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By May Valencia, IV Accountancy, UST
Looking at the pictures of our Bataan outreach, I was very happy. Our goal? To beautify Mt. View Elementary School inside and out! That is, to teach the kids and paint the school from April 2-9, 2013. It was an enjoyable experience for all 9 volunteers to teach the eager students of the Mt. View Elementary School every morning. We focused on reading comprehension, virtues and cultural enrichment like arts and crafts, singing, dancing, games and Tae Kwon Do. At noon, we would go back to the Papas’ Family Garden Resort, where we were housed by Capt. Rudy and Mrs. Rose Papas, to take the tasty lunch that Pareng, the cook, prepared for us. Soon after eating, we would prepare to battle the heat of the afternoon summer sun as we were going to beautify the walls of school. We armed ourselves with umbrellas or hats while others lathered sun block lotions, wore sunglasses and even arm bands to protect the skin. By 2pm we were ready to begin our manual work. Kuya Francis, the trusted school’s caretaker, patiently demonstrated to us how to paint the stone wall fences of the school. Using steel brushes, we intensely scrubbed off the dust and algae of the walls before painting it carefully with thalo green paint. Once we finished our target of 8 walls daily, we would excitedly go back to the resort to take our refreshing snacks. At 6pm, we would find ourselves hearing Mass in St. Gemma Galgani, a church which is just a few minutes away from our place. Before supper, we would listen to Miss Gemma's interesting talks on the camp's theme: Looking Good Inside and Out. We listened intently to many new things about dressing fashionably according to our personality, body types and color but still taking into account the virtue of modesty. Most importantly, it was emphasized to us that it is the virtues (like fortitude, temperance and justice) that makes a person really beautiful. After a yummy dinner we would gather around the garden’s pretty grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes to pray the rosary. Because of too much vitamin D we absorbed from the sun, we never ran out of energy to participate in the evening activities. These were memorable moments that forged friendships: volleyball, swimming, movie, games, karaoke or simply being at the gazebo to talk and joke with each other. We were lucky to see some beautiful sites of Bataan: the historic Mt. Samat, the cool waters of Dunsulan Falls, and the enchanting sunset at the Port Area of Mariveles. The Marian pilgrimage to the beautiful Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Orani, Bataan was a good occasion for us to pray for our students. For our last day at the school, we made creative handmade key chains decorated with colorful butterflies for our students which were given during the culminating activity. This event was a success because the kids enjoyed playing and participating in the games and were amused with our “well-practiced” singing and dance performances. They were also touched by the personalized souvenir key chains we made. Some of them even cried after hearing the farewell speech of Miss Gemma. It was certainly a very fulfilling way to spend the start of summer: teaching and being with the less fortunate ones. I can’t help but recall what Cardinal Gomez told Pope Francis during the conclave: “Don’t forget the poor.” We definitely won’t! And so we made up our minds to go back there for the next outreach.
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 by Rochel Reyes, II Accountancy, UST
What is the best way to spend a warm summer day? Well, I decided to go to visit the sick at Philippine Orthopedic Center with my friend from Iraya Study Center. It was a very hot day and as I observantly entered the hospital, I wondered how the people inside, who were physically and emotionally in pain, were able to bear a place which was not properly ventilated. I felt sad over the first patient we talked to for he was still young to be in a situation like that. His name is Jason and he has a tumor on his hips that need to be operated on. I saw in his face the burden it brings to him. It was really distressful yet, hope must not be forgotten. Jason’s very young mom willingly share to us her problems, that is, in between smiles and tears. She also heaved a brief sigh of relief upon receiving us, their first visitor, ever since Jason’s admission to the hospital more than a month ago. After promising to pray for each other, we said our goodbyes and left them with some refreshments we bought at a food store. As we were leaving the hospital premises, we met another lady whose husband was also confined in the ward. Sensing what she needed, we gave her a food package which she gratefully accepted. It has been months since her husband was admitted in the hospital and, like Jason, they were wanting of money needed for an operation. The experience made me aware of how people can be at very rough times. Those bed-ridden patients really need prayers and love. We are lucky enough to be blessed with food and safety each day and we must not take all these for granted. It’s all about learning to share and thanking God for what we have…even during summer. By Dianne Argamosa
