I just had the best start of my summer vacation ever!
Last March 31, 2014 we had our pre-ASEP(Ateneo Student Exposure Program) immersion at MBTS(Manresa by the sea). There were general instructions told to us, talks-to prepare us for the immersion, games and of course there were LOTS of FOOD!!
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| this is the girl's bedroom and i'm sleeping next to my friend, Erika |
On April 1, 2014 7:10AM, was our departure for Brgy. Ngan Compostela, Compostela Valley. It was very exciting though the travel made me quite dizzy and exhausted.
When we arrived at the school site, we were introduced to our foster parents. I felt very excited and anxious at the same time maybe because I really expected the very worse situation. But when I knew that our foster Nanay was a retired teacher and when she spoke in a very happy and welcoming tone I couldn't help but exclaim "yes!"
We had lunch first then went to our respective foster homes. And guess what, when we arrived at their house I was like 'seriously??'. Their house was fine and was really a comfortable place to live in.
Nanay was very accomodating. In fact, she prepared boiled bananas, kamote and guava for us. |
the bananas, kamote and guava that Nanay offered us! |
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| pretty Ayesha, 7 years old |
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| most energetic KB, 3 years old |
I enjoyed playing with these two kiddos who seemed to have unlimited supply of energy!
And of course we didn't forget to take selfies!!! yeah!
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| KB and ate Michelle, my partner from batch 42 :) |
Nanay has a mini poultry which turned out to be the only thing she's busy of.
That's why we call her "Nanay Poultry". Chickens!
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| here's Nanay taking off the chicken's feathers |
I was also truly amazed by the place's natural beauty!
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| this was the sun setting. so beautiful :) |
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i was so happy like a kid when i saw this horse!  |
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| Nanay's mini garden with hanged clothes as background. haha!! |
BROWNOUT!!! that seemed very usual to them :)))
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| Candlelight dinner :) |
Every time the lights are out, Nanay always tell horror stories to us (bukid version
) and it really frightens me and ate Chim and it makes Nanay and Tita B laugh -___- anywaysss, because of this 'without-the-light' nights, i came to know that Nanay knows kuya Caaesar! She told me the story of how the people in their GKK wanted her back as the president after the Pablo incident. She told me that the HTC helped financially in reconstructing their chapel and she told me how good and rich the HTC people are! What a small world it really is! I was amazed by how God can really work even in distance. I remembered that time we haven't had our dinner yet because Nanay really wanted the lights to come back before we eat. And it was pass 8pm then. We ended our chichat when the lights came back. Dinner was @ 9pm but never felt very hungry. On April 5 we conducted a youth camp. But before that, Tita B(Nanay's youngest daughter) and I AND Ayesha went on a morning jog! The sweat felt good because I felt my fats really burning. haha!We were like climbing a mountain! Serious talk!
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| dili jud palupig si Aying. early jud siya nibagon :) |
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| selfie! |
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| and i'm ready to go! |
We arrived home at around 6 in the morning and we should be at the school by 7! Ate Chim was already finished taking her bath and there I was under pressure! haha! Everything happened so fast!
We had our youth camp and it was indeed fun and memorable. Seeing the younger people there smiling and laughing was really priceless! We had games- a lot of it and I enjoyed them as well especially the dragon's tail game.
We had games- a lot of it and I enjoyed them as well especially the dragon's tail game. |
| this was one of the games we played :) see Lawrence there on top of Loraine! haha he must be very heavy! |
My other co-Asepians and I gathered and tackled about how we were in our respective families and I heard lots of stories about them going to skyline and the river and anywhere else and I was very jealous! because we haven't explored the other places of brgy. Ngan yet :( so Tita B decided to tour us! Yey! \o/
We went to the river which seemed to be very wide now because of the typhoon Pablo, to the skyline(more like a sky cable above the river. they use it to cross from one side to the other), to an abandoned logging factory of Valderama and went food hopping! *i did'nt have all the pictures and videos though :/
*i did'nt have all the pictures and videos though :/ |
| this is Loraine, incoming 3rd year BS Bio. ate Erika, from batch 42, was her partner |
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| at the back is their 'now-wide' river |
It was our final day but I couldn't feel the emotions yet unlike one of my friend, Darlene, who was really in to tears when we were at the school site. It was time to bid farewell. I wouldn't really cry that time but when Nanay spoke in behalf of all the foster parents, I was really crying then.
