Well time has arrived and I can't believe. I leave tomorrow! Once I am back in the states I will update everyone on how my last few days here in the Philippines were spent.
God Bless!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Bring on the tears...
Yesterday was my last day to be with the regular colleges students as well as the Basic Education Department. So I took the time to go and visit each of the Basic Education classes and thank them for making me feel so welcomed here. The first class I went to I was fine, nothing wrong. It wasn't until I went and visited one of the freshman classes that I began to cry. Madame Rose in the student development center has a niece that is a freshman. She is probably the only student that I have any kind of interaction with in the SDC. She came up to me and just began to cry and that made me start crying. The rest of the classroom visits were really hard. The students were all very supportive, telling me that they love me and that they will miss you. I will definitely miss them all as well.
Part of the intramural's was an acrobatic show. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't think I have ever been to an acrobatic show. Most of the guys that were in the show probably had some kind of gymnastics training. The strength they had was incredible. I had to hold my breath in certain situations because I was afraid that they could possibly fall, but come on they are experts. At times they were accidentally screwed up on purpose to make the crowd laugh. It was a very fun show, I also got to see tight rope walking, never have seen that before. After the show I did go backstage and thanked them all for the show. Kind of glad I was able to experience this before I left.
Last night was the night that I said goodbye to the college community. I thought I was going to be emotional, but I wasn't. I was actually stronger talking to them then I thought. I got from a group of students "We love you Brother Kevin", which I greatly appreciated. Other than that it was a great night with some great entertainment by the students. I am really going to miss this place.
Part of the intramural's was an acrobatic show. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't think I have ever been to an acrobatic show. Most of the guys that were in the show probably had some kind of gymnastics training. The strength they had was incredible. I had to hold my breath in certain situations because I was afraid that they could possibly fall, but come on they are experts. At times they were accidentally screwed up on purpose to make the crowd laugh. It was a very fun show, I also got to see tight rope walking, never have seen that before. After the show I did go backstage and thanked them all for the show. Kind of glad I was able to experience this before I left.
Last night was the night that I said goodbye to the college community. I thought I was going to be emotional, but I wasn't. I was actually stronger talking to them then I thought. I got from a group of students "We love you Brother Kevin", which I greatly appreciated. Other than that it was a great night with some great entertainment by the students. I am really going to miss this place.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
5 days...
So I only have 5 more days here in the Philippines and I am getting sad about having to leave these people and head back to the states, however, I am ready to be back.
The intramurals go on all day. No lie, I didn't get to bed till after midnight last night because we had the singing competition, which I was one of the judges as well as the search for mr. and mrs. intramural. It was just so long and tiring. One of the other judges said he was bored. However, before the events even started the judges and I all had fun in the conference room just talking about random things. One of the judges was my age, so we hit it off making jokes.
Even today all I went to was different intramural events. However, I also got to watch the boys and girls varsity volleyball actually compete. Cor Jesu won of course. It is always fun with students. I put one of the badminton players on my shoulders and ran around the gym. Tonight was the dance night, which had a lot of really impressive dance styles. I really enjoyed them all especially the Filipino cultural dances. Then they had ballroom dancing, only two pairs participated, but it was really obvious who the better pair was.
Tomorrow is my last day of being at the school with all the students that come during the week. So a lot of my goodbyes will come tomorrow, I just hope I don't get really emotional with all of it.
The intramurals go on all day. No lie, I didn't get to bed till after midnight last night because we had the singing competition, which I was one of the judges as well as the search for mr. and mrs. intramural. It was just so long and tiring. One of the other judges said he was bored. However, before the events even started the judges and I all had fun in the conference room just talking about random things. One of the judges was my age, so we hit it off making jokes.
Even today all I went to was different intramural events. However, I also got to watch the boys and girls varsity volleyball actually compete. Cor Jesu won of course. It is always fun with students. I put one of the badminton players on my shoulders and ran around the gym. Tonight was the dance night, which had a lot of really impressive dance styles. I really enjoyed them all especially the Filipino cultural dances. Then they had ballroom dancing, only two pairs participated, but it was really obvious who the better pair was.
