03- A picture of you and your friends

Hmm. I believe I don’t mind having lots of friends. I mean lots of true friends. Although, there are only a few friends I would call true, and fewer so that I could call real, I still value the meaning of friendship. It’s a bond different from family. Severing it could cause breakdown, so I try not to inconvenient them as much as possible.

                Let’s start from the friends I acquired during my elementary years. These people were the first people I called friends. We even had a name for our group: The French Club. I got separated from them during high school, which created a gap in our friendship. Nowadays, I have no contact with them, and only kept tabs with them through facebook. Although our friendship was short lived, and we are more on formal terms these days, I still remember the moments we had together, and the childhood I spent with them.

                Let’s go to the college friends I just recently met. Okay, not so recent, since I’ve been with these people for more than a year. They’re fun to be with, and don’t let the assumptions about our course get to them. At first glance, people might think that we’re rowdy, annoying and way over our heads, but if you get to know them for who they really are, I’m sure you’d like them.

                And now, tandadadan~

Meet GATB. Well, I’ve explained a lot about them on my first post. I love these girls, and I miss them all so terribly.  I haven’t seen some of them for a while, and I wish so bad to meet them again soon. They are what I call the in-between. I don’t call them bestfriends or sisters, because that seemed to put a limitation to what we could do together. Well, I love you guys, and I miss you all so bad.

Lastly, I would love to introduce my all-supporting cousin- Van Alens Cabana. She is my bestfriend/ sister/ cousin. I really love her. I miss her so much already. I haven’t seen her for months due to her migration to a different country. Things are really different now that I don’t have her around to hang out with.

Martyrdom

                Many definitions pop up in your heads once you hear this word. Well, even I was baffled when I first heard this word. I mean, who would gladly give up themselves just for the sake of proving their point or faith? I probably won’t, but come to think of it-dying for what you believe in sounds heroic, noble even. Back then, I thought that martyrdom always comes with death, but now, I think it’s just a proof of how big your heart could be, and how it could endure anything. Even the fangs of death would not bar you because of this great faith.

                The word martyr came from the Latin word martirez, which means witness. Apparently, martyrs are known to have witnessed the truth, but still kept holding on to their faith no matter how excruciating the consequences are. This undying love didn’t have a huge impact on me before, but through the tests of time, I’ve learned to respect and look up to those martyrs who hold on to their words even if the effects of their actions could cause them more than just their lives. It’s amazing how their great love and faith could move mountains, even after they’ve experienced humiliation and pain.

                Some people casually shrug off the idea of martyrdom. Others would even condemn and criticize badly, because of their seemingly blind love for something. But, personally, I think those martyr people we hear from the television or from the gossips that reach our ears, are a thousand times note worthy than us. After all, they gave up their chance at happiness just for love. Take for example-Jesus Christ. He died for the sake of us sinners. Another would be Lorenzo Ruiz. He would rather die than renounce his faith. Pedro Calungsod is another one- a newly proclaimed saint by the Catholic Church- because he died protecting his colleagues. These people, although we never met them personally, are great examples of martyrs who would give up their lives just to redeem the eternal life promised by God.

                Ah, the very thought of eternal life makes me want to cry. Oh well. We’ll just have to do everything to prove that we are worthy to be called as children of the Lord. It’s not an easy path if I must say, but we could look at the martyr mothers who would take the beating of their sadistic husbands just to protect their children; or the martyr fathers who will work their fingers to the bones just to feed their family; or even your friends who will keep on extending their hands to you, even if you continually push them away. These simple acts of love are stepping stones towards achieving the eternal glory of happiness found in Heaven.

LEADS

Leadership empowering and development seminar or LEADS was held last December 19-21, 2012 at Initao, Misamis Oriental. It was a three-day seminar full of fun-filled activities, productive speeches from prominent speakers, and new friends. The seminar aims to enlighten promising student leaders., through cultivating the unit of the leaders with numerous activities.

          At first , I hesitated on coming along. I am not particularly fond of going to places with people I am not acquainted with. Later though, as the seminar went further, I realized that I would have regretted a lot if I didn't come. It was fun. So much fun. Gadgets were confiscated right after breakfast, and we were only allowed to use them during meals and after the day was over. That rule brought me to a realization- counting time will only limit the fun and learning, whereas not knowing about the passing seconds will make you treasure the moment with the people around you.

There were strict rules imposed on us too, and I just broke one of them. It didn't really matter though. At the end, or team got the most responsible team award. Oh, I shall introduce you to the teams. During the first day, we were asked to pick popsicle sticks scattered all throughout the ICT building. I picked a popsicle stick with the word Goodness written on it. Little did I know that that activity was to designate us to our group. All students who picked Goodness were part of the Pink team. I really don't like the caller pink, and so when we were asked to pick the animals that our team should represent, I was so glad that they chose the panther. Pink Panthers in short.

Although I hated the idea of being part of the Pink team, I didn't hate my groupmates. They were nice, friendly people, who gives their honest opinions in each of our activities. We ate together, planned together and presented together. I would miss them truly.

So much for that, let us not forget the unfortunate events that bore bad news to the CAS officers. Certain matters concerning our money from the bank brought me and Neil (he's our treasurer, at the same time my schoolmate since high school) back to CDO. The organizers allowed us to finish our transaction, and gave us ample time to go to CDO and back again before dusk. It was a tiring trip, since we the two of us were both standing for more than an hour. The buses were cramped, and we were left with no choice. I also had my period during the duration of the seminar, which sucked even more.

This picture shows how haggard we were on the way back to Initao. Although, the expenses were not ours, and there was food on our bellies, the obvious fatigue was catching up to us.

Over-all, the experience was worth remembering. Moments like this should be grabbed and we should not let them pass.