I remembered her say, "lami jud kaayo akong tulog kay naa sila. kadali man lang sa adlaw uy unta gi usa na lang kini ka bulan." When Nanay saw us crying she scolded us and told us in a motherly tone, "ayaw na kamo paghilak" then wipes our tears :'( *she's Ilongga, by the way :D*There, we said our final goodbye's and put our bags in the bus then we were all set to depart. I saw some dramatic scenes with my other Asepian friends. One unforgettable scene was when Rexor cried like a baby. Awwwwwe :') we can't help but laugh though haha!
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| our farewell picture :) look up! haha |
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POST-IMMERSION @ MBTS APRIL 6, 2014 4:00PM
*rest 4:00-6:30PM
*dinner 6:30-7:30PM
*welcome ritual
*bed time
APRIL 7, 2014
*rising 5:30AM
*breakfast
*ice breaker, talks, snacks
*lunch
*ice breaker, talks, snacks
*dinner
*movie time
*bed time
APRIL 8, 2014
*rising 5:30AM
*breakfast
*ice breaker
*closing ritual
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after the immersion, i was able to carry those memories i had in brgy. Ngan and I was also able to reflect.
this closing ritual part was the very awkward thing that i experienced. what happened was that we were told to form a big circle. next, we were told to sit and blindfold ourselves with the scarfs given to us. then a story was told, then follows a question: imagine yourself in a dark place and you see your parents for the last time, what would you want to say in 1 minute? then 1 by 1 we spoke. i was sensing something fishy that time. there, it was my turn then the person next to me started crying then i was like 'wth, i don't like this stuff' then the rest, i mean most of the next who spoke cried.when everyone was finished there came the surprise. our parents were there with us all the time listening to what we were saying. i knew it! then they too gave their short yet from the heart messages. even those parents who came from their province really went to see their kids but the others who didn't make it was reached through calling on their mobile phones. my mother cried during her moment to speak so did I! it was really awkward. haha! but it was good to hear those words from her :) because i often hear it from her. then there i witnessed again some teledramas. haha! but that was not the end of the surprise!
our foster families were present at that time also! it was grand! my parents met my partner's parents whose father was my mother's high school classmate(what a small world really!) and my foster family.we had attended the Holy Eucharist together presided by Fr. Gab. then we had our lunch together also and our parents asked how we were when we were at their place and Nanay gave a good feedback. hohoho! then there was Ayesha who gave me a love letter. awwwe :") sweet little girl.
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| the letter says "Ate Rigina, I love you ♥♥♥ thank you sa pagsabay sa ako ug kaon. i love you♥ From: Ayesha" |
Everything really comes to an end. And so it ended. They departed. We departed
And the smiles on our faces really show how happy we were that we became part of each other's life. -----
......because I'm happy ♫♫♪♪♫♫♪♫♫♪♪♫♫♫♪♪♪
Though i wasn't able to attend our Mindanao Conference because of time conflict, :< ASEP 2014 was still a great opportunity for me to experience and reflect a lot of things and I believe God spoke to me during those days
. It was a very humbling experience and for me I saw a God that is very simple and generous through the people in Ngan. Another thing, because of ASEP i also came to know more about my fellow ASEPians and gained new friends. All in all i am very HAPPY and Blessed! :))) I really thank the school for a formation like this, my parents as well for letting me experience what reality really is, and most especially i thank God for allowing all those things to happen in a very short time yet in a very wonderful and life-changing way AMDG!
*Happy by Pharrell Williams*
we prepared a dance number with this song ;)
our opening and closing salvo! haha!
-RCG ♫♪♥♥
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