Filipino Time

I got my first experience of what a weekend is like here at Cor Jesu College and to my surprise it is quite busy. They actually have classes on Saturday's and Sunday's here. On Saturday morning I accidentally overslept and happened to miss Mass and Morning Prayer. All the freshmen had to be on campus for an orientation for NSTP, which stands for National Service Training Program. It is a class they have to take in order to graduate in the future. Programs for NSTP include ROTC as well as a literacy program. Even before the orientation began they played Chris Brown's "Forever" and it brought back memories of my time with the FrancisCorp volunteers and the many times we danced to that song. I got up and started to dance and those there really enjoyed it. I like to have fun, but I am also respectful when someone is speaking. I had the hardest time trying to pay attention to the speaker because the students were talking. I guess you can say it is the disciplinarian side of me coming out.

Besides attending the orientation I started to do my work in preparation for the big fiesta here at Cor Jesu. I went by the Campus Ministry Office where I found it packed on a Saturday afternoon. It was the Hummingbirds Liturgical Club rehearsing a piece that they were singing later on that afternoon. Gosh can they sing, I am highly impressed with all the students when they sing. When I hear them sing it really puts me in a meditative mood. I wish I had a CD of them singing. Well like the title says, Filipino time is crazy time. Things here never start on time. The HLC were singing at 4, but actually didn't sing till 4:45. I am learning that I have to be very patient. After that went to the videoke with Br. Poloy and Br. Kokok. This time it was more crowded, but they were happy to see an American there and even if I did bad they would cheer for me. I also went to Mass last night so I can sleep in, which I have the hardest time staying focused. Most of the Masses in the parish are Cebuano, which is the dialect here. I am going to get a book to help me with the translations so I can participate.

Sunday was just a very slow day. Did my laundry in the morning and went to another orientation this evening with Br. Chris and the other group for the work we will be doing this week. I might not be able to join them for everything since I have responsibilities in the Campus Ministry Office, but we will see.