We'll be having the first core team meeting for the youth ministry of our church this Friday. I can't wait to get the balls rolling for this year with the rest of the team. We have done quite well last year and with the dedication each of us has, I'm pretty sure we'll make it again this year.
Sta. Maria della Strada PYM made it in the last three years, it will in the years to come. I'm sure of that. AMDG.
Showing posts with label PYM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PYM. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Monday, September 26, 2011
Mountain climbing
I know, there's an adventurous streak in me. People from my childhood could attest to my fondness over outdoor adventure. I recall that when I was a little kid, I would sneak out every siesta time to catch dragonflies by the grassland or bathe in the rain. Books triumphed in diverting my attention and curiousness to the written word, which is why I ended up being immersed in the journey within than beyond.
But wisdom does not only reside in published works. I knew, from my childhood, that the nature has its own share in molding one's existence and perceptions of the world. Nature also has power to transmit knowledge beyond words could capture.
Last Saturday, I was brought back to that realization.
I and five of my church friends went on an ocular at Pico de Loro, Nasugbu, Batangas, where once again, I rode on a trip towards the splendid nature. The trip was long and butt-burning. We traveled at about 120 kilometers off Manila, passing along green fields and forests, modern and old houses, young and old province settlers, cows and carabaos, fresh and no-so-pleasant smells. The nearer we got to the rest house we were considering as a possible venue for our weekend camp, the more excited I was about how it looked. When we finally arrived there, we were met by an old man who turned out to be the husband of the caretaker. I and my church friends at first thought he resembled Mang Pasyo (the caretaker in our previous venue), only that the manong who met us was thinner and had a smaller frame. This manong led us towards the unexpected journey we never thought we'd go through--- we climbed a mountain.
My high-heeled white sandals did not stop me from climbing that mountain. I was even the first to arrive at the top! (Well, Oli, one of my church friends, was a little behind me. But then, I think he was wearing a walking shoes whilst I was trekking with a sandals, with the plus factor that I was a woman, and my pants were tight...) So there, we reached the top of the mountain where the air was pure and smelled of grasses. Down yonder, we saw the plain of Batangas--- an exhilarating view it was! I would have wanted to suggest that we wait for the sun to set while standing there, but then I thought that we didn't have much time since we still had to return to Manila in time for a band rehearsal. Nevertheless, I felt that that stint on top of the mountain was one of the best unplanned of experiences I had for this year.
I fathom, the adventurer in me hasn't left me after all these years. And I realize I should let her surface more often so I can experience the other side of life as well. Nature reminded me that I am naturally adventurous and that yes, there's thrill in finding out who you are by just laying yourself out of your comfort zone...
I should do more of re-visiting my child-me days to grow more not only in knowledge but in wisdom.
But wisdom does not only reside in published works. I knew, from my childhood, that the nature has its own share in molding one's existence and perceptions of the world. Nature also has power to transmit knowledge beyond words could capture.
Last Saturday, I was brought back to that realization.
I and five of my church friends went on an ocular at Pico de Loro, Nasugbu, Batangas, where once again, I rode on a trip towards the splendid nature. The trip was long and butt-burning. We traveled at about 120 kilometers off Manila, passing along green fields and forests, modern and old houses, young and old province settlers, cows and carabaos, fresh and no-so-pleasant smells. The nearer we got to the rest house we were considering as a possible venue for our weekend camp, the more excited I was about how it looked. When we finally arrived there, we were met by an old man who turned out to be the husband of the caretaker. I and my church friends at first thought he resembled Mang Pasyo (the caretaker in our previous venue), only that the manong who met us was thinner and had a smaller frame. This manong led us towards the unexpected journey we never thought we'd go through--- we climbed a mountain.
