It was finally MTE's turn for the immersion/retreat of the seniors in Antique. This was personally a 3-day escape, held from Oct. 9 - Oct. 11. Our immersion was in Brgy. Catunggan III in Sibalom and our retreat was in San Jose. Personally, this was indeed very life-changing. It's most life-changing when it comes to my parents - how I view them and how important they are to me. A lot of tears were shed in this wonderful experience but great memories were also made and we'll never forget those because they made MTE much closer to one another.
For our immersion, we slept at the barangay hall. This was where we used our sleeping bags and it was funny because we were literally sticking to each other while sleeping because there's not enough space for everyone. I slept beside Steffi, Cheska, Camille, Shane, and Alyssa. We were still giggling and making chika even though Sr. Lourdes was already telling us to sleep. Earlier that day though, we were partnered up and went to our respective houses with our foster nanays. Monica was my partner and yeah, we had a lot of similarities. We don't eat vegetables, we don't know how to play with kids, we're not used to that kind of life. But we were able to survive everything and we learned so much together. I was shy at first because we're not that close but it was nice being with her. She's very kind and helpful. We had chicken adobo for lunch and corned beef and scrambled egg for dinner. Lucky, right? We helped our nanay wash the dishes after. She has two kids, Christine and Jason, and I can say that Monica and I made them happy. We put effort on how to play and interact with them. I don't like kids but it was nice getting to interact with them again. Monica's not good with them too but she was mostly the one who was playing with them. Cool, right? We had Isza, Camella, Dandi, and Li-an as our neighbors so I became more at ease knowing we were together. The most memorable part of the immersion for me was when I planted rice with Dymphna, Steffi, Mariko, Monica, Sr. Lourdes, and Sir Secular!!! Hahahahaha! I initially didn't want to because I was in socks and shoes but I gave it a go and boy, I will NEVER regret it. The water and mud had actually a soothing feeling to the feet and legs! Plus the fact that I was able to help out, it was amazing! What made everything more fun and more awesome was Dymphna screaming for joy because it was such a dream come true for her. Lol. Later that night, we were asked to share about our experiences and the things we learned plus each growth community had a short performance, whether a song or a dance. Our group danced to Gentleman using the steps for our cheerdance. It was wonderful to hear the "yeeee!" and the claps of my classmates because I was at the front and center. HAH! I was finally able to dance Gentleman in front of people or in front of my classmates for an actual performance! Dream come true? Quite so. It was nice hearing the different experiences of my classmates as well as what the foster nanays had to say about their adopted children for a day. The next morning, we went back to our foster nanay's house and had noodles for breakfast. It was my first time cooking noodles. Lol. Turned out well and the kids liked it! We headed back to the barangay hall around 7am to pack our things and prepare to leave. We had our closing ceremony and then Sir gave us a moment to say goodbye to our nanays and the kids with a very sad background song playing so everything really moved me to tears. Couldn't hold them back because my nanay was also crying and so was my other classmates. It was definitely a different immersion from last year in Passi. My nanay told Monica and I to never forget them because they won't to and they told us that they were really happy. I was, too.
We rode a jeep going to the retreat house in San Jose and we arrived there around 10am. The place had a seminary and the actual house was behind that building. We passed by this eerie-looking bridge where I heard may natuyawan from the other section. When we got off the jeep and went inside the retreat house, we were welcomed by smiling South African nuns. We were asked to go to the session hall to have the opening ceremony and then later on, Sr. announced the people who will be in one room together plus the room number. I was with my partner Monica plus Jevy and Paulene in room 8. The rooms were upstairs and when we got there, I found the hallway really nice but a bit creepy. There was a living room and a balcony overlooking the garden with the eerie-looking bridge. Sadly, room-hopping was not allowed but well, we did, at the right times. We had chicken curry for lunch and when we knew that, we were already expecting that our next meals will also be delicious. After lunch, we were given an hour and a half to sleep and rest and then by 2pm, we went to the chapel to have our confession followed by a mass. The confession lasted for 3 hours. Good thing we were allowed by Sr. Lourdes to sleep in our seats in the chapel while waiting. After the mass, we had dinner. After dinner, we were given time to prepare for a long session slash crying session that started at 8pm. In our first activity, Circles of Love, we were grouped into five and we were assigned to different areas to discuss the following: what we think about each other, each person's concerns in life, and afterwards, sing a song to celebrate. It was quite unfortunate for my group, group 4, to be assigned at the main entrance door. It was nighttime and we could see the bridge from afar. Well, something happened... I wouldn't tell what but yeah, obviously it was something scary. In our second activity, the chairs in the session hall were scattered and we were asked to sit anywhere we like. That was it, that was the moment. That was the moment where so much
tears were shed, where so much pain, guilt, and regret were let out, and
where so much realizations about life and family were acquired. Beforehand, Sir Secular already warned us that it'll be something unusual and heavy so all those who thought they won't be able to handle it well can move to the side with Mrs. Sustiguer and Sr. Lourdes. Sir Secular then asked us to close our eyes, take a deep breath, and listen well. He told us a story about a girl walking down the shores, enjoying the breeze, enjoying the beach and the sunset and then moments later, she went inside a house and from across the room, there was something glowing and the girl got near to it and it was a coffin. That girl walking towards it was us and that girl didn't have any idea who's inside the coffin. Plot twist: that girl was us. That girl was me. I was looking down on my own coffin. I had died. So Sir Secular's point or goal was that he made us experience our own death. He let us imagine our parents, siblings, and friends talking on the podium, giving out a speech, telling the people there how much they loved me, how I lived my life while I was still alive, and how important I was to them. In