The Itinerants Path

Today is the fourth day of another experiences for me; exactly one week from the time I arrived here in Marikina City. This is another place of challenges as I face my second year of active school apostolate. This is another place where people are new to me; new teachers and students for me. I feel anxious yet excited with what this year would bring. I have mix of feelings, actually. Seems I am starting to miss my previous assignment at Notre Dame of Kidapawan College as a class adviser and Values Education teacher. I am starting to miss my advisory class, the SMC students who are now incoming third year students. Hey guys, if you read this, just smile, OK! Medyo miss ko na ang samahan natin sa klase; medyo terror lang naman ako sa inyo; di gaano, right?

At present, the superiors told me to be at the Marist School. Officially, this is my new address, my new area of apostolate, to educate and of course, BE EDUCATED by the people here, by the students, by the Brothers whom I will be with this year and by the time; pinapahinog, kumbaga.

My expectation to be in Palawan or in Jolo for summer was not put in vain. Opportunities were laid to me by the Brother Provincial. If I was sent to Zamboanga for Silsilah studies, that would have been an opportunity in preparation for either Jolo or Cotabato assignment; feel ko ganun yun. If I was sent to Palawan for mission, that was another opportunity to learn about other cultures. But finally, I took the opportunity to stay and help out during the Summer Vocation Workshop in Gen. Santos City for two weeks while working for the website and grabbed the two weeks module classes in Cebu City under the Jesuits’ Institute for Ignation Partnerships and Organization Development (IIPOD).

For two weeks of stay at Aspirancy House in Lagao, I was able to slow down from school tasks in Kidapawan. It was a sort of relaxation especially that I had a chance to visit the Marist beach in Bawing. It was an opportunity also to learn about the Philippine Brothers while digging up the archives for the data I needed for the website of East-Asia Province. See, madami akong natutunan. By the way, kasali na rina ng aking family visitation. I was excited and still happy to see my nephew; spoiled na sya ng kanyang “tito brother.”

And how about the Cebu experiences? my previous articles can explain what happened to me there. Desolations, consolations and escapades happened. I am happy meeting people from different parts of the Philippines; they came from Zamboanga, Naga, Manila, Legaspi and from Cebu. There in Cebu, my every morning walk together with Br. Mark, Thea and Ethel, was helpful also just to be at home with the place. Banawa Hills gave me a new perspective how Cebu looks like during day and night time. It’s nice to stay there.

Another memorable experiences were visiting different religious places in Cebu. I visited the Shrine of Sto. Niño and said my same prayer when I first visited the place in 2003. The Magellan’s Cross was never missed for the second time. And the new place, which was almost two hours away from Cebu City was the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Simala, Sibonga. It was a place where miracles associated to the Virgin Mary happen. There, I said a prayer in spite of my skepticism about the place. What matters most, again, is my faith, how Mary brought me to this way of life; which means, my prayer is related to my being a Marist Brother. I don’t know when will I visit the place again, maybe no chance again… In front of the Blessed Virgin, I prayed for the recovery of ate Celine, the wife of my former officemate. Mountain View was an awesome place. Together with Ethel, Br. Mark, Piarist priests Dennis and Dodong, we were able enjoy the mountain night breeze while looking down at Cebu’s great lights. I left Cebu the next day with full of meaningful experiences to bring to my new assignment: Marist School, Marikina City.

When I arrived, I immediately visited MAPAC. I was there two years ago. I miss the place and the people coming from different culture. I cracked a joke to Br. Manny and Br. Romy that I amy now accept directees for spiritual directions. But I will just accept one for the year, hoping to apply my learning in Cebu.

Wait, I just noticed na malayo na sa title ng entry na ito ang mga pinagsasabi ko… Does it matter? Whatever! Just enjoy reading and staring at the pics kung kaya mo, LOL!