Wednesday, June 14, 2006
And this is the second installment of my rather long blog. Hey, it’s been a month! I have loads of kwento, so just, read on…
May 13, 2006 Saturday
We were supposed to go to a GK Site for our fifth day at the SHOUT house, to build a house and interact with people there, but the bad weather didn’t seem to cooperate with our plans. So while the rest of them stayed at home, I left the house to visit Chapter B’s youth camp (you gotta bear with the typo errors, Im using the laptop now, it’s a Japanese brand, and the keyboard is driving me nuts!). What I loved about their camp was how they got so independent and organized. They were always following their schedule and it seemed like they could pretty much handle it on their own. Coz what’s funny, and I know Maron will agree with me, was that when I tried to interfere with how things were going, it all started to be confusing. At first I was the only one confused, then everyone started getting confused na rin, it was crazy! Haha! Lesson learned for me. But that made me feel more at ease with the bunch. Guess they saw that even us clusterheads, can be so clueless, so we really need each others help to make these things work. Anyways, as partner and I said, it was good, feeling like visitors in our chapter’s camps. Feels good to know they can really handle it on their own (I’ll say more about this later). We had to leave during the night because we had to go back to the brothers’ SHOUT house for our Lord’s Day. Had a blast with my fellow Youth leaders. We had to hear another talk, and although I was really trying my best to listen, I was sooo sleepy. Haha! Everyone almost noticed my head bobbing up and down as I was fighting the urge to fall asleep.
I guess the highlight of the night was the washing of the feet, which was such a humbling experience for me. If I wasn’t sleepy, I bet I would’ve cried while ate Elai was washing my feet. It was very symbolic, how the leaders washed the feet and uttered a prayer for those under them. It was so humbling, when my turn came, I felt like it was Jesus who was washing my feet (even though they thought I was sleeping while my feet was being washed). It was hardcore service, it was real leadership. After that, I was just so sleepy that the next thing I cared about was going home (Yes, I finally felt it was my real home).
May 14, 2006 Sunday
It was our last SHOUT day. I felt sad and excited. Excited because I was finally going home, back to my bed, back to my family, back to my service in our cluster. But then I was also a little sad, because for the past week, I have learned to call the SHOUT house my home, and the girls my family. But it was okay, we ended the whole experience with a bang. I’m just really glad that I was able to be part of that sunny, bubbly group. I know that I had formed a bond with those sisters of mine.
May 18, 2006While at the SHOUT house, my twenty two-year old aunt Ate Kristine, from Bacolod visited us, and also to help Tita Maggie, her sister-in-law, settle her papers that she needs in order to work abroad. I was away most of the time, so when I finally had the chance to spend time with her, I grabbed it. Remember, when my lolo died I got to know my other funny and warmhearted relatives from his side, and as I promised, I will stay connected with them. I know this was what he wanted when he was still alive, because after he got married to my lola, he spent most of his days with her family. We only got the chance to get to know his kind brothers and sisters when he died na. And I just couldn’t resist that side of the family. Ate Kristine, Tita Dors, Kuya Marvie, to name a few. They’re all so caring and hospitable and thoughtful. The typical Ilonggo. My babe’s Ilonggo, his mom is. So anyway, we went to Town with Ate Kristine. Tita Maggie didn’t wanna go out of the house while in Manila, because she said her husband was really seloso. And I found out one interesting fact. She said that the Labayens are really the jealous type. Her husband is, my lolo is, my dad? Well, let’s just say that when it comes to my mom, he’s overconfident, but he’s really possessive of his kids. Well, I couldn’t agree more, I admit I am selosa, but in a cute way at that. I guess, if there’s one thing I got from my dad, and from my grandfather, is that we are passionate with the people we love.
So anyways, we spent the day window-shopping at Town, then we moved to SM to do the real shopping. Ate Kristine went to buy pasalubong for the people back in Bacolod.
After dinner, we headed home to freshen up, and, then we were off for a night out. We went to SITCOM comedy bar. It was my first time there, and I just had a crazy time! Laughed my brains out with the gays’ naughty comments and witty antics. I just love hearing gay people talk. They are soooper witty, I can’t help but hold a soft spot for them in my heart. Kinda made me miss the Angels, a group of gays in my batch. I loved hanging out with them, watching them bicker with each other, imitation people, sigh! Missed that a lot. Anyways, Ate Kristine went back to Bacolod the next day, but I just hope she had fun naman while staying with us. She’s really sweet and I love her, even though she kinda reminds me of my boyfriend’s ex-something. Haha.