My high-heeled white sandals did not stop me from climbing that mountain. I was even the first to arrive at the top! (Well, Oli, one of my church friends, was a little behind me. But then, I think he was wearing a walking shoes whilst I was trekking with a sandals, with the plus factor that I was a woman, and my pants were tight...) So there, we reached the top of the mountain where the air was pure and smelled of grasses. Down yonder, we saw the plain of Batangas--- an exhilarating view it was! I would have wanted to suggest that we wait for the sun to set while standing there, but then I thought that we didn't have much time since we still had to return to Manila in time for a band rehearsal. Nevertheless, I felt that that stint on top of the mountain was one of the best unplanned of experiences I had for this year.
I fathom, the adventurer in me hasn't left me after all these years. And I realize I should let her surface more often so I can experience the other side of life as well. Nature reminded me that I am naturally adventurous and that yes, there's thrill in finding out who you are by just laying yourself out of your comfort zone...
I should do more of re-visiting my child-me days to grow more not only in knowledge but in wisdom.
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| Jaypee, me, Ferdi, Oli and Gerald at the summit |
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| That's me in pink top, trekking ahead with manong. |
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| Jaypee, Ferdi, Gerald, Krissy and me at the start of the ascent |
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The path to loving one's parents is simple
It's the point of life when I realize that parents also need our parenting. When we were younger, it was expected of our mom and dad to take care of us, to give us what our hearts desires. But when finally we grow up, we have to give some part of their hearts which they gave to us back not because of obligation but because of plain, simple love.
Last night, I had a conversation with a fellow youth ministry member. He shared with me his current misunderstanding with his mom who works away from their family. From his eyes, I saw the hardship he was going through. His mom blamed him for the mishap that happened to his elder sister who got pregnant out of wedlock, and even went to the extent of suspecting that he was not prioritizing his studies. I could sense the breaking of his heart, one part leaning towards comforting himself, and the other one wanting to comfort his mom. As a young man, I saw that he was struggling to put the concerns of his mom first before his.
And then I came to reflect about the way I have been relating with my own parents. I wonder if I have been loving them the way they deserve to be loved. My parents love me so much. Their love is something I have never doubted in my whole life. And I love them. But last night took me wondering-- have my actions and words been loving enough to contain how much I love them? What have I done so far to ease them of the earth's burden? What have I done to show them that I am grateful of their love?
The young man I talked to last night showed his love by deciding to put his mom's comfort over his, despite the unbelief in him created by the distance. This young man decided to still push through with what he promised his mom-- to be good in his studies, to serve God. From my viewpoint it seems that he clearly sees the path towards loving his parents, a path which not everyone walks on.
Last night, I had a conversation with a fellow youth ministry member. He shared with me his current misunderstanding with his mom who works away from their family. From his eyes, I saw the hardship he was going through. His mom blamed him for the mishap that happened to his elder sister who got pregnant out of wedlock, and even went to the extent of suspecting that he was not prioritizing his studies. I could sense the breaking of his heart, one part leaning towards comforting himself, and the other one wanting to comfort his mom. As a young man, I saw that he was struggling to put the concerns of his mom first before his.
And then I came to reflect about the way I have been relating with my own parents. I wonder if I have been loving them the way they deserve to be loved. My parents love me so much. Their love is something I have never doubted in my whole life. And I love them. But last night took me wondering-- have my actions and words been loving enough to contain how much I love them? What have I done so far to ease them of the earth's burden? What have I done to show them that I am grateful of their love?
The young man I talked to last night showed his love by deciding to put his mom's comfort over his, despite the unbelief in him created by the distance. This young man decided to still push through with what he promised his mom-- to be good in his studies, to serve God. From my viewpoint it seems that he clearly sees the path towards loving his parents, a path which not everyone walks on.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Pagninilay sa Pagkalas mula sa Bilog
Sa kanya-kanya nating paglalakbay sa buhay, may kanya-kanya tayong dalang bigat sa ating mga puso. Paminsan-minsan, may mga bagay na sa tingin natin mas madali kung bibitiwan na lang. Katulad ng paglilingkod sa Kanya.
