b a g u i o 2006
You know what, I have so many things to be thankful for to the Lord. My faith has never been this stronger, my life has never been so happy and I never felt so contented as what I’m feeling right now. I know this would be a super long blog entry for me because I want to share everything that I’m feeling right now. I want everybody who’d read this would be inspired and you know in a way feel my emotions. (Good thing is I’m writing this one at home, because if I’ll do this in the office, for sure I wouldn’t accomplish anything for the day. Hehehe!)
So, where will I start? Hmm… Let me see..
Last Thursday, February 9, me and my other Singles for Christ brothers and sisters left for Baguio because we’ll be attending a three-day International Leadership Conference. We were all excited because 25 of us were able to join, which means for sure it would be a super fun experience, not to mention the fact that I’ll be with my friends and I can take a rest and enjoy myself there. So all in all, we rode in two vans. We rented a house, which was 15 minutes away from Baguio City. We left Manila at exactly 12:30am and we arrived in Baguio at 6:30am. When we got there, it was super cold na talaga. I can’t stop my chin from shivering. So, we rested for a while, organized ourselves in our rooms and took some sleep. The house was nice, it has an attic, plus two rooms at the 2nd floor, plus three bathrooms. The boys stayed in the attic and 6 of us girls stayed in the master’s bedroom. Diba, sosyal! Hehehe!
After taking some sleep, we had our brunch in SM Baguio. And after that we had a time off since the conference will start in the evening pa naman. So, our first stop was to go the “ukay-ukay!” But because of time constraints, we’ve decided to go through our next itinerary because if we’ll shop there for sure wala na kameng mapupuntahang iba. Next stop was Mines View Park. Super dami naming pictures, and I can’t wait to see them in print! Super lamig that time, so we were all wearing our jackets. Hahaha! Mukha talaga kameng mga turista. After that we went to The Mansion, that was my first time to go there because the last time we went to Baguio it was always raining that’s why we weren’t able to tour around. I’m sure my friend Gem super enjoyed her trip because it was her first time to go to Baguio. Next stop, we went to this garden in front of The Mansion. So, after touring some of those spots, we went to the palengke to buy some pasalubong. Of course I bought the usual pasalubongs, lenggua de gato, chocolate flakes, sundot kulangot, and peanut brittle. And then after that we went back to SM Baguio because that was our meeting place. We have to go home first and take a bath because the conference will start at 5:30pm.
The conference was held at the Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park. When we got there, there were so many people. They told us that the total number of delegates was at more or less 6,200, which they also said was the most number of participants ever for an ILC. The crowd was overwhelming! Everyone will smile at you even if you don’t really know him or her. So we chose our place first, we made latag our banigs that we bought in the palengke, and then the opening worship started. Everybody was participating in the worship, everybody was praying, and everybody was attentively singing the songs. By the way, our chapter has our own flag that’s why it was easy for people to see us and to recognize where we came from. That night, February 10, marked the opening of the ILC. It was super cold that night, I can’t stop myself from shivering. All of us who were seated in our mats were all so close together just to keep ourselves warm. Unlucky enough for me I lost my cap because I accidentally misplaced it. The talk that speaker delivered was really nice, though at first we weren’t really that listening to him. The stories of the sharers were also touching. And after that the praise fest followed. We were so overwhelmed with the prayers and the song and we weren’t able to stop ourselves from crying because of realizing God’s power and blessings. We hugged each other so tightly and we continued praising the Lord. After that first night, we went to this gotohan, but because of tiredness, I preferred to stay in the van and sleep. When we got back to our house, we did our evening rituals. And had a bit of a drinking session to keep ourselves warm.
2nd day, February 11, call time was supposedly at 6:00am but everybody was still sleeping. Pagod eh! Those who participated in the workshops left early and us who are not participants left the house before lunch. So we still had the time to sleep. Hehehe! Our breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served in the conference that’s why we have to be there to get that. So after eating lunch, since we’ll not be doing anything yet in the conference, we’ve decided to tour around the city again. Yey! First stop was at the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto. They said that it would take you 200+ steps before you get to the grotto. But because of time constraints again, we started going up from the middle, so we took a short cut. When I got there, I felt so blessed and thankful. I lifted to her (Mama Mary) all my concerns, all my worries, my family, my friends, my career, and of course myself. I was having a bad cold that time because of the weather in Baguio, but when I got there and prayed to her, I felt so light. Parang I got healed already. Apparently, that day was the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes and that she’s the patron for those people who are sick.