Tomorrow is my last day of being at the school with all the students that come during the week. So a lot of my goodbyes will come tomorrow, I just hope I don't get really emotional with all of it.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Intramurals
Well today began the annual intramural competition here at Cor Jesu College which will take place the rest of the week. I am really happy that I am here to experience this event that has been apart of the tradition here at the school. Like all big events, the day started off with a Mass with the College. Br. Roger's brother who is a Missionary of the Sacred Heart was the celebrant of the Mass. My hopes was that the music was going to be the same as it has been at all the past Masses because I was going to record the music, but unfortunately it wasn't. So the music they usually sing will just have to be a memory in my head.
After Mass there was a ceremonial torch lightning as well as a race of the different divisions to hang there flags by the torch. Br. Roger, myself, and the president of the student government raced ourselves. I was really trying to race and I was running really fast too and holding on to Br. Roger, by the way we were both in our cassocks racing. At the very end I trip and tumble and slide on the grass and when I got up my first reaction was, oh no my cassock. Let's just say there was a pretty grass and mud stain on it. Lucky enough the lady that washes clothes here was around and took care of it for me.
My next project was to get pictures developed as a remembrance for some people. I have been getting asked to leave something for people or they ask me for a remembrance, so I decided to give them pictures that we are in together. I went and had them developed and have already begun passing them out.
There was also a parade through Digos that was put on by the college. I got to sit on the back of the truck that last years king and queen of the intramurals rode on. It was cool. Really cool street performances by the students of the college and the different divisions and unfortunately my camera batteries died so everything else that went on I missed it.
Also had my last meeting with the Campus Ministry Office staff and it was very positive. I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have had with them and the lessons that they taught me, which I am truly thankful. I am going to miss them, but they have really helped me grow.
Tonight was the cheer-dance competition and was it amazing. I really got to see the creativity of the students hard work put into action. I wish I was able to take pictures of it, but there were some incredible performances.
As you can see a lot went on today!
After Mass there was a ceremonial torch lightning as well as a race of the different divisions to hang there flags by the torch. Br. Roger, myself, and the president of the student government raced ourselves. I was really trying to race and I was running really fast too and holding on to Br. Roger, by the way we were both in our cassocks racing. At the very end I trip and tumble and slide on the grass and when I got up my first reaction was, oh no my cassock. Let's just say there was a pretty grass and mud stain on it. Lucky enough the lady that washes clothes here was around and took care of it for me.
My next project was to get pictures developed as a remembrance for some people. I have been getting asked to leave something for people or they ask me for a remembrance, so I decided to give them pictures that we are in together. I went and had them developed and have already begun passing them out.
There was also a parade through Digos that was put on by the college. I got to sit on the back of the truck that last years king and queen of the intramurals rode on. It was cool. Really cool street performances by the students of the college and the different divisions and unfortunately my camera batteries died so everything else that went on I missed it.
Also had my last meeting with the Campus Ministry Office staff and it was very positive. I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have had with them and the lessons that they taught me, which I am truly thankful. I am going to miss them, but they have really helped me grow.
Tonight was the cheer-dance competition and was it amazing. I really got to see the creativity of the students hard work put into action. I wish I was able to take pictures of it, but there were some incredible performances.
As you can see a lot went on today!
Monday, August 23, 2010
One week...
I hate to say this, but I only have one week left here in the Philippines. I don't want to think about it because when I do it makes me really sad. I just hope one day I can come back here. As I type this I am actually in tears because of my adopted sister here and the powerful words she is telling me. She says, "3 months seemed too short for the joy you've bring." In those words I feel like God is speaking to me and that this is what I need to do with my life. I need to be strong.