short, gin pa konsensya nya kami. Very enormous and painful weeps from every corner filled the room at that very moment. It gave me chills because I have never experienced or heard anything like it before. I, too, was weeping, but quietly. Some of my classmates were really screaming while weeping and I felt and understand their grief and sorrow. Another plot twist later in the story: we weren't actually dead. I wasn't actually dead. So that activity was the most life-changing in the retreat for me. Sir Secular's amazing. He's an angel. I was able to realize so many things about life, about my family most especially my parents, and about my friends. I learned that I shouldn't take my mom and my dad for granted because they did and do everything for us. They work so hard for our education as well as to give us a good and comfortable life. My mom carried me for 9 months, struggling, sacrificing, because she loves me and she cares. I would always call and cry for her when I was a baby and at this stage of being a teenager, usually we would just shoo her away because of many reasons. Either we want to be independent, we want to do whatever we want, we're tired of the sermons and the scolding, etc. So I should always put that in mind. I also learned to always appreciate my mom and appreciate her existence so that we won't regret anything in the end. After that activity, we were asked to hug anybody we want to hug as a form of appreciation, gratitude, or reconciliation. I hugged probably almost all of my classmates. That was such a beautiful moment and that was life-changing, too. Another one would be when I came up to Mrs. Sustiguer after hugging everybody and I hugged her so tight and for so long. I kept on telling her how grateful I am to her for everything and how much I love her and she said the same to me. That was very heart-warming. After everything, we were asked to get our palancas and then it was time to read them, yay! It was already around 1:30 in the morning. After that, we were told to go back to our rooms, write a letter to our parents, and then sleep. I slept an hour later pa, around 2:45am because I finished reading all my palancas.
The next day, I woke up to a swollen eye. I swear, it was nearly closing already but well, yeah, it was from all the crying the previous night. I took a bath, changed into our class shirt, and went downstairs to eat breakfast. After eating, we went back upstairs to pack and ready everything so that we'll be ready to leave after lunch. I stayed at the living room with some of my friends and started writing my letter to my mom. I continued it at the session hall downstairs and again, I couldn't hold back my tears so I cried so hard once more. After that, we were given two papers of different colors and were asked to write our joys and sorrows. As much as possible, we should fill i with anything that comes into mind and we did that outside the retreat house. We looked for our own areas to just reflect and jot everything down. When we got back to the session hall, we were asked by Sir Secular to fold the paper of our sorrows, burn it, and say a short prayer. After that activity, it was time for our last session. It was our sharing session, whatever we want to let go and leave behind and what we will bring with us. Only less than ten shared but it lasted for two hours. We listened carefully to our classmates and through the process, we were able to know them better. Our closing ceremony was the happiest! We sang to Bruno Mars' "Today My Life Begins" while putting our arms around each other and swaying from left to right to the beat. We were all smiling and I felt so happy because it felt like we were united at that very moment. We then had a group hug together with Sr. Lourdes and had our pictures taken! Formal, wacky, and even jump shots. How vain. Even our class adviser who's a nun is.
We said goodbye to the South African nuns when we were about to leave and a lot of my classmates even bought wine as pasalubong for their parents. Yep, they were selling wines of different flavors! Cool, right? We hopped onto the bus, same places, and off we went to Iloilo! We dropped by a bandi store in San Joaquin or Miagao, I forgot, and wow, almost all of my classmates bought and they bought A LOT. Really. I bet the vendors were really happy! I then fell asleep and when I woke up, we were already in Oton. My seatmates and I made chika until we were in Mandurriao already, nearing Gen. Luna, nearing the school. When we passed by Assumption, at the road going to Atrium, we just couldn't hold all the feels. We didn't know what to feel! It seemed like we didn't want to go back there yet and we started to miss Antique. Entering the school, all of us suddenly jokingly sobbed because we were so anxious! We dropped our luggage at the Bethany, brought our letters to our parents with us, and proceeded to the MDFT. Going there, of course we met some of our batchmates. It was really good to see them again after two and a half days.
At the MDFT, we anxiously waited for our parents and while doing so, each group during the Circles of Love prepared for a performance for them. Group 4 merged with Group 2 and together we sang "Today My Life Begins" and then two shared about our experiences and learnings during our immersion and retreat. Our parents came with a stem of rose and sat beside us. Only my mom came though, as always and as expected. A few moments later, we were asked to give our letters to our parents and let them read. I was extremely holding back my tears at that moment. I was swaying my feet, playing with the rose, looking around, and then I noticed that my mom was crying. I gave her a really long letter and it touched her so much. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore and so I cried. After she read it, I hugged her so tight and told her "I love you" because I don't normally say that to her and hugging her was a very rare moment. It was emotional yet meaningful. She even volunteered after to share in front of other parents and my classmates. Her face was red from crying, just like me! Lol. She said that I'm a shy type of girl but she was surprised from my letter that was really long. She then told everyone that she's very proud of me and I felt very happy. After that, we were asked to stand up, hold hands, as we sang our closing prayer. And there you have it, the retreat was finally over.
I didn't expect that this post would come out like this because I truly have no words for this experience. Life-changing when it comes to my parents, to life, and to myself. I learned to love my section and I was able to know them more and for that, I am truly very happy. I will always carry the memories I had there in Sibalom and San Jose. Thank you, MTE. Thank you, Sr. Lourdes, Mrs. Sustiguer, Sir Secular, and Sir Martezano. But most of all, thank You, God. I am so thankful for my Assumption education. All this I offer to You for Your greater glory.
Love and gratitude!