Weekends of MAYYouth Camps! Had a blast, partner and I are just so happy for the line of camps that happened the entire weekend of May. Like what I told you earlier, we felt like welcomed visitors at Chapter B’s camp, and that’s how we like it. The following week was also the same. We also believed in their chapter, but we just saw how independent they were, and it continue to moves us and makes us believe more. During Chapter C’s camp, my old bunch went to visit and I just loved catching up with them. Together with GFF Joyce and Pau, PFF Diane slept over at my place, which was a first, considering our almost seven years of friendship. Well, it was so great. She’s gonna be so busy now, with her law school, but I’m glad that even though a lot has changed, our friendship remains. And that is how it’s gonna be. She is part of my forever.
So anyways, Chapter A’s camp, t’was such a blessing. From the past records, having ten or more participants will be good for their chapter. But no, we were so overwhelmed, with more than thirty participants showing up at the camp’s doorstep. And well, I came from this chapter so they’re very special to me. I’m just proud of how I saw everyone mature. We were faced with a lot of obstacles and harassments, but we just got through, with each other, and with God. All in all, 88 participants for these line of camps, 88 souls, not bad. Very, very good. I know He’s smiling up there. So you see, we’re really glad, partner and I. We just felt the affirmation, that our prayer was answered. We were not the prime movers of the activities anymore, we were just supporting them at the sides, and that is how we wanted it to be. Because within the year, we both will be stepping out, moving to a different level in our service, and we’re just more than happy to leave the cluster to this new set of leaders. Haha, it’s so mushy, this transition stage.
June 2, 2006
Mama’s birthday. Well, nothing much really, except that I spent the day with my family and nothing beats old-school family time. Lunch and dinners are always special, since we all have a big appetite. We went to Festival Mall, where we ate at Pizza Company. Well, being the pizza-lover that I am, I think I have tasted the best and worst of ‘em. And as the name of their resto implies, they are the authority for my fave food. The verdict? Well, A for the size, similar to Yellow Cab’s but cheaper, and A for the toppings and cheesy-stuffed crust similar to Pizza Hut’s but bigger. Two thumbs up! I’m adding them to my long list of fave restaurants. I even promised my homegirls that I’m treating them there when I get my first paycheck. And when is that gonna happen?
June 3, 2006
During the past weekends, we both got so occupied with our service, work, youth camps. I was yearning for some alone time with my babe. And boy, I’m just so glad he kept his promise. I just spent the entire day with him, watching the Eastern NBA Finals (the Pistons lost to Miami though, what a bummer) at his house, then we went to Town to watch The Benchwarmers (it was such a hit! The movie was a laugh trip), where I shared to him my inclination for Holy Kettle Corn. I’m just really very easy to please, just sharing those simple things with him makes me happy already. After the movie, we heard mass together, with his mom, and then we went to my place for my brother’s birthday bash. He left our house feeling really sleepy. But I just had a great day, all because of him.
June 4, 2006DISCO NIGHTS! I just missed dancing so much! The last time I danced the night away was a year ago, and it was followed by a fight with my babe so that pretty much ended my disco-dancing nights. It was such a killer because I love to dance! It sets me free! And when I’m strutting my way at the dance floor, I couldn’t care less even if people are watching me. It’s so liberating. Haha, maybe because people always thought of me as the goody-type, so when I’m out partying with friends, I just show them what I’m really made of. But then, I graduated from being a girl with a double life, and what people see now is the real me. So my partying-like-Paris Hilton days are over. But I still love to dance. So imagine my thrill when partner and I came up with a disco theme for the cluster assembly. The rest of the gang was for it too, since we discovered how fun it is to dance together during the discovery camp, when Paolo taught us the PEMDAS. So we just had the place set up with cool décor (thanks to baby jorgia, you’re such an artist), put up some black lights, which had a cool effect since we were all wearing white, and just danced on to cool tunes (thanks kat, super) with maron’s slammin improvised sound system. I had such a blast, dancing the night away with my super friends, and what's more super about it is that we just had that energy to groove without the booze not like I used to. It was great, we were partying with the natural high. I was glad too because it's the first time I saw my babe dance in a disco so it was soo fun. Finally had the license to dance around him.
and of course, what made my night? (warning:mushy zone)
well, when most of them were tired and wanted to rest on the fast tunes for a little while, at, the dj went to play some slow tunes. Just when I thought no one would really dig this part of the evening, Sam teased my boyfriend to dance with me, and he gamely held my hand and led me to the dancefloor. I was ultimately kilig! I forgot the first song we danced to but the second one was Viktoria's To Be Near You. Awwwh! The moment was so sweet! It started so awkward, because we were the only couple dancing, and he was a little aloof, but eventually we had a lot of fun. I was the one teaching him some moves. Sigh! Well, that pretty much made my night (big grin on my face right now). When I got home, I texted him and thanked him for dancing with me, and he said he had been waiting for that moment to come. awwh...i just love my babe.
Well, okay... watch out na lang for part 3...
another adventure for COSMOGIRL!
