I guess, all freshman, sophomore and junior students, look forward to being seniors. It’s really nice being the eldest among the other levels. Being a senior means that you have bigger responsibilities, looking forward to greater opportunities and well, the excitement of graduation is always there. Of course, there is always the much-awaited immersion-retreat.

When I was still a freshman until I was a junior, seniors would ask me to give them a palanca. I was curious then about the immersion-retreat and I was also excited to experience it too. I really cannot wait especially to read my own palancas.

Right now, I’m a senior. I’m very happy with my life despite of my low scores in my Math subjects. During my first days being a senior, I’m really looking forward and very excited for the immersion-retreat. And yes, I’m really imagining what it is being away for four days and three nights and spend every single minute reflecting to God and maybe, crying.

As days, weeks and months passed by, and as our immersion-retreat was fast approaching, negative thoughts filled my head. “Maybe, I’ll get homesick.”, Will we eat halo for either breakfast, lunch or dinner?”, How will I eat the food that I don’t really like?”, “Will there be utensils and stuffs?”, How will I deal with the people that I don’t even know especially the indigenous people?”, “Will I get dirty and stinky?”- These are just few of the things that kept on bothering me before the immersion-retreat.

For me, the immersion-retreat will just help you develop puffy eyes and eye bags and of course, it will just be full of heavy drama. It’s about crying and crying. But I guess, I made the wrong definition after I will experience the immersion-retreat.

Actually, the immersion-retreat is not a big deal for me. I’m ready to leave everything. Well, it’s just a short time to say goodbye to Iloilo as well to my family, friends, school, phone, computer, iPod and TV (of course, I can’t watch my favorite TV show). And that’s it! It’s not really a big deal.

I was excited to go on immersion-retreat. I got up early on the first day. My mom accompanied me to school. When I arrived in school, I saw my classmates, very excited to go and really cannot wait for the transportation that will lead us to Fort San Pedro wherein we will ride the pump boat going to Guimaras. Well, it’s just one strait away!

When we arrived in Guimaras, we had a lot of courtesy calls with the congressman, mayor, chief police officer and the rest of the local government officials. I heard some of my classmates complaining why we need to do that. And yes, we really need to do that because we need to thank them because they will be the one who will guide and guard us through the four days and three nights immersion-retreat.

And finally, we arrived in Sitio Serum. When I saw the indigenous people, I thought of really going home. I really don’t know what to do because I am not really used to doing household chores and working under the heat of the sun.

As soon as I met my foster family, we immediately headed to their house just near the Day Care Center for lunch and work. That’s it! They have this simple house full of love. If you look at the way I live, there are always appliances that will help me do things easier and faster, and there are always entertainment gadgets and stuffs that will never lead me to boredom and will always cheer me up. When I’m at home, I just spend the whole day watching music videos on MTV and checking my Friendster, Blogspot and Yahoo accounts on the internet. I would also go crazy about my crushes in the UAAP teams (ADMU and DLSU) and I even spend my allowance buying magazines wherein they are featured. But when you ask me about my life in Sitio Serum, you will never find this one. Well, you got to cook with the help of the chopped wood and coal and there will always be the radio that will entertain you with the afternoon dramas. The barangay have a sari-sari store (they call it “SM City”) but it’s two kilometers away from the barangay. There will be no transportation that will lead you there. I’m just lucky that I don’t need to walk this far in case I need to buy something.

My life in Sitio Serum is really different from my own life here in Iloilo. The only similarity is that I have a family here and there that really loves me so much. And guess what? I ate balingon (dried fish), washed the dishes (with limited water only) and well, fetched a pail of water sa dalom pa sang bukid. But it did not kill me and of course, I did not died with those unusual chores. I really learned a lot from these things and I discovered something about myself. And in my own little way, I can really do it!

On the night of our immersion, we had a night sharing activity. It lasted about for four hours. Thanks to this activity, I really discovered something and I knew myself even better, as well as of my classmates. I learned to be thankful with the many blessings that the Lord showered me. I learned how to value the importance of my education because I was given the chance to study in a very good school, in Assumption-Iloilo. I learned how to deal with other people. I learned to appreciate the hard work of my parents because they do everything just to supply me with my needs. The experience was really great, unforgettable and memorable. After the night sharing, we immediately settled down inside the day care center, laid down our banigs and slept (without having the chance to freshen up, brush my teeth and change my clothes). We slept with water dropping from the roof because it rained. I will never ever forget this experience.

