JOURNEY TO CANIGAO ISLAND, MATALOM LEYTE

A soundtrack of Marshal Bruce Mathers' (commonly know as Eminem) movie 8 Mile entitled "Lose Yourself" has the line which states " Lose yourself to the Moment...You Own it...You only have One Shot Do not miss a chance to blow...This Opportunity comes once in a lifetime". Just love this line. Every opportunity counts, and we'll never know if it will ever happen again

Going to Leyte, specially to an Island is one Great opportunity. How much more when you go there with less expenses(totally free sa Basko). I realize, "why pay more?"(dili ni pautangan ha)...when all I need is a small amount of money and me being physically ready. But what desires me more to join was the opportunity to share my plans for The graduates of The Sisters of Mary. My ambitions for the success of my alma mater. And being with the best of the Best would surely sharpen my character and would give me strength to go on---and move to another level.

From Opon-Mactan Channel-to Pier 3, (with Ernie) I have all the choices to change my mind. I was thinking of going home. I have an unfinished work (renovating our "kubo" and gamay nga payag). Pero, there was something that was deep within my panumduman that says..."hey, cheer up---you have things more important to do. And there are things you have to embrace. Move on- things are looking great ahead of you".

Well, who am I to say No to a Free ride from Cebu to Leyte and Vice versa. Im not New to travel but it's my first time to travel overnight and my first time to travel for free on a ship. (i had my travel to Japan a year ago for free also).

As what happened, nanakay na dayun mi when everybody arrived and on Board minutes before the vessel's engine sounded and roared like noisy monsters on a dark peaceful night. The trip to Hilongos Leyte in now signing on....

We arrived in the Port of Hilongos Leyte, (the ship dock past 2:00am). But while we were on our way, others take a nap-while others share stories. There were enough Beds downstairs but others enjoy sharing jokes. Grabe daw kasaba. Gipaadjust pa jud ang Aircon bisan ang ubang passengers nagbukot na. But I for one did my best to sleep but my best wasn't good enough. (I was in the upper deck, the lights was about 24inches over me). Grabe kaiinit. Mura jud kog itlog nga himuonong balot o kaha para piso.

Ian and Mykel went down from the Ship...roam around(murag nagsurvey sa ilang barko) and went back. We waited til past 4:00am. Kuya Tims (Ruben) fetch us...Nanglakaw ra mi going to their Mansion. (I like the place. Simple but Amazing. "Dili kaayo gamay, limpyo ug swabe". After settling down, (Nag-unauna jud kog sulod sa kwarto paghawa ni kuya, take a nap) Others follow me minute later while others keep themselves busy. Ang uban kay nagpahiluna jud sa humok ug humot nga sofa.


As I woke up, (with Nagkutoy nga galamhan) found out that Others are preparing for Breakfast. Tinola-. Master Chef (Anggah/Marylie) cooking. C Mae, Sarah, Dred ug Aida ang tig Gulgol sa lamas. (Naa ra ba to'y nanggibot ug Sibuyas sa kaang).But the Tinola was courtesy of Kuya Albert (the speaker). Lami kaau nga pagkaluto in fairness. Pero grabe jud ni Marylie moluto. D best.

After Breakfast, Tigluto ug tighugas has to remain para continue ug cooking. Other's with Handsome Ian has to go ahead. Past 9:00am, everything was ready. Awahi pud ko, with Kuya Tims, Anggah, Dred, Telay, Marianas, Alex, and Mytch. 2 mi ka Taxi from Pontod Gym to terminal. (taxi nga tulo ray ligid--tay way makina, Sikad gamay tas sikad daku)And Niuna was Ian, Mae, Aida, Ernie, Xtine, Sarah, Denis, Mykel, Catherine and Kuya Albert.


We arrived in Matalom, Leyte via a Green Cab past 10:00am. We rode the Ferry...with Amazing view and landed in Canigao Island a bit late but the schedule can be adjusted as we would always did(of course naay picture2x, Mao ra nay butang nga dili mawala. The Island was a perfect place. It has it's own forest, (some trees), some grass and it's sands are simply neat. The Water were crystal clear. (Describe pa jud bisan Perfect na). And the atmosphere was incredible.

In the Island, Nagsugba si Kuya Albert ug Telay atong "Kinhason",(dont remeber the name kay ihalas jud ko anang mga matang sa kalan-on nga naa nagpunsisok sa dagat..Tuway ba to? di pud to tulay kay Bridge man na). I ate one, and that was one delicious seafood bisan ug maingon ta nga tilaw ra jud to. Lunch after. (Paul Artadi of PBA derby ace llamados was there). Ilahas pud ko, picture sad dayun mi.







LTS....LTS...LTS..LTS(dili na "LAAG TAHAY SEMINAR").
It's leadership training Seminar.
That seminar was one of a kind. I mean, i can't share everything detail by detail since everything I learned even from that first project assigned to us can only be understood by people who has the desire to be listen to me for a "date". hehehe. We'll do it, not say it.

