Unwinding in Baguio
Blogging is a luxury I can seldom afford. Whenever I post, I feel as if I am sneaking to meet a forbidden love. Just like now, I have the opportunity to blog because no one from my research students is consulting me. All are busy fidgeting their respective keyboards.
Long overdue: The NDC and Rizal Leadership Institute held in Baguio City last October and December respectively were very memorable. I got to see my friends sport outfits they rarely wear in Manila. I got to bond and relax with them.
I cancelled a trip to Singapore just to join the NDC. I wasn’t supposed to attend the national tournament but I had to after reading “alarming” string of discussions in the debate e-group before the tourney. I thought my stint as DCA last year was my swansong. However, as the adviser, my conscience dictated that I should “protect” the kids from possible conflicts, only to find out that the host school—Philippine Military Academy—actually prepared a very memorable event. I must say it was the most memorable since NDC began. All fears by some debaters before the tourney were allayed by the warmth, grandiosity, and mystery of PMA culture. I experienced how to eat food plated literally on the table or “boodle fight”, be escorted by a friendly PMAer like a government top honcho, eat , and witnessed Yves of UPM strut like a pro during the Cadet Hop. I saw how CSB debaters adore San Miguel. And I saw myself got drunk again before we returned to Manila. (I only do so when I am comfortable with the crowd and the place is “ours”. Stef and Mark Legaspi acted like my nannies who always had to run after me for fear that I might jump from the second floor terrace. They asked me to sleep. (I actually interpreted it as imprisonment.) I called up my friends from San Beda to help me escape. (What a futile move because they were equally drunk or were too far to rescue me). For sure they laughed at me. Then my best friend Rose Lyn upstaged me. (he he).
I was able to unwind in Baguio (which I badly needed) and I was very happy at that time even if I didn’t win this time as one of the best adjudicators. I feel I earned more respect from some debate personalities. I disappointed some for disagreeing with their decision. Well, that’s okay. That’s one essence of dialectics.
The Rizal Leadership Institute was equally memorable. If NDC brought me down from the ivory tower of acting as dignified or as professional as I could in work, the Rizal conference renewed my spirituality and passion to lead. The facilitators from OCCI were witty and profound. They reinforced leadership principles that most of us have forgotten in the pursuit of finishing so many tasks. It was leadership anchored on spirituality, the value of relationships more than anything else. The team-building activities were enlightening although some were not new. I have encountered and used them in my own workshops. But I learned a lot of new things. I was touched by the example of differently-abled sprinters during the Seattle Special Games. Despite their limitations, they had a more compassionate heart, they were more united. We do not need to become rocket scientists just to understand the wisdom of loving and caring for others so that we can attain a collective goal. Many delegates cried. I only heard their sobs since we were required to shut our eyes. Many young student leaders all over the country were touched. I hope the reawakening of their leadership and human senses can transcend the principle and be applied in real life.
Of course, I’d like to thank my yellow team. We formed a very good sense of camaraderie. I miss them. I hope they will initiate changes in their own schools and immediate circles. The conference was underrated. I hope the country’s other top schools would also try attending it and discuss with the rest of students nationwide whose perspectives are as rich and ideal as our national hero.
***
Yuletide 2007 was special because daddy went home and my nephews (both 2 years old) had started to appreciate gifts and the Yuletide season itself. I saw their happy faces while opening the presents and how the fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year celebration had awed them. Vaughn was clapping his small hands while trying to cling to me as tightly as he could as if trying to get a reaffirmation from me that I would not let him go amid the sparks and noise barrage. Kurt curled into his mom, sobbing while uttering “putok” with the accent on the first syllable. Mom was busy texting my siblings abroad. I texted most of my old and newfound friends. Then I had to sleep for 4 hours so I could trip back to Manila for my January 3 classes.
For my entire life I always spend this season in Pangasinan. I hope I can spend it longer with them. I find refuge, relaxation, and warmth at home despite the loads of work I carried with me from the metro. My niece will soon migrate to Canada, mom will surely be sad. I’ll miss her too. Well, that’s life. Even your beloved will not stay with you permanently. Only the memories will.
