pala yung group project nyo na SAN MIG LIGHT? Napailaw nyo na ba? Mataas ba nakuha nyo na grado dun?

Anak sana bago pa maubos ang lahat-lahat ng ari-arian natin ay maka-gradweyt kana. Walong taon ba talaga ang kurso mo sa SECRETARIAL? Sana pag gradweyt mo makakuha ka ng trabaho kaagad kagaya ng manager ng kumpanya para mabawi natin ang mga ari-arian natin sa sanglaan.

Ay syanga pala anak diba sabi mo sa JOLLIBEE / MAK DONALD ka palagi kumakain? ok ba naman sa yo ang mga ulam dyan? Baka hindi masarap kawawa ka naman.

Eh yung school bus nyo na TAXI sabihin mo sa driver mag ingat sya sa pagdri-drive.

Anak hanggang dito na lang at sa susunod ay ipapadala ko sayo ang pera na pambili mo ng ALTIS na gagamitin mo sa VACANT SUBJECT mo.

Ang nagmamahal,

Itang at Inang

P.S. Anak mag aral kang mabuti. Ingatan mo katawan mo. Huwag ka muna mag-aasawa. Ikaw lang ang pag-asa namin para mahango tayo sa kahirapan.

Labels: introspection, jokes, random thoughts, story, youth

Posted by brodiz at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: insights, lyrics, social awareness, society, song, video, youth

Posted by brodiz at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments