Tuesday, May 26, 2009

quick post before I leave

I left my place this morning excited for the ride and the camp. At the same time, I was kinda bothered. I hope I hadn’t left a thing or anything that I’ll need at Cebu. Or I hope I didn’t miss to leave them with extra cash or anything they need. Forgive me for thinking about this even at a time like this when I should be preparing myself for the camp and all, mentally and emotionally.

T’was 4 hours ago that I bade goodbye and take care to my siblings and dogs. Yet I’m still here at Netopia of SM CDO waiting for our ride. They are still waiting for fuel as well. Anyway, just whiling away time. Hope naa nay lana. Hehe..

Monday, May 25, 2009

my gratitude to them

Be off to Cebu City in a few hours through the generosity of the Bahinting family. I was supposedly in a boat last night but my good friend Lloyd asked to swap places with me since he’d be the only guy passenger on that plane ride and I would be the only lady passenger in the group to go with the boat. I agreed of course, since it’ll give me extra time here at home and with the youths and with whatever I need to do. I brought his ticket and off he went with 2 guys of our group. Our flight is scheduled probably at 10:30AM, so have to be at the airport by 10AM. By the way, its a private plane owned by the Bahinting’s, a very generous old friends and churchmates we know. They have regular flight scheduled to Cagayan de Oro, that’s why we wanted to hitch a ride. And it’ll save my fellow staff also further expense from their meager budget. My biggest thanks to the family for helping us and giving us the means and opportunity to serve their youths in their camps.

So I would be off for 10 days from the internet world. Tatah..

Sunday, May 24, 2009

a day of thanksgiving

Finally done with our seminar. T’was a day of wits and confidence. As you may know, I shy away from the stage, much more, speak in front of a crowd. But I’m glad, really glad it was over despite the headache and muscle pains in my feet from standing too long, moving around and facing the crowd with a happy and unbothered smile. Hahayz.. The quirks of being in front, emceeing while coordinating the staff and people involved. Anyway, what’s done is done, as Aslan had said.

Glad our boss treated us for Halo-halo at Chowking, Limketkai Center as a celebration of the just concluded seminar. It somehow appeased the headache. It wasn’t even obvious as the whole staff were joking around, not minding the weary body and tired minds. It was still a long table of loud-talking halo-halo eaters.

And, unexpectedly, I saw one of my students, my favorite one. We didn’t have summer class so expect that I did really miss him and his sweetness. He was with his caring older brother and beautiful mother when he saw and called my attention. In a surprise, I almost ran towards their table. I’m glad I was at Limketkai Center, at least I still had the decency to behave. Hehe.. I was really glad I saw him. I don’t know if he’ll enroll again in the coming school year, I do hope he will. He is such a sweet lad. The type that he would try to choke me or try to wrestle me, but those were his type of sweetness, games to him. Get this, he is much bigger than me, bigger than my older brother, and much muscular than my younger brother. After a week of absence from our class, he would search for me in every classroom, ran towards me then give me a big hug with his big weight and a smack in my back or he would pull me relentlessly to get my attention. He is that sweet. No wonder he is one of my favorites. And he is teachable and patient as well, just as long as he is not irritated. But then again, I already know how to appease him whenever he feels irritated in class which seldom happens and only when he is sleepy and tired.

God, thank you for the smile after a tiring day.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

tonight, lazy night, multi-tasking night

Have things to do tonight to be submitted tomorrow in connection with our seminar this Saturday. But here I am in front of the monitor, chatting with some friends, browsing the net, reading articles, whiling away time, er, rather, wasting precious time while listening to some music over the radio, texting friends and devouring Milo chocolate powder with little sugar on a cup. What a life. As if I’m not busy and clamoring for some more time. I haven’t packed yet, haven’t prepared my things for my weekend travel to Cebu City. Still have to do some laundry and ironing. Haven’t even cleaned my bag and my messy bed. Haha.. So much for the complaints.

And I just put on my eyeglass. Haha.. My eyes hurts these days from too much reading and browsing, not too mention lesser sleeping hours.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

a busy buzzy week

Aside from the fact that it’ll be a week before Cebu Youth Camp begins, the preparations and all, though not more unto physical but more of emotional and spiritual. I still have to prepare my swimming paraphernalia and make sure they are all usable. Haven’t done that yet and the clock is continuously ticking. I haven’t even bought a boat ticket yet to Cebu City in the knowledge that my fellow camp staffs would be joining along. This may have added to my stress. Nah.. This is what I enjoy doing, so why would I be stressed with this?