Ganyan ang pakiramdam ko nung bago ako umakyat sa Dizon House. Gusto ko nang bumitaw. Pakiramdam ko kasi kay rami-raming hinihingi sa akin ng Diyos. Kay rami kong dapat isaalang-alang sa lahat ng desisyon na kailangang kong gawin.
Bilang pinuno ng aming youth ministry sa parokya, maraming mga bagay ang dapat ay natutugunan ko ng pansin. Maliban sa mga gawain na kailangang mapagtagumpayan, nariyan pa ang mga kapwa kabataan na kailangang samahan. Sa gitna ng mga gawain, kailangang mag-ingat na wala kang nasasagasaang damdamin dahil anuman ang maging reaksyon ko ay may malaking implikasyon sa buong grupo.
Sa lahat ng oras, kailangang maging maingat at sensitibo sa pangangailangan ng lahat. May mga pagkakataong may mga nalilimutan akong pagtuunan ng pansin na humihiwa sa pagkakaibigan. Gayunman, maraming bagay ang tumatawag pa sa aking atensyon—trabaho at propesyon, pag-aaral, pamilya at kung anu-ano pa—kung kaya’t tuluyan ko nang naisasantabi ang mga ilang mahahalagang bagay. Oo, maging ang aking sarili.
Kung kaya’t hindi nakapagtatakang dumating ako sa puntong gusto ko nang magbalot ng mga gamit pabalik sa Quezon City nang hapong iyon sa Dizon House. Sa isip ko, kaya na nilang pasulungin ang youth ministry. Hindi na nila ako kailangan. Hindi ko na rin kailangan ang mga hirap na pinagdaanan ko. Kailangan ko nang magbawas.
Habang nakapiring ang mga mata ko noong isinasagawa ang circle activity, iisa lang ang tumatakbo sa isip ko, “Ayoko na. Hanggang dito na lang.” Hanggang sa tinawag kami upang kapain ang daan pabalik sa bilog, hindi ako gumalaw mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Matunog ang mga salitang “Ayoko na.”
Hinila ako ng dalawang malalakas na kamay ng mga kasama ko na kapwa naghahanap ng daan pabalik. Naramdaman ko sa mga kamay na iyon ang pagkukumahog na mabuo ang bilog, simbulo ng pagkakabuo ng aming youth ministry. Habang malayang nag-aalpasan ang mga patak ng luha sa mga mata ko, hinayaan kong dalhin nila ako. At pagkatapos, kinapa ko rin ang iba pa. Iisa lang ang gusto ko ng mga oras na ‘yun, gusto kong mabuo ang bilog.
Nang alisin ang mga piring, isang malaking bilog na pinagtali ng magkakahawak na mga kamay ng mga kabataang may kanya-kanyang bigat sa buhay ang nakita ko—mga kabataang piniling maglingkod sa kabila ng hirap at pag-aalinlangan, mga kabataang naglakas-loob talikuran ang sarili para harapin ang kapwa at ang Diyos.
Naitanong ko tuloy sa aking sarili: Ito ba ang grupong bibitiwan ko?
Tiyak ko na ang sagot: Hindi.
At tulad nila, mananatili akong bahagi ng bilog.
-h
(Ang post na ito ay bahagi ng serye ng posts na naglalaman ng aking sariling pagmumuni-muni tungkol sa mga naganap noong 27-29 May 2011 sa Dizon Farm kung saan ginanap ang Teambuilding ng aming Youth Ministry. ♥ )
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Inilabas ako ng Diyos kagabi
Diyan lang sa Tagaytay.
Nakapambahay lang akong damit, nakamaiksing shorts. Nakatulog na ko nang magtext si Ate Chona na tuloy ang random hang-out moment ng PYM sa Treats, Katipunan. Dahil malapit lang samin ang Treats e kinuha ko na lang ang blazer kong puti at nagmadaling ipinatong ito sa suot kong pink na blusa. Kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko sa office bag ko at inilipat sa isang puting bag. Hindi ko na nasimot ang laman at lakad-takbo akong pumunta sa pinaghihintayan sakin nina Ate Chona, Alvin, Oli, Krissy, at Gerald.