1:00pm-5:00pm. We had three Great Projects. I won't elaborate every inch of the activity. But I'll share some of the great things "we" learned from that. First, we discuss about Great Leaders. From Noynoy---Ghandi---Up to Jesus. Of course we take some stops on some names like Fr. AL. We discuss some lessons and we learned a lot. We also discuss Fr. Al's words...that "we are not created to be like Ducks, waddling in the Mud but we are to be Eagles meant to rise above---. (This was the time where we made some "tearful" sharing. (way drama ani pero naa gyuy nagpasahay sa tissue). Others really meant what they shared. Then, We were grouped, we were ask about plans. Draft for the our Alumni. On what we can Do and what to Do first. We were given time to counteract with our group...What are our plans---What's First...---wHat's Basic---What should be the First Step. I mean this was the Time that "great minds work together". This was the time that we came up with one goal, one objective----On single way for the organization. We were ask by kuyaAlbert to illustrate our plans, draft for the Organization. Grabeh akong pamati ani kay dili jud ko kalitok sa ASMSI-cebu. Shy man gud ko plus the fact that wa jud ko'y talent aning ako'y padiskason. Lastly, our project was to make the VERY FIRST Step,- On what we would do first right after the Seminar. Right After maabot mi sa Cebu. We had it all---All for one,...All we want was to have our Organization be Recognized. We want SEC, we want to be standardized. Libog ba? Basta mao nana. Other's are X-files. Little by little amo ra tong ishare sa tanan. But definitely not now. (Basta, ako ni gilibog ning dapita).

Sunset. We carved the current ASMSI-CEBU Logo on the Sand while we were waiting for the Sun to Set. Take Pictures...Clear our Minds for yet another learnings after dinner.

DINNER. Set.

Parliamentary Procedures. Do and Dont's During meeting. This was my first look and my first time to attend a Parliamentary Meeting. I mean being a part of it was amazing. Politically, I had attended sessions but I don't know what and how to call that procedure. DURING which, we tried to discuss the things we learned from our projects late on the afternoon. We draft our goals and Objectives -in Parliamentary way. Although we had only One thing Agreed for a three hour meeting, my guess was that the Only problem "as of the moment" for our Organization was Our CBL or Corporate ByLaws. We need to have it. After which, everything will run smoothly. ....

And this I believe is our first step, to finalize the Bylaws-ratify and deliberate it.

I had my share of ows and ahhs, I did my part. We need to go for it. It's good to have people who understand their principles and stand for it.

On that night, Things has to be brought under the table. After all, we have all one thing in common to reach---unify our organization. Make the Bylaws, Register--Make the Committees, Work for it...Achieve it and Have fun while Doing it. (sige balik).






Sunday morning...Mao japun. Tigluto. Sugba with Marylie and Sarah and Xtine. Napaso ko ani.As of this writing, naa pay pahak akong tudlo. Dagko kaayu ang Fish. Ang uban giun-unan. Paghuman ug kaon- NagActivity na sad. Naay gidrawing nga kaming tanan sakto ug tubag---Pero Sayop sa mi tanan. Btaw, the lesson we get from there was everyone has his/her own idea. Iya na- at the very end, listen and be open minded jud sa mga disisyon ug dapat One in desisyon sab. Then naa na dayun tong Sayaw2x. That's lesson learned pud. With stick on both hands..wow amazing. I learned from that. LEARNED...

SUMMER TIME. Last minute swimming. Wa mi kahuman sa among tahas. Wa namo nadiscuss ang event for the next Homecoming. We came up short. But even if we did came up short--We learned something. We agree for something. Kung unsay angayang unahon asa buhata. Of course dunay mga butang nga wa nahuman, apan among natagamtaman ang tim-os nga kausaban. This will be the New Era of our alumni, what we learn in Canigao will not be wasted. The very first thing we will do will be ......known soon.


Nainit akong ulo sa last minute swimming...waaah, but that's Ok. I enjoy the ambiance and the company. Wa ko naligo kay hadlok ko mabasa. Hehehe...I was just scared of what will happen if maligo ko. Malubog nya.

Way home...There was a beautiful Sunset as we make our way to Superball(private port). And that's a part of how beautiful Canigao Island is. Ops, and there we go, adventure. A situation. One of the Most memorable boat riding. Awesome. But someone has to be guarded and guided. Someone has to close two eyes to transfer from the ferry to a boat. Well, for others who were used to. Nanakay sa Katig. (kung sa yuta pa to, niya naay kabaw- That's should be Balsa.) Well, at last we all make it.

We were fetch by two Cabs. From Matalom, Leyte to Hilongos. It takes less than an hour to travel. A day kung maglakaw.

As usual, cooking for dinner. And as usual- Chefs do their chores.

After Dinner, we had some time to thank our Speaker. Kuya Albert Camay. He was, and will always be a great speaker. Worth the time and effort. Then we take a walk, seaside area going to the Port of Hilongos. I almost couldn't buy some pasalubong. Wasn't prepare of going home. Wa ko kaandam ug enough bill for Leyte's delicasies. "Moron". Dili kompleto ang imong pag-adto sa Leyte if you won't taste it's delicasies.


We boarded, almost late again. That's the bonus of having a sponsor- And the Sponsor was the Owner of the Vessel. Thanks to Robles Shipping Lines for the convenience. Inside the Ship, I happen to have One great experience. An Additional one. Maayo gane kay wala si Ian. (peace). But without Kuya Albert---dili to nako maexperience. So Thanks to Kuya once again. From that experience, I realize...I have to much to learn.

Pero nakatulog jud ko bisan pa man sa kahayahay sa akong pamati. Laliman bay...(ako nato). Basta nice experience sa Barko to xa. Then we arrived in Pier 3 around 2:00am. With some Guys, nanaug mi---Wa nananghid (kay tulog pa sila), nanakay ug taxi---namauli kay duty pa.

Ug didto napupos ang akong "one great journey with fellow ASMSI-cebu Officers".