After the immersion, we headed to the Trappist Monastery, just minutes away from Sitio Serum, for our retreat. My experience there was really awesome and full of heavy drama. I spent every single minute with God and I’m really serious about what I’m doing. I learned how to appreciate the silence that filled the whole monastery. I learned to value the love of my family and friends. I discovered the joys and pains of my classmates, as well as of the facilitators, during our moments of sharing and prayer. I knew how to deal with the monks during their Liturgy of the Hours especially during the night prayer or compline. I also realized how tough life would be despite of the laughter outside each personality. With the help of my classmates and facilitators, I learned and become open to the reality. I learned to be strong and brave enough to face my problems and challenges in life. I never knew that it would be somehow, an unforgettable experience that I need to treasure.

On the last night of retreat, we were given the chance to read our palancas. I never expected that many people would give me palancas. I really appreciated their palancas and yes, it really uplifted my spirit and I never knew I was that person that they describe me positively.

As we arrived in school the next day, I never expected that the closing ceremony would be like that. It’s really emotional and again, full of heavy drama. I’m grateful that my mom was there and expressed her feelings as well. I’m happy that I saw my classmates with their parents and I also felt sorry for those parents who were unable to come for their children.

Right now, I’m a happy and a contented person. Yes, I knew myself better and I also discovered some of my abilities. I did not regret that I joined the immersion-retreat. I am doing everything for a reason. I never fail to do my best and I will surely reach for my dreams. I also became closer to my classmates unlike before. I never knew that the immersion-retreat would really change my life for the better. I’m thankful that our school has this activity for the seniors. I went back home with happy memories, a smile in my face and carrying my box of palancas. I really did a job well done.

I just want to thank my family, classmates, friends, teachers, the chairperson, facilitators, the indigenous people (especially Tatay Rodolfo, Nanay Mercelina and family) and the people in Sitio Serum and in the Trappist Monastery. Thank you so much for being part of my immersion-retreat experience. I’m happy that you helped me change my life to a better one and helped me to know myself more than ever. If I could just turn back the time and have an immersion-retreat again, I would really do that. Thank you so much. I will never ever forget you J

I guess, all freshman, sophomore and junior students, look forward to being seniors. It’s really nice being the eldest among the other levels. Being a senior means that you have bigger responsibilities, looking forward to greater opportunities and well, the excitement of graduation is always there. Of course, there is always the much-awaited immersion-retreat.

When I was still a freshman until I was a junior, seniors would ask me to give them a palanca. I was curious then about the immersion-retreat and I was also excited to experience it too. I really cannot wait especially to read my own palancas.

Right now, I’m a senior. I’m very happy with my life despite of my low scores in my Math subjects. During my first days being a senior, I’m really looking forward and very excited for the immersion-retreat. And yes, I’m really imagining what it is being away for four days and three nights and spend every single minute reflecting to God and maybe, crying.

As days, weeks and months passed by, and as our immersion-retreat was fast approaching, negative thoughts filled my head. “Maybe, I’ll get homesick.”, Will we eat halo for either breakfast, lunch or dinner?”, How will I eat the food that I don’t really like?”, “Will there be utensils and stuffs?”, How will I deal with the people that I don’t even know especially the indigenous people?”, “Will I get dirty and stinky?”- These are just few of the things that kept on bothering me before the immersion-retreat.

For me, the immersion-retreat will just help you develop puffy eyes and eye bags and of course, it will just be full of heavy drama. It’s about crying and crying. But I guess, I made the wrong definition after I will experience the immersion-retreat.

Actually, the immersion-retreat is not a big deal for me. I’m ready to leave everything. Well, it’s just a short time to say goodbye to Iloilo as well to my family, friends, school, phone, computer, iPod and TV (of course, I can’t watch my favorite TV show). And that’s it! It’s not really a big deal.

I was excited to go on immersion-retreat. I got up early on the first day. My mom accompanied me to school. When I arrived in school, I saw my classmates, very excited to go and really cannot wait for the transportation that will lead us to Fort San Pedro wherein we will ride the pump boat going to Guimaras. Well, it’s just one strait away!

When we arrived in Guimaras, we had a lot of courtesy calls with the congressman, mayor, chief police officer and the rest of the local government officials. I heard some of my classmates complaining why we need to do that. And yes, we really need to do that because we need to thank them because they will be the one who will guide and guard us through the four days and three nights immersion-retreat.