I had a great experience staying with the Benedictine monks at St. Benedict Monastery. I really enjoyed visiting with some of them and establishing friendships that will last a long time. Awesome group of guys! Even though my time with them was so great, after I left them, things sort of went down hill. Let's just say somebody here at the school butted there nose into the Brothers business regarding me and really made me frustrated. She was crossing boundaries that shouldn't be crossed. However, the day got better when I was in Davao, went to the Mall, went to Holy Cross of Davao College to support some of our students in competitions they were in, and finally back to the mall to visit with Janette and Leslie. We went to a pier and saw a giant golden statue of David and ate some really good food. I really have enjoyed their generosity and hospitality to me since I have been here. The quote up above is from her. Gosh I am going to miss them very much.
Well today was another trip to Davao to do some souvenir shopping. I got some great stuff for some of my family members. I hope they like it. I also had a frappuccino today from this coffee shop, it was really good. I made it back to Digos just in time to catch the blessing and Mass in the new Basic Education Department building where all the offices are and the faculty room. It is a really nice building.
Well tomorrow starts the intramurals, should be fun!
I had a great experience staying with the Benedictine monks at St. Benedict Monastery. I really enjoyed visiting with some of them and establishing friendships that will last a long time. Awesome group of guys! Even though my time with them was so great, after I left them, things sort of went down hill. Let's just say somebody here at the school butted there nose into the Brothers business regarding me and really made me frustrated. She was crossing boundaries that shouldn't be crossed. However, the day got better when I was in Davao, went to the Mall, went to Holy Cross of Davao College to support some of our students in competitions they were in, and finally back to the mall to visit with Janette and Leslie. We went to a pier and saw a giant golden statue of David and ate some really good food. I really have enjoyed their generosity and hospitality to me since I have been here. The quote up above is from her. Gosh I am going to miss them very much.
Well today was another trip to Davao to do some souvenir shopping. I got some great stuff for some of my family members. I hope they like it. I also had a frappuccino today from this coffee shop, it was really good. I made it back to Digos just in time to catch the blessing and Mass in the new Basic Education Department building where all the offices are and the faculty room. It is a really nice building.
Well tomorrow starts the intramurals, should be fun!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Eden Park and the Philippine Eagle
I was finally able to attend Eden Park and to visit the Philippine Eagle. Eden Park is a nature park that is on top of one of the mountains here in Davao. The views from Eden Park were incredible. Really saw the beauty of God's creation there. The first thing we did at Eden Park is we received a 45 minute tour of the entire park. We had a really nice tour guide named Emilee and I think she really enjoyed being our tour guide. At different locations we were able to get out to take pictures. We got to visit an amphitheater covered in grass with beautiful trees and flowers, then another with the city in the distance where we got to visit a wishing well and a statue of a caribou, then we finally to see some Filipino music being played for us and I got to participate in it. It was really nice. After the tour we went and had a buffet lunch, but before that I took a ride on a little land zipline, which was fun. After lunch Br. Dan and I got to fish in a tilapia farm. I have discovered that I really suck at fishing and have always sucked at fishing. I think I have caught less than 5 fish in my entire life. However, that kind of increased yesterday. I caught either 4 or 5 to Br. Dan's 9 fishes. So I am not patient when it comes to fishing. Then after we fished I finally got to do what they said that I could do. I got to zipline! At first I was not nervous, but as I was climbing the stairs to the top of the platform my nerves starting to kick in. Once the guy had me sit in the position, my nerves were gone and off I went. It was so much fun. when I was getting close to the bottom I started to freak out about how I was going to stop. Their is a break already on the line and it kind of throws you, but it was fun. Even though it was short, I want to do it again.
After Eden Park we went to see the Philippine Eagle, which is endangered. Where the Philippine Eagle is located is a nature reserve, so they have more than just the eagle at the place. When you first walk into the location, there are numerous booths selling souvenirs and they are trying to sell them like crazy. What attracted me when I first got into the park were the python snakes that I saw. First I saw, two smaller pythons and I got to hold them both at the same time. Now I wasn't nervous holding them, what made me nervous was when the snakes face kind of got close to mine. After the first visit with those two snakes, we see two more pythons that were a lot larger and sure enough I was able to hold both of them as well. Gosh were they heavy. Other than that I was able to see other types of eagles, but really enjoyed seeing the Philippine Eagle. I also got to see a crocodile and a bunch of monkeys. I also got to pet a baby deer.