This week would be a busy week for me, for us at our school. We’ll be hosting a reading seminar this Saturday and the American speaker arrived yesterday. So it’ll be more of a week of entertaining the guest and filling in her schedule with activities. Not to say, I still hold regular summer classes for my student. I might want to ask her and her nanang not to come on some days. Haha.. Anyway, still have to think where we’ll bring our guest on Friday for lunch. One that is uniquely in our city. Plus, I still haven’t prepared my part as an emcee for the said seminar. Grrr.. Not my forte, so understand that I haven’t had the jest to start on it. Maybe I’d do another impormpto or make a last minute preparation. Duh.. Ice cream please..

Monday, May 18, 2009

only for fun at a vacation

Just arrived from my Medina trip an hour ago. Was at Medina, Misamis Oriental for a little family gathering in celebration also of the town’s fiesta. Due to my work and schedule, I seldom had the privilege of visiting my mother’s town. In a year, it would be good if I can visit it 3 or 4 times. Normally, it would be once or twice a year. There was even a year wherein I hadn’t had the time and opportunity to drop by. Anyway.. My visit was cut short due to work tomorrow. And to think that this week will be a busy summer week for me due to the seminar our school co-sponsored.

Anyhow.. Met up with a friend last night at Medina and knowing the person’s asset, I gave the person a task just for fun. It would be to count off the persons laying eyes on the person for 5 days while the person is on vacation at Medina. Hehe.. Just for pure fun, nothing else. I’m excited to know the number at the end of our set period.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

my summer ender

Next week, I’d be traveling again to Cebu City then to the town of Alegria, 3 hours bus ride from the city I think. What would I be doing there? I’d be teaching swimming to youth campers of Cebu City, Dumaguete City and other places as well. The camp which will be sponsored by our church would be on May 27 to June 1. Its an opportunity again to serve the youths in those areas. Oh well.

When I get back from the camp, I want to treat myself for a hair spa. Hehe.. Vain? No. Consider this. I’d be teaching swimming and maybe help on snorkeling everyday for probably a total of 5 hours for 3 days, or maybe 4, I’m not really sure. And the heat would surely take a toll on my naturally wavy, unhealthy hair. But the good things is, I’d be snorkeling in one of the fish sanctuaries I have the privilege of exploring. It is indeed a blessing.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

summer camp 09

It has been days since the youth camp ended. I missed the campers, their laughter, the noise they made, their songs, their queries, etc. I missed the staff, our bonding, our understood glances, our encouraging smiles, the brotherhood we fostered and shared, etc. It has been a week of working together in unity for the same purpose and drive, that is to serve the youths in our annual summer camp. To give them a memorable summer and give them lessons as well.

As one camper puts it, it may only be a few days but those were the days wherein the campers feels alive. Why? Because it is in this camp that a camper make friends, foster it through sharing and activities that calls for unity and continues it through constant communication after the camp is commenced. Believe me. I had friends from my first camp more than a decade ago that remains as my close and trusted friends. It is also in this camp that they get to experience life simulations on situations common to their life outside the camp. They’d get to feel what it is like to be in a situation, what it really meant and what they could get out of it. It is like a training ground. We, the staffs may be rude to them with the activities we prepared for them but it is nothing compared to the challenges that awaited them outside of our set parameters in camp. We may discipline them but His discipline is much more painful, unbearable and confusing compared to what we did to them during the camp days. It may just be a 4 or 5 day event but it is significant and meaningful for a youths’ life.

At the end of the camp, we hope that the youths would bring the lesson, the experiences they got from camp into their respective places. They may struggle with their studies, their family, their friends, combat peer pressure, other personal issues in their lives, etc. Through all that, we hope and pray that in our little way, we had made a difference in their lives. It may not be big and obvious, planting a seed of lessons, of discipline, of friendship in their young hearts may be enough. Fostering friendship and bond that would last for years.

Kudos to the staffs who helped and made the camp possible. They sacrificed their time, money, strength for this young people. Some, like me, didn’t mind being absent from work just to be there at the camp. The campers deserve the thanks as well for being there, for giving us the opportunity to serve and be part of their life even just for a short 4-days. Looking forward to next years camp once again.