Pagdating ko sa Treats, di ko agad sila nakita. Dala ng biglaang paggising, hindi pa nakakondisyon ang utak ko, akala ko naalimpungatan lang ako o kaya ay pinaglalaruan lang nila ako na nasa venue na sila. Dyahe. Biglang nakita ko na si Oli kasunod si Alvin, at ang iba pa.
Nagkuwentuhan sa Treats. Nahati sa dalawang gender ang usapan. Paminsan-minsan nagagawan ng paraan na pag-isahin ang pinagdidiskusyunan. Pero nung humirit ako ng principle sa likod ng tina na nilalagay sa beke e, hinatulan akong panira ng pagkakaisa sa usapan. "Principle?", sabi ni Oli habang salubong ang kilay. Napangiti sina Alvin at Gerald. "Ok, sige, kayo na lang ulit ang mag-usap-usap," sabay guhit ng imaginary line sa pagitan ng mga lalaki at mga babae.
Maya-maya pa, tumayo si Oli. "Tagaytay tayo."
Mga ilang minuto pa nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan niya. Nagkukuwentuhan. Sa loob-loob ko, hindi ako naniniwalang doon kami pupunta. Si Oli kasi may pagka-unpredictable. Pero sa haba ng usapan namin tungkol sa kung anu-anong bagay sa buhay namin-- galing ng Diyos sa pag-arrange ng buhay namin, biyaya ng pagkakakilala namin sa pamamagitan ng PYM, sakit ng mga puso namin na tanggap naming hindi basta-basta mahihilom, mga pangarap at panaginip, mga sugat gawa ng pag-ibig, lovelife ng mga magulang, trabaho at PH Care, mga magagandang artistang babae, pagsali sa ACI, pagbabagong-buhay, babaeng mukhang anghel pero unstable, bulletin board ng PYM, venue ng JAM 4, hang-overs, nanay at tatay, PNPA, mga biglaang lakad-- nakarating kami sa Tagaytay.
Doon nilasap namin ang malamig na samyo ng hangin at binugos namin ang mga mata namin sa kislap ng mga ilaw ng Maynila sa ibaba at mga bituin ng kalangitan sa itaas. Pinuno namin ng mga halakhak at sigaw ang madilim na paligid.
Bumalik din kami sa Maynila. Nag-aalala ang ilan sa amin dahil malamang ay pagagalitan kami ng mga magulang namin. Hindi kasi kami nagpaalam. Hindi naman ako masyadong natakot dahil wala si Papa. Si Papa ang pulis ko at timing na nasa Pampanga siya.
Pag-uwi ko sa bahay, si Mama ang nagbukas ng pinto. "Ano'ng nangyari?" tanong niya. "Ma," sagot ko habang nakangiti, "nag-enjoy kami masyado, nakarating kami sa Tagaytay." Nagulat si Mama pero hindi siya nagalit. Kung di ako nagkakamali, parang naramdaman niya ang saya ko sa dagling pagtakas sa realidad. Pakiramdam ko bago ako matulog ay galing ako sa bagong playground/hide-out na natuklasan namin ng mga kaibigan ko, sa pamumuno ni Oli. Sa sobrang saya at antok, ni hindi ko na nagawang maghilamos o magpalit man lang ng damit.
Alam kong ganoon din ang pakiramdam ng mga kasama ko. Ganoon talaga ang pakiramdam kapag inilalabas ka ng Diyos.
