Last February 1-3, we had a very exciting, fun-filled, adventurous and heart-warming IMMERSION. Everyday I had experienced different, difficult and easy challenges..
February 1, 2008
The time we had arrived at Sto. Niño, I thought that I'm really familiar with the place but in my surprise I haven't in the center of the barangay. These had increased my excitement for it. Before the opening program we already talked and asked some residents there if they know our host families, where it is located and how's their house. Asking them, I have known that my host family is just near the barangay hall. When the opening program and the distribution of the students to their respective families started, we were so excited seeing our host families and when our names and our host family were called, there was no one that go in front but after some minutes we saw Nanay Salvacion coming. She accompanied us to their home just nearby. When we reach their house, it's semi-concrete where the main house is concrete and the kitchen and front is just made of nipa and bamboos.
We then introduced each other have some stories about our own lives...After some time, Nanay ask one of her son to cook rice but he is somewhat hesitating then I go to the kitchen to have a look at it. I ask Jerry, my buddy, to prepare the rice and I will be the one to prepare the fire. After putting in fire the cooking pot, we then started deciding what to cook for lunch. There was a basin of 'kangkong” in the kitchen so we decided to cook it with sardines. We prepared the dining table and we ate altogether except for Tatay Tiburcio who was there in his farm and Kuya Rolly who Nanay said really go them with them because of some reasons. After some stories and after fixing the dining table and washing the dishes, we then asked Nanay for us to go to the school for the feeding program...
When we arrived at the school, seeing our classmates, we somewhat missed them much and asking how's their host families. We then started preparing for the for our respective activities. My tribe, the Partribu Triblets, was assigned in the painting committee. But during the preparation, we were not able to help in painting because of few painting materials so we just helped prepare the food. The time we are preparing spaghetti, I really find it difficult to cook it because there were many supervising the work that will make feel irritated but thankfully we had made it right for still there a great cooperation in us.
After the successful program, we went to the beach to rest and roam around the beautiful beach of Sto. Niño. We also went to our classmates' houses to visit them. I and Jerry then went home to already start preparing for our dinner. Our dinner was then fried fish and souped fish. It was about before dinner when Ate Rochelle came from her work at Tigaon. She is the mother of the little baby in our house. After dinner and fixing all, we already slept early because we were so tired and exhausted by day's activities.
February 2, 2008
The second day, Jerry and I woke early for we will be the one to prepare the breakfast. We then started to prepare and cook the spaghetti we had brought. It was somewhat to prepare like how we had prepared during the feeding. We then share in a delicious and memorable breakfast. We just have a problem for one of my brother does not eat anything with meat, pork, beef or chicken, so we just opened a can of sardines for him. I am really surprised of such unusual behavior.
After taking breakfast, we decided to bring Tatay breakfast because he already there early in the morning to plow his farm. We walked about six kilometer back and forth through rice fields and riversides. It was a very tiring activity yet a fun-filled one because we had a nice time with my brothers. We went home about 10:30 and we then rest for some time and took our bath on the other house where there are also immersees.
After our lunch, we then went to the school for the Socials. Our tribe with Alab tribe of Pin-Pin tried to practice and think what we will present during the socials but because of lack of cooperation we just end up on a song number. Before the socials, we had really find hard to look for participants for our class game made of families with their immersee. And also during the game, it so hard to manage because some of our classmates don't help during our class game but still we made it right. After some instruction after the Socials we went home already.
When we got home, Nanay is already preparing for our dinner . We then helped her preparing the malunggay leaves. Roger, my little brother, said that he want us to taste and try their “specialty”, Lucky Me with malunggay leaves. It is taste really good. After we had finish eating. Two of our classmates went to our house and its already 8:00. Nanay then told us to also go out because during the first night we haven't go out so we went out with my three brothers. We then went to some of our classmates' houses to encourage them to go with us and we also met some classmates on the road so we just decided to go together and have a bonfire near the beach. We were until before 10:00 when we saw some big flashlights we already knew that's it's Ma'am Bigs. Before we really don't intend to run and we want to wait for her for when she is already walking toward us, some of us shouted and ran away so we also an away. We had really ran fast that my one of my brother ask me why we are running. We reached home exactly 10:00 and after washing our ourselves we already sleep. It was really tiring being a Wonder Kid.