Next stop, we’ve decided to go to the Ruins of the Diplomat Hotel, it’s the hotel that was featured in Nginiiig because apparently there were a lot of spirits who roam there. It was an eerie feeling. We were joking and fooling around but of course on the back of our heads we were a bit afraid. Hehehe! We also took a lot of pictures, and we were making takutan that what if something would appear in the picture?!!! Hehehe! Next stop, we went to the Philippine Military Academy, of course we took some pictures and then we went back to Burnham Park because there will be an anticipated mass. After the mass, dinner was served, and the 2nd talk started. It was so cold that night, I had to wear two jackets, and good thing my friend lent me his cap. But it got colder and colder and I can’t stop myself from shivering. I leaned over to my friend gem and she noticed that I was shivering. So she told our other kasamas that I was shaking na, and that time pa naman I was having a slight fever with colds. I was so touched by their actions because they offered me all their jackets, so I was like a lumpia there. I was covered by a blanket and by 3 thick jackets. And I really thank them for that. Super umiyak talaga ako that night kasi ndi ko na kaya un lamig. Haay! Forever iyakin talaga ko! Hehehe!
The 3rd talk started and after that there was a party. So had a big circle and everybody has to dance in the middle. Super saya un kc even the other people from the other chapter joined us. After that we took some group pictures and then went home. Xempre, inuman na naman. We had a bit of jamming and ended the session at 3:00am.
3rd day, February 12. We woke up at 6:00am but decided to sleep ulet. Hehehe! Pasaway talaga! We left the house at 9:30am just in time for the final talk. It was so hot naman that time, morning kc eh. Nakabilad kame sa araw. They were joking me nga eh. Sabi nila, “oh si Pia, giniginaw na naman! Bigyan nyo ng jacket or balutin na natin sa plastic!” hehehe! Eh super init nga talaga, we have to cover ourselves with a black trash bag (xempre un ndi pa gamit ha!), and we were joking na para kameng nasa GK site. Basta, super funny talaga! And after that all of us were sun burnt. Super red un faces namin. Hehehe! Para tuloy kameng nagbeach.
After the last praise fest and after having lunch, we went to the palengke to buy the other pasalubongs and the vegetables as well. Super mura ng gulay dun. And because of the super dami ng tao, I felt dizzy, gem has to be by my side lagi to make me alalay. They were the ones who also brought my things kc nga nahihilo ako. Bait talaga nila! Tapos since most of the people in the palengke were all SFCs, my friend shouted the single’s chant: “God is good, all the time!” and everybody responded to it. The tinderas in the palengke were all amazed that almost everybody in the palengke responded to it. That again for me was overwhelming. When we got back to the house, we packed our already and took our last set of kulitan group pictures. Before we left the house, we prayed first for our safety and to thank the Lord for the time and for the chance to be part of that wonderful experience.
But here’s the catch, since we bough too many pasalubongs, we have to not ride the vans because it will have a hard time na umakyat. Kc naman most of the roads there were paakyat. We took the stairs up, so all in all it was 192 steps. So imagine our hingal! Argh! Parang nalaglag un lungs ko sa likod! Hehehe! But it was super fun though kc everytime we have to rest to make habol our hininga, we took pictures. Hehehe! Pose ever pa din kame.
During our trip back home, everybody was quiet kc pagod eh. Everybody slept lang. We had dinner at Chowking in Capas, Tarlac and I think that the Chowking people were amazed because most of the SFCs had their dinner there also. We arrived here in Manila at 12:15am.
It was a super fun trip. I enjoyed every moment though there were some issues at the beginning. I’ve learned a lot from it and a lot of new friendships were developed. And I think because of this experience, I’ve become a better person, more faithful and stronger.
And I just want to share that I have the ANSWER already. If you’ve read my last blog entry you can relate to this. I think one of the reasons why I enjoyed my trip in Baguio was because I wasn’t thinking and I wasn’t worrying too much about the situation of me and my best bud. I actually prayed for it, and now I have the answer already. I think the reason why I was confused before was because of over analyzing and expecting things. But now, I’m happy to say that I’ve moved on. I already know where I stand, I know what my feelings are. I’ve learned to let go and I’ve decided to just nurture the friendship, which I think is the most important. I should be thankful because he’s my friend, not just a friend, but my best bud. I know and I believe that God is preparing the right guy for me. He may not be here right now, but I know in God’s time, and with God’s blessings sooner or later I know I would cross the path that me and my GG (God’s Gift) will meet each other and from there everything will follow.
So to end this super long blog entry, I’d say “The best is yet to come.” We have to be thankful for everything that God has given us. Have faith.
“God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! God is where? Everywhere! Everywhere? God is there!”
posted by p-i-a @ 5:29 PM
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