It was really my last big adventure here in the Philippines and it was a great last trip.
Tonight I will be going to stay at the Benedictine Monastery here in Digos and I am really excited about it. I need some time for myself. I am kind of hoping to get some kind of break when I get back to the states.
I tried uploading pictures, but for some reason they aren't showing any photos.
After Eden Park we went to see the Philippine Eagle, which is endangered. Where the Philippine Eagle is located is a nature reserve, so they have more than just the eagle at the place. When you first walk into the location, there are numerous booths selling souvenirs and they are trying to sell them like crazy. What attracted me when I first got into the park were the python snakes that I saw. First I saw, two smaller pythons and I got to hold them both at the same time. Now I wasn't nervous holding them, what made me nervous was when the snakes face kind of got close to mine. After the first visit with those two snakes, we see two more pythons that were a lot larger and sure enough I was able to hold both of them as well. Gosh were they heavy. Other than that I was able to see other types of eagles, but really enjoyed seeing the Philippine Eagle. I also got to see a crocodile and a bunch of monkeys. I also got to pet a baby deer.
It was really my last big adventure here in the Philippines and it was a great last trip.
Tonight I will be going to stay at the Benedictine Monastery here in Digos and I am really excited about it. I need some time for myself. I am kind of hoping to get some kind of break when I get back to the states.
I tried uploading pictures, but for some reason they aren't showing any photos.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Late Night
So I was out way too late last night to put a blog together, so this one is for the past two days.
Yesterday I continued on with the Br. Polycarp Foundation to another school in the feeding program. This school seemed to be bigger than the other two schools that I had previously been too. First location that Ninoy took me to was where the ladies were going to be cooking. It was outdoors, but connected to the schools canteen. As the ladies were starting to cook, I helped the canteen ladies out by assisting them. The bananas that were in front me sold out because I secretly think all the students wanted to buy them because I was right there. After the lunch was ready we headed to where the students would be eating there lunch. Since we had some time before that I walked around the school and visited with some of the children, which is always fun. As part of the process with Ninoy we are taking pictures of the students that are being fed through the program. However, I was taken back when I saw that one of the students in the first grade was the same age as me. I was not sure if this was an error, but it was the truth. I don't know why, but I felt really bad about him being in a class with 7 and 8 year olds. Come to find out he was in the hospital a lot when he was younger and he is a very slow learner. The students enjoyed there lunches and I was glad I was able to witness the process. I am also amazed at the dedication of the parents to the program. It really goes to show there love for there children in participating in the program.
Last night I went to the funeral home for the girl that died here. We had a Mass there and it was really nice. One of the Hummingbirds and I sang the responsorial psalm, which was "shepherd me O God". I love that psalm. Afterwards I almost drove my first motorcycle, but decided not to do it because I would want to practice in a field first.
With intramurals coming up next week here, groups are slowly perfecting there cheer dances. However, one of the rules that they are given is not to hire a trainer. So Br. Roger goes out periodically to check on different practices to make sure that the rules are being followed. Well I went with him last night and the first group we went to was busted. I actually felt really bad for the students because they had broken a confidentiality agreement that said they wouldn't hire a trainer and they did, plus we have pictures as a proof. Interesting to see what Br. Roger might do to the group, will he let them perform or ban them from performing. After we did some more stake outs we went and had some drinks with Jo Jo. We ended up staying out till almost 2 a.m. I was pretty exhausted this morning and didn't wake up. Let's just say I am going to sleep good tonight.