February 3, 2008
We had been woken up the instant hard rain that watered our house. There were hole in the roof of our house so when it rains outside it also rain inside. We then started to prepare for our breakfast. We just coked some packs of instant noodles. We just finished breakfast when the chapel bell stated to ring... We then took a bath. I was then being called by nature but I can't withstand our type D comfort room so I just kept it until the mass. When we went to the chapel, we then saw my fellow classmates and we started talking about what had happened last night. When Ma'am Bigs came to us, we felt differently and my buddy slipped his lips thus Ma'am had known that we are guilty of what had happened last night being the Wonder Kids.
After the mass, I went to one of my classmates house to take C.R. Then we went to have some walk and decided to go home to prepare for our departure. When we got home, Nanay had already prepared lunch and we just helped her arrange the table. When we were already eating we started thanking them for a very nice stay and experience with them. After bidding goodbyes and thank yous we started packing our things and prepared our token and the card given to us. We then have some family pictures and the documentation team also went on our house to take our picture as a family. When we were already in the jeepney, we waved our hands when we saw Nanay and Ate Rochelle. We will really miss them much.
And that's what happened in my wonderful immersion.
--challenges I experienced during the immersion--
- I had really find hard to seek in through the immersion especially when we and Nanay are telling stories about ourselves because I am not a person telling much about myself and sometimes I can't relate what Nanay and Jerry are talking about.
- I find it hard to take a bath because we still have to go to the neighbor's house just to take a bath where it is very open.
- It is also very hard to have a C.R in our house because the C.R. there is not that good.
Deciding on our group's presentation is very difficult for most of my group members is not cooperating that's we haven't presented. - It is a challenge being a Wonder Kid.
- - Reflection- -
The immersion, as a whole, was so significant to me. It had really taught many thing about the reality of life.
One of significant experiences I had during the immersion was when we walked about six kilometers just to send breakfast to Tatay who was on the farm on the other barangay of Mabca. We walked through rice fields and riversides. We had been somewhat lost cause what we had walked through is not the regular way to get there so walk a longer distance just to get there. I had really appreciated Tatay's hard work and industry for goes there too early not taking breakfast and walking a long distance everyday to attend the farm that is not really his but is only attending it and the pay is during the harvest time.
I was also struck by Nanay kindness and generosity because you could already call their house a public one for if goes to their house and ask for some coffee or other she will really give some even though it just enough for them. That's why their supply of such are fast to run out.
My host family was very good and kind to us. Nanay Salvacion is a very kind and soft-hearted mother and Tatay Tiburcio is a very hardworking father.
Every time we are sitting in the balcon, preparing and eating meal, we are telling stories. Nanay, always tells us their way of life about their family and also her problems encountered. She is also telling us stories somewhat gossips about those in our neighborhood.
During immersion, I am so thankful for is that we had enough and good food to it and clean water. Iam also very thankful that we are eating together for at home we really don't eat together. I am also grateful that I am not struck by any sickness and that I'm always healthy and that no bad event had happened to me. I am also thankful that every moment of the immersion had been so important to me.
I learned from these experiences during the reality of life that we are not the only people here on earth. I had learned to appreciate all the things that I have and be contented with it for we are already so blessed compared to those in the area who are already with the simple things they have. I also learned the value of family for there they have the strong bond that strengthens their family. It had me miss my family so much during and after the immersion. What struck me most is their sense of community that you will not see in the urban areas and I don't in my own place. There is that care and love for their neighbors.
During the immersion process, I know that Jesus is always with me and worked in me for He had helped me seek in through the immersion. He helped me know and understand the true essence of this activity. I know that He called me to walk barefoot and to leave my doubts and reservations to this immersion and just feel and go with the flow of the immersion.
Authentic Christian Humanism
During the immersion, I have responded to living out Authentic Christian Humanism by being the true me and letting myself be drawn to the true essence of the immersion and by doing my best to make this a fruitful experience.
My response is just a simple one for I know that even though this is just simple yet it can make a great difference to me and others.
I know that I have listened to the people I had encountered. They taught me to really appreciate the value of family and contentment. I really learned a lot from Nanay and Tatay.
Feelings, thoughts and reactions
At first, I feel bored for I know the place is very familiar to me and I feel no excitement but when I reach the barangay, I still haven't been there and that brought again the excitement in me. The time I saw my host family's description, I really thought they are such a big family. The time we first talked with Nanay I really feel awkward for I think she's somewhat strict but sooner I gained confidence in her. When Nanay asked us why we are here we then replied that we are for an immersion and that we will live with them to experience a new kind of environment and learn about the realities of life.
Nagawa ko bang magpakatao?
This is a question that is really hard to answer but I can say that during the immersion nagawa kong magpakatao. It because I know I became a true person showing the real me and leaving my reservations and doubts and letting myself be really immersed within a new environment , a new life and undertaking.
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