Narito ang ilang mga larawan mula sa phone ni Ate Chona:
Nakapambahay lang akong damit, nakamaiksing shorts. Nakatulog na ko nang magtext si Ate Chona na tuloy ang random hang-out moment ng PYM sa Treats, Katipunan. Dahil malapit lang samin ang Treats e kinuha ko na lang ang blazer kong puti at nagmadaling ipinatong ito sa suot kong pink na blusa. Kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko sa office bag ko at inilipat sa isang puting bag. Hindi ko na nasimot ang laman at lakad-takbo akong pumunta sa pinaghihintayan sakin nina Ate Chona, Alvin, Oli, Krissy, at Gerald.
Pagdating ko sa Treats, di ko agad sila nakita. Dala ng biglaang paggising, hindi pa nakakondisyon ang utak ko, akala ko naalimpungatan lang ako o kaya ay pinaglalaruan lang nila ako na nasa venue na sila. Dyahe. Biglang nakita ko na si Oli kasunod si Alvin, at ang iba pa.
Nagkuwentuhan sa Treats. Nahati sa dalawang gender ang usapan. Paminsan-minsan nagagawan ng paraan na pag-isahin ang pinagdidiskusyunan. Pero nung humirit ako ng principle sa likod ng tina na nilalagay sa beke e, hinatulan akong panira ng pagkakaisa sa usapan. "Principle?", sabi ni Oli habang salubong ang kilay. Napangiti sina Alvin at Gerald. "Ok, sige, kayo na lang ulit ang mag-usap-usap," sabay guhit ng imaginary line sa pagitan ng mga lalaki at mga babae.
Maya-maya pa, tumayo si Oli. "Tagaytay tayo."
Mga ilang minuto pa nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan niya. Nagkukuwentuhan. Sa loob-loob ko, hindi ako naniniwalang doon kami pupunta. Si Oli kasi may pagka-unpredictable. Pero sa haba ng usapan namin tungkol sa kung anu-anong bagay sa buhay namin-- galing ng Diyos sa pag-arrange ng buhay namin, biyaya ng pagkakakilala namin sa pamamagitan ng PYM, sakit ng mga puso namin na tanggap naming hindi basta-basta mahihilom, mga pangarap at panaginip, mga sugat gawa ng pag-ibig, lovelife ng mga magulang, trabaho at PH Care, mga magagandang artistang babae, pagsali sa ACI, pagbabagong-buhay, babaeng mukhang anghel pero unstable, bulletin board ng PYM, venue ng JAM 4, hang-overs, nanay at tatay, PNPA, mga biglaang lakad-- nakarating kami sa Tagaytay.
Doon nilasap namin ang malamig na samyo ng hangin at binugos namin ang mga mata namin sa kislap ng mga ilaw ng Maynila sa ibaba at mga bituin ng kalangitan sa itaas. Pinuno namin ng mga halakhak at sigaw ang madilim na paligid.
Bumalik din kami sa Maynila. Nag-aalala ang ilan sa amin dahil malamang ay pagagalitan kami ng mga magulang namin. Hindi kasi kami nagpaalam. Hindi naman ako masyadong natakot dahil wala si Papa. Si Papa ang pulis ko at timing na nasa Pampanga siya.
Pag-uwi ko sa bahay, si Mama ang nagbukas ng pinto. "Ano'ng nangyari?" tanong niya. "Ma," sagot ko habang nakangiti, "nag-enjoy kami masyado, nakarating kami sa Tagaytay." Nagulat si Mama pero hindi siya nagalit. Kung di ako nagkakamali, parang naramdaman niya ang saya ko sa dagling pagtakas sa realidad. Pakiramdam ko bago ako matulog ay galing ako sa bagong playground/hide-out na natuklasan namin ng mga kaibigan ko, sa pamumuno ni Oli. Sa sobrang saya at antok, ni hindi ko na nagawang maghilamos o magpalit man lang ng damit.
Alam kong ganoon din ang pakiramdam ng mga kasama ko. Ganoon talaga ang pakiramdam kapag inilalabas ka ng Diyos.
Narito ang ilang mga larawan mula sa phone ni Ate Chona:
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