Rurals 2012 in one word is: fulfilling. From the activities that maximized time, effort and resources to the people that made our stay more meaningful, the experience was simply wonderful and we all felt blessed. Narration On the afternoon of October 15, we, the volunteers, met the 70 female students for the first time. They cutely greeted us “Mabuhay” as they stood up from their seats. After the initial introduction, we realized that the students from the room were in fact a mixture of 3rd graders and 6th graders. We were highly impressed by their good behavior and looked forward to tutoring them. The next day, we conducted the reading and virtues classes for the students. Around 6-7 students were assigned to each volunteer tutor, so that the learning could be more personal and focused. The students were very polite and hardworking. They would actively participate in all lectures and activities, but they also seem greatly prefer the latter. There were two things that highly helped all the volunteers, the modules which were specific, practical and well-rounded and the good behavior of the students. In the afternoon, we cleaned fifteen panels of the front wall of the five-year old Mt. View Elementary School. When the dust, mold and moss were gone, we then painted it with a light green color, especially mixed by one of the maintenance staff, Manong Nap. He also gave us a quick lecture on how to paint the walls properly, since even though we were highly enthusiastic on this, we were all just beginners. We did this for two days, and then the next two days were delegated to painting the front pots with cool pastel colors. At night, Ms. Gemma would give lectures inspired by the calling of the Year of Faith. Topics were about Friendship, Preferential option the poor, etc. We even had the chance to watch a movie based on the story of St. Sir Thomas More, a lawyer and martyr who was very certain of his faith despite all the ills of society and the attacks on the Catholic Faith. On Saturday, we conducted a medical-dental mission to the 70 students who went to our program. Some had their teeth removed, some had boxes of medicines with them, most were very happy for the opportunity. Reaction/Further Thoughts (by Dianne Argamosa) As I’ve stated, the experience was simply fulfilling. Even though we only tutored for four days, the students have grown attached to us, and we to them. When we said our goodbyes, all of the students present were crying, telling us not to forget them, some silent but waving their hands. I remembered how every day after returning to our temporary home provided by the great Papas, we would talk about how to improve our lectures to better cater to the needs of the students. What could be a better strategy? How can we instill all the learning? How could we bring out their potential? And how can we make them more inclined to English/Reading, which most of them more or less not favored? These kinds of questions would fill our minds, and it made us more or less realize that we have really worn the shoes of teachers. In some way, it made us think that even at our tender age, we can still have these thoughts for kids whom we only got to know during this camp. Even the time where we finished our pilgrimage and went to a mall, we were still thinking of what to give our students. We spent a lot of time searching in the store, some even bought treats because their students would still be hungry. I remember when one of the teachers told me how some students would still have to sell goods before they go to school, or others that would hide from them before eating because they only had rice for meals or simply snacks which were least costly. But most of all, I remembered my student who wrote me a letter saying she had someone who she had an argument with, but whenever she goes to the tutorials, she would be happy and forget the argument for a while. What was fulfilling was that we spent our time so well. Forming ourselves through our lectures with Ms. Gemma; being friends with people who were going through the same experience; transforming ourselves as teachers for the students; then working hard on the walls and pots that would beautify the school and offering all these to God—these are the things that we couldn’t achieve all at the same time during our daily activities or other outreach programs. It was also fulfilling, because we know that we made a difference. The school felt that people cared, even though before that, it was quite a struggle to get funds. Our students learned, and for those who weren’t under us, they saw how we worked hard for the walls and the pots to make their school beautiful, that they too affirmed that it was better this way. And through the medical and dental mission, we were able to alleviate them from spending much in pharmacies for medicine or vitamins, or for dentists’ professional fees. Though we were simply volunteers, the experience was so special, because we were the ones God sent to be there, and we gained so much. I think we will all keep Rurals 2012 experience close to our heart, and remember it as our catapult to further extend our abilities to people who might need it. :-)  by Maria Beatriz D. Mendiola
Last February 17 was an uphill—ergo, mountain—climb for us as we sought to conquer the heights of Mount Batulao. This activity, organized by Iraya Study Center, a center for leadership for female high school and university students established by the Kalinangan Youth Foundation in 1986, sought to contribute to the holistic development of its attendees. As most of us were first-time mountain climbers, we were accompanied by seasoned mountaineers from a chapter of mountaineers from the University of the East. Being one of this majority of amateurs, my perspective on this excursion may probably turn out to be a documentation of my clumsy struggles to go on with the hike or my amusing laments for not actually preparing enough for this agile quest. Nonetheless, I did gain valuable insights on life through this experience as it was patterned on Saint Josemaria Escrivá’s vision of the universal call to holiness and the great truth that any noble activity—including mountain-climbing—can actually be offered to God and sanctified. In fact, he once wrote, “Let those very obstacles give you strength. God’s grace will not fail you: ‘Inter medium montium pertransibunt aquae!’ You shall pass through the mountains!” (The Way, 12). Besides the overflowing gratitude that I share on behalf of everyone else in Iraya, here then are five insights I gained and hope to share from this challenging yet fulfilling climb. *** #1. The climb begins even before the first step on the mountain. So did I realize some paces through the climb, almost breathless and already tired from walking probably only on the first stretch. Perhaps, to actually gain enough strength and agility to climb with poise, I should have slept enough, taken the proper breakfast and begun a consistent exercise routine way ahead of the day for the climb. At any rate, the same truth seems to apply in the deeper facets of life: Your exam begins even before you actually take it; the way you save your family life and friendships begins even before great trials come to unsettle it; living your faith truly and daily, in the little things, actually lessens the chances of your falling into greater temptations when they come; etc. Indeed, the little things account for so much. #2. Good company and sweeteners are needed along the way. Perhaps, the good company and the little glucose bits (fancy term for raisins and jellyace) that we had during those times contributed partly to the fact that we did finish both ascent and descent even if we were all very tired. The encouragement of the others and the mere realization that you are not alone in the journey are enough drivers to actually continue on even for exhausted feet. Besides, sugar does give great energy not only in the biological level but in higher planes as well. Consider this: Even when life is at its most difficult peak, it is precisely the cheerful person who gets to continue living life and not mere existence. This awesome, cheerful composure in the midst of suffering can also inspire this person’s immediate company to do the same. So, cheer up! That smile not only brings you back to life but also revives other people. #3. Suffering is not always bad. In relation to the second insight, one also understands that good can be brought out even from suffering. “The ways of the Lord are not easy, but we were not created for an easy life, but for great things, for goodness.” So did Pope Emeritus Benedict once say and so does apply too in the context of the mountain climb. Perhaps, strictly speaking, there’s no easy way to climb a mountain. Whichever way you choose, the path will offer some amount of challenge and no peak can be reached by a simple straight path. Once you reach the peak of the mountain, though, breathlessness and soring limbs no longer matter: the view is just too picturesque to absorb. Here perhaps lies a great antithesis of the modern erroneous equation that suffering equals evil. Suffering is simply a fact of life. How we take it—as a path to see greater goodness or as a pit to give things up—spells a great difference. #4. It is easier to climb up than to lower oneself. This realization may seem wrong because it is easier to slide down than to climb the ladder but it starts to make sense once you contextualize it in a rugged terrain. There, sliding down carelessly cannot be an option because such an act can be detrimental to one’s life. Thus, while carrying yourself to reach the top indeed requires strength and agility, shifting your weight properly to avoid falling off as you go down the unpredictable paths of a mountain is even harder. In the same manner, perhaps, however difficult it is to “rise through the ranks” in this extremely competitive world, I reckon that the other path is actually harder to take: Lowering yourself to serve other people and humbly accepting your position if it is where your calling lies—that is a greater challenge. Few may probably prefer this way but in its unnoticed excellence, however paradoxically, is greater nobility. #5. Nature’s picturesque beauty sings the praises of God. This is, perhaps, the greatest realization that any mountaineer or any nature adventurer may probably come across in his adventures: in the unpredictable and limitless beauty of nature, one can actually see God’s greatness. In the first place, before the beauty that only nature can provide—the type that seizes the heart in wonder and the eyes in awe—one cannot but admit the amazing craftsmanship of the Supreme Artist. Here, one sees almost limitless beauty not reached by manmade works. Second, away from the rigid and predictable structures of city life, one is reminded in activities like this hike that, indeed, we cannot control everything. There must be Someone else who intelligently designed this intelligentlypatterned universe. Here springs a great comfort that I abide in the Catholic faith: This Someone is Love Himself and not some impersonal, distant Supreme Being. *** So, there. Those were just some thoughts I gathered from the February 17 hike. Given the richness of the experience which tapped not only our physical make-up but our capacities to reflect as well, I no longer regret any portion of this worthwhile experience. If only to remind myself and my friends of these five thought-provoking insights, another climb would not be so bad to consider. Until our next climb, though, let me content myself with applying the same quote to life’s other mountains: “Let those very obstacles give you strength. God’s grace will not fail you: ‘Inter medium montium pertransibunt aquae!’ You shall pass through the mountains!” (The Way, 12). |
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