Amazing to the power of 12

Third Sunday of November, 2010. A friend of mine invited me to go to a BIG place that i never visited even once. At no expense, I go with my friend. I can't imagine how would that place looks like. Though it never excites me that much.

Just as we arrived, I can't resist myself to say "Amazing!", as I figured out that all their public vehicles should be painted Green. But I just neglect that thing and never expect for more. As we went to other special places within that big place, I saw a CASTLE-like building. It was so BIG! I just can't help myself from being so astonished. I kept on staring it from the ground to its peak. I kept on roaming around that "castle" and I saw this GIANT Holy Rosary. It was the big place's New Cathedral. Then for the second time, I yell "Amazing!". As we get inside the Cathedral, the ceiling, the vastness of the area, the pictures on the wall, the stained glasses, everything captured my attention. That made me say "Amazing!" for the third time. Our next stop was the big place's Freedom Park. for the fourth time, "Amazing!". I saw these children showering at the same time having fun in the fountain.

As we walk along, the big place's pride, I saw it for the first time. It was the GIANT Christmas Tree. No doubt, it was really a giant. For the fifth time, "Amazing!". The Rotary Park was where we go next. The Sandy Volleyball court made me say "Amazing!" for the sixth time. I look around and I noticed these colored circular chairs. "Amazing!" for the seventh time. I can't believe that the big place's authorities had initiated to construct those ones. For the next place where we will be going, I expect too much from that. As we were there already, "Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!". Everything was more than too much of my expectations. The statues of saints and angels, the chandeliers, the little chapels and some wood carvings, they made me all mesmerized and say "Amazing!" for the eighth time. I just can't believe that I have been kind of Cathedral.


Taking a tour around the Cathedral, I saw those devotees doing dances in front of the statues. It was their belief. It has to do with their faith. Their faithfulness, made me say "Amazing!" for the ninth time. As we went back to the Freedom Park waiting for something, I saw that vendor playing this flying-lighting toy. He threw it in the air for the tenth time, "Amazing!". I was so "child-like" to be amazed that much. One more thing, I ate "kwek-kwek". But extraiordinarily, it was this "kwek-kwek" with 21 days old "balut" added with some seaweeds, cucumber and pineapple. for the eleventh time, "Amazing!".

And what I waited for so long, it was already there. The Giant Christmas Tree was very sparkling, very glaring, very pleasing to my eyes. For the twelfth time, I yelled loudly, "Amazing!". The red, green, blue and gold Christmas lights made my Third Sunday of November, 2010 in TAGUM CITY very "Amazing!"



I just can't wait for some other times where I can say more than twelve times the word "Amazing!" as I travel farther. :)

"I learned something new today"

In every single day that we live, it is very fulfilling whenever we can utter these words as we end another 24 hours of our life. In every single day that we exist, it is very pleasing how we make the most of the 1440 hours of our life. In every single day that we survive, it is very heartwarming that we had able to surpass the 86 400 seconds of difficulties in our life. In every single day that we breathe, it is very gratifying that God has given us another chance to improve ourselves to the best that we can.

Today, November 19, 2010, I attended a meeting for Project Proposals for SICO in cooperation with the Campus Clubs Organization. Honestly, I should have not been there. The Cluster heads of SICO are the ones who should be attending the meeting. Unfortunately, our cluster head is busy and no one can attend the meeting. And I guess, as part of our cluster, it is also my duty to represent our cluster whenever I have to.

When the meeting is about to start, I was so shocked at the same time so frightened. Why? 15 people should be attending the meeting and there are only 7 of us there. And I was the only second year student present. I am with our Coordinator together with the older SICO volunteers, not just older volunteers but they are the students that most of the Ateneans are expecting too much from them.

As we go on, it is very rewarding that I was able to get along with them. I tried to share some of my thoughts and I made it. But one important thing that happened during the meeting is that, I have learned so many things especially from our Coordinator. And I never let myself to miss this opportunity to learn. I jutted down essential ideas that I heard.

“Some of us are used of Messianic way of doing our tasks, but we should learn to DELEGATE”

“There’s no I in team”

Make every work SSS: “Short, Simple and Smart”

“Sometimes, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel; you just have to modify it.”

“Do I make everything crystal? Answer: CLEAR. [It is just a fun way of clearing things out.]

Lastly, what our Coordinator said later that meeting had remained for so long in my mind,

“I learned something new today”

Walk, carry, wipe, carry, walk

For already a year and a half of my stay here in Ateneo, there has been no single class day that I alone or together with my classmates and friends don't go to food court to buy food or something to drink, to eat or to just sit down and wait for our next class. I guess almost three-fourths of the population of the whole Ateneo community are having their meals at the food court. As a student and customer, I have noticed a number of good, industrious and I think well-trained men in white polo shirts with their hair netted. It is so amazing how they moved so fast to get the used plates, spoons and forks, and all the garbages left at the table. Right after, they wipe the table to remove all the leftovers with their most powerful weapon, the towel. Then, they bring all the used utensils to the dish washing area to be cleaned up. Done! Another table again and again and again. Is it so tiring? Walk, carry, wipe, carry, walk.

Many would say “It is their choice. They choose to do it to have money.” As an Atenean, weren't we should have concern for them? Where is that “Cura Personalis” that every Atenean is noted to have possessed? For boastful some, “They are just utility men, let them do it by their own.”

Ateneans, aren't you have feet to walk? Aren't you have hands to use them? Aren't you have mouth to say the words “Please” and “Thank you”?

Good thing that at the start of this second semester, the administration had decided to place carts in every post in the food court for the students to bring their used utensils there, so that the utility men would not have a hard time to pick, carry, wipe and walk in every table.

At first, I noticed that many of the students are shy of bringing their utensils into the cart but later on, when started by one, the rest had followed. It is very heartwarming to know that in a simple thing of bringing your used utensils into the cart, it has been a very big thing to the utility men. It has been a big help that you have done.

We are blessed that we are not disabled persons. We are capable of using our body parts at its most and take advantage of it. Use your feet to walk, use your hands to carry your utensils, use your mouth to say “Please” if you want your table be cleaned by someone and “Thank you” when your table is cleaned. Let us keep the “Cura Personalis” within the spirit of every Atenean. Let's start to make a positive difference. Helping others is something that we should not be shy of, instead it is something that we should be proud of because we have able to do it. And most especially, we have lighten up the work of those good, industrious and well-trained men in white polo shirt with their hair netted.