12.9
“mabuti na ‘yan… kesa wala.”
A senior’s life in Kisay is as jammed up as ever, and for the Nth time, everyone is craving for that thing called ‘break.’ Which, for a very rare chance, was understood by the administration, granting a day for our retreat.
Isang araw lang? ~ mabuti na ‘yan… kesa wala.
The day’s trip started at 9:44 in the bus’ clock. I was again, situated at the window side, beside me is my invited guest ~ Anna Cabatuando, which was very considerable for my drowsiness and my lethargic appearance that day. [Gee, sorry, Anna!]
Roughly two hours after, we are inside the ‘lecture hall’ of the Divine Word Seminary, SVD in Tagaytay, Batangas. The hall was pretty big to accommodate around two hundred retreat-seeking souls, but the outside really interests me more. The surroundings were perfect for a flora-lover like me, with lots and lots of greens and flowers to see ~ match it with the drizzly and foggy ambience which condenses and surfaces as dew to the plants. Relaxing, refreshing, invigorating.
Of the three choices, we are [forced and] placed at the SVD Postulancy, some sort of a residence center nearby Divine Word Seminary. It was actually just a curve away and a little walking would not bother. At first I didn’t liked the idea of going there, but a little visiting there for lunch gave me a second thought.
I, together with Gab and Noel, are the occupants of room seven. It is a pretty small room, pero ~ mabuti na ‘yan… kesa wala. It has two beds, but makes it ‘three if compressed,’ a ceiling fan, and a poorly placed lighting source. Below the room number is a verse; “ARISE! And be not afraid…” no wonder this is a place for ‘holy people.’ [by the way, opposite our room is room 10, where Adam, Owen and Domeng is]
Two things in the Postulancy gave me a second thought of disliking the place. First is its pretty good situated gazebo near our dormitory. It is the size of one gazebo at our school, it’s just that it’s colored white and it has a punching bag hanging on one side. This place had been the hang-out place of the group whenever they feel like sick inside the dorm’s holiness.
Second thing is the food ~ yeah! The food! I bet that half of the seminarians there enjoyed their stay there because of the food! [just kidding!] but seriously, the food almost became the ‘deserving factor’ for my thousand bucks.
By the way, here’s the menu:
Lunch – Spaghetti, Chicken, and a Cloud Nine.
Merienda – Pancit Canton and Sky Flakes
Dinner – Tinola, Relyenong Bangus, and Macaroni Salad
Breakfast – Egg, Luncheon Ham, and Hot Chocolate
Pabaon – Egg Sandwich and Plus Juice
Ehem! Backt to the real topic ~ the retreat. So, after eating our lunch, we packed up our things and by the time the bell rang. It’s time for us to go back to Divine Word. That was about one thirty when the program started with the kiddie-activity ‘making melodies with my heart.’ Afterwards we had a prayer, a really odd prayer, called the ‘blossom dance.’ At this point I really want to all those whom I disturbed by the time we are doing this because during this activity, I was laughing to death! [mind you, we are praying!] but I can’t help it, It’s maybe because I’m not used to praying while, err, dancing… especially dancing those steps!
After that blossom dance, the program was again interrupted, and we went down again the Postulancy and had our merienda. By this time, I noticed that the rumored rules where not that strictly implemented ~ tell that to the rampant shoutings and playing cards scattered on rooms! [oops!]
By around five, we are on our way back again the DWS, but it was already six by the time we continued the program. It is a very holy start ~ with the Angelus prayer opening our session. By the way, our speaker for this part is already a priest, in the name or Fr. Arlo [?] Yap, and he had been the speaker throughout the event. [the program is already turning holy, I guess?]
Pretty good speaker, I say. He caught my attention most of the time, and sensible things and stories heard from him. He started the lecture with ‘definition of terms’ between a recollection and a retreat, which followed a couple of definitions of a retreat. He expounded one idea, that is the ‘basket and me,’ a pretty good metaphor, I say. And from that point, he made his strike one to our batch mates, touching some sensitive topics mostly about family matters.
After which, we took a break, meaning another visit to the Postulancy. A [very] dark path leading to the Postulancy had been the talk of the boys for some time but upon the serving of the dinner, everyone is helping themselves for the hot soup. [Mind you! We are on Tagaytay!]
An hour perhaps had passed by the time the session resumed, this time with a new topic, about self-checking and problems with yourself this time. he actually had his famous words “wala sa problema ang problema, ang problema ay nasa nagdadala.” And from that he continued with his realizations about a good and bad parents, then he shared stories about his family, and finally down to his last activity; ‘the five most important persons given to you by God.’
That very activity had been the supposed ‘climax’ of the retreat. He, in his very heart-pounding way, supposed one by one, those five persons die one after the other. And he is pretty effective, in fairness! [maybe, his Ipod and complicated sound system aided!]
Few tears jerked off me, but not to that pounding level, it is maybe because, the crowd is too big to be that emotional, or it just so happened that I can’t believe his story, but somehow, I admit, kinilabutan ako kahit papaano.
Following the said event, though the activity speaks of family matters, it resulted to friends greeting, hugging and crying with each other. Just as what you would expect a typical retreat would be. I believe that had been the most awaited time by enemies and people with hard feelings against someone… I, during those times, am busy embracing and talking with my friends as well.
It was followed by the Palanca-thing distributed by the advisers, mainly to add up to the drama. But since I didn’t have any, aside from a message from my adviser written in a card, I continued with my friendship-caring sessions.
The session ended up with a mass and some more friendly talks. We went to our respective destinations by around eleven forty.
My predictions are correct that I would not fell asleep until two thirty. After the said session, many seem to be still awake and so why not help yourself with a game of cards, I guess?
After a few games, or just lack of interest with Domeng’s century-old cards, we decided to have some midnight stroll. The four of us who are still awake, [noel and owen are sleeping sound already] attempted to have a walk at the mountain side, but I guess the guts and/or the resistance to cold aren’t enough. Instead, we had ourselves some talk [boys’ talk, technically], a very intimate and meaningful talk, featuring our lives and some sensitive thingies within us, blah blah… [sorta confidential, actually] and it lasted ‘till three, I guess?
It was already past six when an awake Noel greeted me a good morning, but what really woke me up is the [very] cold, heater-less water of the Postulancy shower. After eating breakfast, we packed up our things, had some sunflower picking and picture taking as well, and being in the company of my female buddies once again!
An unfinished Constantine movie and a clock declaring 12:01 pm in the bus greeted the retreat trip goodbye, and off we go back to the norms.
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