For The Lack Of A Better Title

I am not able to think of an appropriate title for a life altering event and so I decided to leave it alone... the story and lessons are much more important anyway.

Last weekend from Nov. 17-19, 2006, I attended a Leadership Training Adventure in Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubong Ayta ng Sambales (LAKAS) Bihawo, Mambog, Botolan, Zambales sponsored by the Arts & Letters Student Council for the class presidents of the faculty. I was very apprehensive to join this seminar because I did not know that much people in the faculty except for my blockmates and a few other people outside my class. We were encouraged to join but we had the option to say no if our parents won't allow us.

I could have said no and to be completely honest I wanted to. I wanted to because I was scared. I've always had excuses to avoid getting into unfamiliar situations. I have let a lot of oppurtunities pass in my short life time. Although I can't really say that I regret making those decisions because as the saying goes: "There's no use crying over spilt milk." I wanted those decisions I made in the past. I know that I have to take responsibility of them.

This time I could not find any valid excuse to let myself off the hook. And I did not feel like I really wanted to get out of this. There was this big part of me that was so afraid of what I was getting into but I heard this little voice in my head say that I needed this. I heard that voice tell me that I should stop running away from life. Sir Emer's words these week on experience and how it is something personal could not be that far from what the little voice's sentiment was.

So I mustered up all the courage I could and reassured myself that everything was going to be okay. When Friday morning came there were only a few of us who arrived before the call time. I remember seeing Allan, Tiff, Char and Sir Robert Ampil arrive. And when Sir Lino Baron arrived at Plaza Mayor in front of UST's Main Building, he was mad at how there were only about six people in the meeting place. We actually left UST at around 7 'o clock.

It was a pretty quiet ride on the way to Bacolor, Pampanga (we had a side trip to San Guilliermo Church) because we didn't know each other. There were about 21 of us on the bus so you could imagine how spacious it was. Kuya Milfen was even joking about how we could play hide and seek on the bus.

Most of the students who came were from the first year classes. There was Allan from Economics, Brigette and Anna from Political Science, Tiff and Char from Asian Studies, Tei, Cheenee and Zel from Journalism, RJ from Philosophy and Nica from Behavioral Science. There were only two of us from the second year classes. JP from Sociology and me from Journalism. Then the third year classes were represented by Kuya Roel from Sociology, Kuya JC, Aaron and Itchan from AB-BSE. The only fourth year people on the bus with us were Ate Jang from AB-BSE and Kuya Milfen from Legal Management. Then the other fourth year students Ate Cords from Journalism, Ate Renee, Sharon and Kuya Joyeth from Sociology arrived on Saturday. Sir Ampil and Sir Froilan / Ka Puroy were the professors who accompanied us while Sir Baron just wanted to see the place.

People were starting to loosen up once we got to Bacolor. Although you could still feel the apprehension of trying to talk to someone you don't know. We were a bit more relaxed when we stopped at the market area in Botolan proper. We had lunch there because we got to Zambales at around 11:30. We were already getting to know each other by this point and I was already loosening up a bit. By the time we got to Lakas, we were already laughing about random stuff. The light atmosphere I must attribute to Allan who has a great sense of humor. The lunch and long ride helped me feel a bit more secure around them.

We arrived at this community of indigenous people who lived in houses partly made of cement and bahay kubo materials. It was a very homey and unpretentious place. The children were already out looking at us eagerly. It took us a long time to park in the community because the bus driver had a hard time turning at this one corner and when we finally got settled we were greeted by their chairman or head Tatay Carling. He was this pudgy man who was very warm pleasant and jolly. He gave us a tour of the facilities we were going to use. Sir Lino even got a chance to know what pieces of equipment the community needed which could be donated by the faculty.

The tension was gone by the time we were oriented and introduced to one another. We were told that we were going to live with host families who would be taking us in as their children. We drew lots and there would be two of us per family and I, along with Zel, lived with Tatay Toto and his family. He had ten children and we only got to meet him on Saturday because he was out that Friday. Tatay Toto was a very jolly man who enjoyed making jokes. Nanay Isang, the quiet and sweet mother, was the one who let us into their home which was very comfortable and homey like all the houses there. What we pretty much did at their homes were rest and when we had the time chat with the families. We spent our time in this place they called the library because it contained their books and other facilities. This was where we ate our meals and in those few days, this was where we students bonded.

The first night was a rest night for us because the elders wanted to wait for the other students and they wanted to give us a chance to rest. This was the time when we truly began to get to know each other. We were talking about our professors and our experiences in the college. We were slowly becoming friends by this time. We spent the night laughing and talking in that library area before we headed home to our respective host families.

I will continue this story in my next entry because I don't want to overwhelm you guys with details. I'm just narrating what happened to us. I will talk about my thoughts and the lessons I learned in that next entry. I'll be going now... wait for the second part!