Batch Integration 2.0

Last Friday, August 30, 2013, we left with smiling faces from St. Albert the Great Seminary. This trip was originally scheduled August 23, 2013. But due to the weather conditions because of typhoon Maring and the monsoon, we did not push through. We still had classes with our beautiful professors, ma’am Ocenar for Chemistry and ma’am Bautista for Technical Writing before we departed.

Our first stop-over was at Aling Taleng’s Halo-Halo in Pagsanjan. I think there were very few stores who have attempted to compete with that restaurant for so many years since 1933. To satisfy hunger, we ordered halo-halo and pancit guisado. We then proceeded to Panguil River Eco-Park to have an overnight camping with Fr. Lovell, Fr. Ogie and our drivers, kuya Pane and kuya Roger. There were team-building activities set for us. We have to work as a batch in order for us to accomplish the tasks. I’ve discovered more the attitudes of my brothers especially in leading the group. In the evening, we had our dinner. Sinigang and adobo was prepared for us by the cooks who work in the pavillon where we stayed. By the way, the camping was not fully “outdoor” because our tents were pitched inside the pavillon. We had roofs over our roofs. We roasted marshmallows and hotdogs afterwards and we shared stories about our experiences in the seminary. Love lives were also included. Most of us slept early. There were about 8 of us who were really strong in staying up until 12 midnight.

The next day, we woke up and had our breakfast. At 7:45 am, we went to the falls. The trekking took so long. There were three obstacles to cross. First, we swam at a raging stream. It was difficult because of the current. Second, we had to cross to the river while holding a bamboo log. Third, we had to cross to the falls using only a rope while swimming in the water. That was an unforgettable experience because I was afraid that I might bump my head or slice my leg on one of the big rocks. It was really fun though. We took photos of ourselves for us to put in the annual photo album. The next activity was rubber tubing, the salva vida were turned into a long boat. The feeling of thrill while you are riding there is like in the movies wherein the boats might turn over anytime. We still swam in the dam after that. The water current was very strong that it was starting a small whirlpool. We watched children jumping at a very high place. It was breath-taking. If only their parents were watching, it’s either they’ll be proud or angry of their children. We took a bath to clean ourselves and had lunch and proceeded to our next trip.

We went to San Pedro de Alcantara, a church in Paquil, Laguna famous for its yearly Turumba-dancing the Sorrowful Mother. The afternoon TV series “My Little Juan” was taping scenes but we arrived there during their break time. We went to another church in Paete, Laguna. Paete is known for the handicrafts of creative people who live there. They are really proud of their God-given gifts. I shared to some of my brothers that if it is their first time in a church they will enter, they should make a sincere wish and it will have big chances that it will be granted by God. We still strolled there. We went to the shops of carved images of Saints and other religious items. Those were really works of art.

We head back to Calamba but before that, we had snacks once again at Aling Taleng’s Halo-Halo. We just can’t get enough of their specialty. I am not after the recipe though. I just hope that I will know the secret of their success once I will be able to have a chance to talk to the successors of the owner.

We arrived in St. Albert the Great where we can rest in peace. We were very tired but still we kept going and attended the Evening Prayer with the First Year Aspirants and the Postulants. As for myself, I still have the energy to meditate and thank the Lord for the happy memories. I kept learning a lot of things with the people I meet each day. And as I have said, I discovered more the attitude of my brothers. It is not the trip that was important to me. The bonding was unforgettable. Whether I continue to be with them forever or not, I will keep those precious moments of laughter and sorrow. And as challenges come our way, I only pray that we stick together as one family.

Mulier

Dark, expressive eyes, long, curly hair and infectious smile. These are the qualities that a special woman of my life possesses. She’s very beautiful not only on the outside but also on the inside. What makes her the apple of your eyes aren’t only her physical attributes but also her personality.

I was still small when I first met this best friend of mine. She loves praying for me especially in times that she wanted to remind me that I have to be strong. She is always there for me. She never gets tired loving me even if I had been committing the same mistakes over and over again. I really admire her for that. Her hands are fragrant because she cares endlessly. She’s soft-hearted and peaceful. You would rather choose not to sleep at night sharing with her your stories than tucking yourself under your covers after consuming all the pages of your diary. She will always lend you her shoulders to cry on. She brings joy when things aren’t on the right track. I love her and people who have met her do so too. If I were the Pope, I would canonize her Saint. But whether that canonization happens or not, I believe that God has reserved her seat among the saints in Heaven.

I consider her my mediatrix because she led me to the realization of my vocation. She was having second thoughts then of letting me go before I decided to respond to the “Call”. It hurts me too to accept that we have to part ways but we chose to surrender ourselves to God’s will. And that made both of us happy.

This woman is no other than my mother, a very wise parent who can be a father at the same time. She is my first teacher. She taught me to love everything God created. For me, she is the person whom I will always remember until the time that all my hair turn gray.

May Handaan Doon! Handa Na Ba Kayo? TARA! (August 22, 2013 Reflection)

Matthew 22: 1-14

Tayong mga Pilipinong Kristiyano ay binansagang nagdiriwang lamang ng Misa sa loob ng Simbahan tuwing “KLB”-Kasal, Libing, Binyag. Tuwing naririnig ko ito ay para bang gusto kong mainis pero hindi ko maiiwasang sumang-ayon. IT’S HURT, YA KNOW?