Today was my last day to travel with the Br. Polycarp Foundation. The school we went to today was down the road from the Power campus. What was different about today was that there were no parents there yet when Ninoy and I had arrived. I don't want to say that I was worried, but I wasn't sure what time they were going to come or if they were coming at all. The principal told us that the day before, none of the parents had shown up. However, before Ninoy and I started to help with what we could, the principal showed us around the school and I got to visit some of the classes, which was a lot of fun. I really liked the energy of some of the students there. After the tour, Ninoy and I began to help taking the leaves off of a vegetable for the meal. Slowly, but surely the parents started to show up and the feast was now in the process of being made. I was happy that I was able to contribute with what I could. One of the parents did say that in the three weeks that they have been doing this, her daughter has gained some weight exactly what the program is setting out to do to increase the weight of the children. So I was really happy to hear that it was working. I felt that this experience with the Br. Polycarp Foundation has opened up my eyes to some of the needs of the children here especially in regards to nutrition. If I ever come back to the Philippines, I want to work with the Br. Polycarp Foundation.
Yesterday I continued on with the Br. Polycarp Foundation to another school in the feeding program. This school seemed to be bigger than the other two schools that I had previously been too. First location that Ninoy took me to was where the ladies were going to be cooking. It was outdoors, but connected to the schools canteen. As the ladies were starting to cook, I helped the canteen ladies out by assisting them. The bananas that were in front me sold out because I secretly think all the students wanted to buy them because I was right there. After the lunch was ready we headed to where the students would be eating there lunch. Since we had some time before that I walked around the school and visited with some of the children, which is always fun. As part of the process with Ninoy we are taking pictures of the students that are being fed through the program. However, I was taken back when I saw that one of the students in the first grade was the same age as me. I was not sure if this was an error, but it was the truth. I don't know why, but I felt really bad about him being in a class with 7 and 8 year olds. Come to find out he was in the hospital a lot when he was younger and he is a very slow learner. The students enjoyed there lunches and I was glad I was able to witness the process. I am also amazed at the dedication of the parents to the program. It really goes to show there love for there children in participating in the program.
Last night I went to the funeral home for the girl that died here. We had a Mass there and it was really nice. One of the Hummingbirds and I sang the responsorial psalm, which was "shepherd me O God". I love that psalm. Afterwards I almost drove my first motorcycle, but decided not to do it because I would want to practice in a field first.
With intramurals coming up next week here, groups are slowly perfecting there cheer dances. However, one of the rules that they are given is not to hire a trainer. So Br. Roger goes out periodically to check on different practices to make sure that the rules are being followed. Well I went with him last night and the first group we went to was busted. I actually felt really bad for the students because they had broken a confidentiality agreement that said they wouldn't hire a trainer and they did, plus we have pictures as a proof. Interesting to see what Br. Roger might do to the group, will he let them perform or ban them from performing. After we did some more stake outs we went and had some drinks with Jo Jo. We ended up staying out till almost 2 a.m. I was pretty exhausted this morning and didn't wake up. Let's just say I am going to sleep good tonight.
Today was my last day to travel with the Br. Polycarp Foundation. The school we went to today was down the road from the Power campus. What was different about today was that there were no parents there yet when Ninoy and I had arrived. I don't want to say that I was worried, but I wasn't sure what time they were going to come or if they were coming at all. The principal told us that the day before, none of the parents had shown up. However, before Ninoy and I started to help with what we could, the principal showed us around the school and I got to visit some of the classes, which was a lot of fun. I really liked the energy of some of the students there. After the tour, Ninoy and I began to help taking the leaves off of a vegetable for the meal. Slowly, but surely the parents started to show up and the feast was now in the process of being made. I was happy that I was able to contribute with what I could. One of the parents did say that in the three weeks that they have been doing this, her daughter has gained some weight exactly what the program is setting out to do to increase the weight of the children. So I was really happy to hear that it was working. I felt that this experience with the Br. Polycarp Foundation has opened up my eyes to some of the needs of the children here especially in regards to nutrition. If I ever come back to the Philippines, I want to work with the Br. Polycarp Foundation.
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