And finally, we arrived in Sitio Serum. When I saw the indigenous people, I thought of really going home. I really don’t know what to do because I am not really used to doing household chores and working under the heat of the sun.

As soon as I met my foster family, we immediately headed to their house just near the Day Care Center for lunch and work. That’s it! They have this simple house full of love. If you look at the way I live, there are always appliances that will help me do things easier and faster, and there are always entertainment gadgets and stuffs that will never lead me to boredom and will always cheer me up. When I’m at home, I just spend the whole day watching music videos on MTV and checking my Friendster, Blogspot and Yahoo accounts on the internet. I would also go crazy about my crushes in the UAAP teams (ADMU and DLSU) and I even spend my allowance buying magazines wherein they are featured. But when you ask me about my life in Sitio Serum, you will never find this one. Well, you got to cook with the help of the chopped wood and coal and there will always be the radio that will entertain you with the afternoon dramas. The barangay have a sari-sari store (they call it “SM City”) but it’s two kilometers away from the barangay. There will be no transportation that will lead you there. I’m just lucky that I don’t need to walk this far in case I need to buy something.

My life in Sitio Serum is really different from my own life here in Iloilo. The only similarity is that I have a family here and there that really loves me so much. And guess what? I ate balingon (dried fish), washed the dishes (with limited water only) and well, fetched a pail of water sa dalom pa sang bukid. But it did not kill me and of course, I did not died with those unusual chores. I really learned a lot from these things and I discovered something about myself. And in my own little way, I can really do it!

On the night of our immersion, we had a night sharing activity. It lasted about for four hours. Thanks to this activity, I really discovered something and I knew myself even better, as well as of my classmates. I learned to be thankful with the many blessings that the Lord showered me. I learned how to value the importance of my education because I was given the chance to study in a very good school, in Assumption-Iloilo. I learned how to deal with other people. I learned to appreciate the hard work of my parents because they do everything just to supply me with my needs. The experience was really great, unforgettable and memorable. After the night sharing, we immediately settled down inside the day care center, laid down our banigs and slept (without having the chance to freshen up, brush my teeth and change my clothes). We slept with water dropping from the roof because it rained. I will never ever forget this experience.

After the immersion, we headed to the Trappist Monastery, just minutes away from Sitio Serum, for our retreat. My experience there was really awesome and full of heavy drama. I spent every single minute with God and I’m really serious about what I’m doing. I learned how to appreciate the silence that filled the whole monastery. I learned to value the love of my family and friends. I discovered the joys and pains of my classmates, as well as of the facilitators, during our moments of sharing and prayer. I knew how to deal with the monks during their Liturgy of the Hours especially during the night prayer or compline. I also realized how tough life would be despite of the laughter outside each personality. With the help of my classmates and facilitators, I learned and become open to the reality. I learned to be strong and brave enough to face my problems and challenges in life. I never knew that it would be somehow, an unforgettable experience that I need to treasure.

On the last night of retreat, we were given the chance to read our palancas. I never expected that many people would give me palancas. I really appreciated their palancas and yes, it really uplifted my spirit and I never knew I was that person that they describe me positively.

As we arrived in school the next day, I never expected that the closing ceremony would be like that. It’s really emotional and again, full of heavy drama. I’m grateful that my mom was there and expressed her feelings as well. I’m happy that I saw my classmates with their parents and I also felt sorry for those parents who were unable to come for their children.

Right now, I’m a happy and a contented person. Yes, I knew myself better and I also discovered some of my abilities. I did not regret that I joined the immersion-retreat. I am doing everything for a reason. I never fail to do my best and I will surely reach for my dreams. I also became closer to my classmates unlike before. I never knew that the immersion-retreat would really change my life for the better. I’m thankful that our school has this activity for the seniors. I went back home with happy memories, a smile in my face and carrying my box of palancas. I really did a job well done.

I just want to thank my family, classmates, friends, teachers, the chairperson, facilitators, the indigenous people (especially Tatay Rodolfo, Nanay Mercelina and family) and the people in Sitio Serum and in the Trappist Monastery. Thank you so much for being part of my immersion-retreat experience. I’m happy that you helped me change my life to a better one and helped me to know myself more than ever. If I could just turn back the time and have an immersion-retreat again, I would really do that. Thank you so much. I will never ever forget you J