Tumungo tayo sa kasaysayan ng Kasal. Ang kasal kahit noong panahon ni Kristo ay itinuturing nang banal, iba lang ang praktis. Ang lalaki at babae ay pipirma ng “marriage contract”, iyon ay seal na kinasal na sila. Ngunit, ang babae ay kailangan munang bumalik sa kanyang mga magulang at manirahan habang ang lalaki ay babalik rin sa kanyang lugar at magtatayo ng sariling bahay kung saan niya itataguyod ang kanyang tahanan. Kukunin muli ng lalaki ang babae at dadalhin sa kanyang “palasyo” at doon na mamumunga ang kanilang pagmamahalan.

Sa panahon ngayon ay mas binibigyang kahulugan ang reception kaysa sa kasalan. Kung fiesta naman ay mas kapansin-pansin ang litson kaysa sa mga tao. Aba e sa probinsya nga namin ay kahit hindi mo kakilala ang bagong kasal ay hindi ka mapaghahalatang nakikikain lang. Nagsipunta sila sa inyong tahanan dahil may “handaan”. HANDAAN, mga kapatid, HANDAAN! Maging dito sa Aspirancy ay mas napapansin ang ice cream kaysa sa nag-celebrate ng birthday.

Ang Ebanghelyo sa araw na ito ay tungkol sa Piging sa Kasalan. Ang kasalan ay may piging, feast, HANDAAN! Ang salitang “handâ” na tinutukoy ko diyan ay yung may mga pagkain. Mayroon pang isang salita sa Filipino na “handa” na halos kasintunog na rin niya pero ang ibig sabihin ay “ready.” Ito po ang LEAST na natatandaan natin. Ang mag-handa. Bakit nga ba? Ay alam ko na! Kasi nga, minsan nakakatamad. Hindi po ba? Bawat araw sa ating buhay ay isang paghahanda-getting and being ready. Kaya dapat tayo rin ay naghahanda-celebrating a feast. Kahit ako minsan may pag-aangal din lalo na kung walang tulog. Pero mas mabuti na ata yung walang tulog kaysa walang gising. Walang araw sa ating buhay na bumangon tayo para sa sarili lang natin. Ito ay iniaalay natin sa ibang tao kahit na hinihila pa tayo ng kama 5-minutes before Invitatory Prayers o classes. Parang piging lang iyan, isang pag-aalay sa kapwa.

Today, we are commemorating the Queenship of Mary. She was the one who uttered the words, “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum (Be it done to me according to Your Word).” Si Maria ang pinakamagandang halimbawa ng taong naghanda. Kung inyong iisipin, bata pa noon si Maria. Malamang may pangarap siya na magkaroon ng sariling pamilya, saganang pamumuhay at makilala ng buong komunidad. A bright future was waiting for her! Ngunit inihanda niya ang kanyang sarili sa mas magandang bagay at iyon ay ang pagtanggap na maging ina ng Panginoon. Handa na siya hindi upang maging ina ni Kristo kundi sa pagtanggap sa anumang plano ng Diyos dahil malakas ang kanyang pananalig. Hindi kagaya ng taong dumalo sa Wedding Feast na hindi maayos ang kasuotan. Siya ay pinalayas dahil kahit imbitado siya ay parang hindi siya willing na magdiwang kasama ang mga tao. Kung sa panahon natin iyan nangyayari ay malamang sasabihin ng taong bihis-na-bihis na “UNFAIR NAMAN!” dahil naghanda siya pero siya pala yung hindi invited.

One passage was shared to us by our Math teacher when I was in 2^nd year high school and it goes like this, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Kung ating iisipin ay may mga pagkakataon sa buhay nating hindi talaga natin mapaghahandaan dahil hindi inaasahan. Malamang si Maria rin ay nagulat na biglang pinadala ng Diyos si Anghel Gabriel upang ipahayag na siya’y malilihi’t manganganak ng isang lalaki na tatawagin niyang Hesus. The preparation which this passage would like to stress is the preparation of our character’s strength whenever we receive either a good or bad news. Pero may mga bagay naman na kayang-kaya talaga nating paghandaan lalung-lalo na school works, seminary activities at duties and responsibilities sa offices. Nakakalimutan lang po natin. Sometimes, we value the time so much that we forget to manage it. Or the other way around! We manage our time so much that we forget to value it. “Chronos” is the time we manage, while “Kairos”, on the other hand, is the time we value. They should come together and that is a test to every one of us.

Every second we are living in this world, we are invited to celebrate like we celebrate in a Wedding Feast. Yung tipong ayaw na natin umalis dahil masaya tayong nakikita ang mga taong sumusoporta sa bagong kasal. Natural iyon! Honeymoon stage e. Kahit naman syempre sa pagpapari ay nararanasan iyan. Every day that we are invited to join this Wedding Feast of the Lamb, we are also called for renewal of ourselves--dying (renouncing things) to uplift others. One requisite for us is to be ready. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na handa tayo ay bawat bahid ng dumi sa ating pagkatao ay kailangang alisin, pero wala namang mawawala sa atin kung ating gagawin ang pagbabago ng taos-puso. If we change for the better, mga kapatid, you will see that people will love you more. We should willingly enjoy the Wedding Feast as if no one can stop us. That is the true essence of “handaan” or “piging”. Ang Handaan ay pinaghandaan. And people will appreciate something that has been prepared for them if it came from the heart.

Sa totoo lang, itong Gospel reflection kong ito ay isang linggo kong pinaghandaan. Ako’y nagnilay-nilay kung ano ba ang maganda kong maipapahayag sa inyo, mga kapatid. Kaya ang hiling ko lang ay sana na-appreciate ninyo ang aking paghahanda.

Ang akin na lamang paghahandaan ngayon ay kung paano ako babatikusin ng publiko sa sinulat kong ito.

God bless everyone! ENJOY LIFE!