Long overdue: The NDC and Rizal Leadership Institute held in Baguio City last October and December respectively were very memorable. I got to see my friends sport outfits they rarely wear in Manila. I got to bond and relax with them.
I cancelled a trip to Singapore just to join the NDC. I wasn’t supposed to attend the national tournament but I had to after reading “alarming” string of discussions in the debate e-group before the tourney. I thought my stint as DCA last year was my swansong. However, as the adviser, my conscience dictated that I should “protect” the kids from possible conflicts, only to find out that the host school—Philippine Military Academy—actually prepared a very memorable event. I must say it was the most memorable since NDC began. All fears by some debaters before the tourney were allayed by the warmth, grandiosity, and mystery of PMA culture. I experienced how to eat food plated literally on the table or “boodle fight”, be escorted by a friendly PMAer like a government top honcho, eat , and witnessed Yves of UPM strut like a pro during the Cadet Hop. I saw how CSB debaters adore San Miguel. And I saw myself got drunk again before we returned to Manila. (I only do so when I am comfortable with the crowd and the place is “ours”. Stef and Mark Legaspi acted like my nannies who always had to run after me for fear that I might jump from the second floor terrace. They asked me to sleep. (I actually interpreted it as imprisonment.) I called up my friends from San Beda to help me escape. (What a futile move because they were equally drunk or were too far to rescue me). For sure they laughed at me. Then my best friend Rose Lyn upstaged me. (he he).
I was able to unwind in Baguio (which I badly needed) and I was very happy at that time even if I didn’t win this time as one of the best adjudicators. I feel I earned more respect from some debate personalities. I disappointed some for disagreeing with their decision. Well, that’s okay. That’s one essence of dialectics.
The Rizal Leadership Institute was equally memorable. If NDC brought me down from the ivory tower of acting as dignified or as professional as I could in work, the Rizal conference renewed my spirituality and passion to lead. The facilitators from OCCI were witty and profound. They reinforced leadership principles that most of us have forgotten in the pursuit of finishing so many tasks. It was leadership anchored on spirituality, the value of relationships more than anything else. The team-building activities were enlightening although some were not new. I have encountered and used them in my own workshops. But I learned a lot of new things. I was touched by the example of differently-abled sprinters during the Seattle Special Games. Despite their limitations, they had a more compassionate heart, they were more united. We do not need to become rocket scientists just to understand the wisdom of loving and caring for others so that we can attain a collective goal. Many delegates cried. I only heard their sobs since we were required to shut our eyes. Many young student leaders all over the country were touched. I hope the reawakening of their leadership and human senses can transcend the principle and be applied in real life.
Of course, I’d like to thank my yellow team. We formed a very good sense of camaraderie. I miss them. I hope they will initiate changes in their own schools and immediate circles. The conference was underrated. I hope the country’s other top schools would also try attending it and discuss with the rest of students nationwide whose perspectives are as rich and ideal as our national hero.
***
Yuletide 2007 was special because daddy went home and my nephews (both 2 years old) had started to appreciate gifts and the Yuletide season itself. I saw their happy faces while opening the presents and how the fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year celebration had awed them. Vaughn was clapping his small hands while trying to cling to me as tightly as he could as if trying to get a reaffirmation from me that I would not let him go amid the sparks and noise barrage. Kurt curled into his mom, sobbing while uttering “putok” with the accent on the first syllable. Mom was busy texting my siblings abroad. I texted most of my old and newfound friends. Then I had to sleep for 4 hours so I could trip back to Manila for my January 3 classes.
For my entire life I always spend this season in Pangasinan. I hope I can spend it longer with them. I find refuge, relaxation, and warmth at home despite the loads of work I carried with me from the metro. My niece will soon migrate to Canada, mom will surely be sad. I’ll miss her too. Well, that’s life. Even your beloved will not stay with you permanently. Only the memories will.
posted by JOEVEN at 5:09 PM
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