A Purposeful Solitude
What comes first into your mind when you hear the words “low bat” or “battery empty”? Gotchaa! It’s cellphone, right? And out of nowhere, you’ll hear a colleague or a friend pleading “charger puhhleeaassee!” hehehe! Well, just like us, we do experience being “low bat” and all. Think of those daily pressures at work, family problems, financial concerns, etc. etc… and you’ll be completely burned out! And if stress and pressure seemed to kill us, we immediately want something to relieve us... a battery charger that is. Thus, we need some time to withdraw from our everyday business and family worries, a time to reflect and get a fresh slant of life, a time for solitude, a time for prayer… a time for God alone. Now, what comes first into your mind? A retreat… I know it!
Last weekend (April 22-23, 2006), me and my bestfriend Grethel had a soulful personal retreat at the Benedictine Monastery of the Transfiguration at our beloved hometown Malaybalay. We really did set a schedule for it amidst our busy lives in the corporate world. Grethel still had some pending projects at work, and I, too, had bulk of works at hand, but we took time setting aside those concerns, and be relieved from such burden at once. Whew!
It was a fresh start of the day when we arrived at the Old Monastery that Saturday morning. We were welcomed by
the hospitable staffs of the guesthouse, Melvin and Ella. The place was so peaceful and quiet indeed! We haven’t started with the retreat proper yet, but we can already feel the enigmatic presence of God closely looking over us from above. The scenic view of the surroundings hadn’t escaped from our sights too! Around the monastery sprawl coffee plantations, fields of grain and fine orchards -- mute witnesses of the monks' dedication to their motto, "Ora et labora " (Pray and work). Right in the middle of the monastic grounds towers a gem of a modern church, the architect's vision of a silent prayer to God. The reverent silence that envelops the monastery throughout the day is broken only by the merry chirping of the birds and the gentle swaying of the tree branches being blown by the cold winds. Whew! Such a breathtaking scenery indeed! Enjoying one’s gaze through this wonderful manifestation of God’s abundant blessing is already a form of “retreat” itself.
After a series of prayer sessions and reflections, (and a couple of breaks), we headed down to the New Monastery. No transpo this time, we hiked the 1-kilometer trail with much ado. So inspired to get to the new monastery church, we hardly noticed we were walking under the infuriating heat of the sun for almost half an hour! Hehehe! When we finally get the last step towards our destination, a big “whoooaaawwhhh!” was exclaimed! Perhaps a mixed emotions of relief (from such long walking) and amazement (from such panoramic view there is). A few more steps then led us to one corner outside the church where we sit back and relax… savoring the cool breeze of the air. It seemed we found a perfect spot for waiting the sunset! The stillness of the entire surroundings was so enticing, it really did
drive us to have our eyes closed, our heads bowed down, and prayed with overwhelming peacefulness within our hearts. God’s magic seemed to outpour then, ‘coz just in time when we started praying, we overheard the mystic, solemn voices of the monks chanting their prayers inside the church. I felt a definite chill down my spine as I’ve heard those heavenly voices echoing from within. Namlibawot jud akong balahibo... and so was Grethel’s! I knew then that God’s Holy Spirit was residing within us. Thank you Lord for empowering us with Your divine and holy presence!
The entire night during that day was spent for our individual prayers and reflections. I was greatly amazed by how God worked within me on that moment ‘coz when I opened my bible, my first flip of the holy book led me to Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”.. That was indeed a powerful message for me ‘coz one of my main objective of the retreat was about life’s discernment, and I was really claiming for something from God, that He’s gonna provide it for me.. in His Name, I’m claming for it. And voila! He has a definite answer in that particular verse where I was led! Thank you so much, Lord!
Early the following morning, I was welcomed with the sweet chirping of the birds which served as my alarm clock. How nice it is to be spending a moment of solitude in a solemn place like this, and I felt very much intimate with the 
Lord. I really was filled with His holy presence then, and I was double filled (errr.. my stomach that is, hehe!) with that yummy breakfast served by their friendly crews. After that sumptuous meal, we proceed down to the new monastery to hear the holy mass. While yesterday’s departure to the distant church was with a BMW (By Means of Walking, lol!), this time we already have a ride through the monastery’s shuttle service. The holy mass marked as our concluding activity for the entire two-day retreat. It was such a fruitful activity for the two of us. We felt recharged, refueled, and empowered by God’s grace.
Jesus wants to be a deep source of strength, and meaning for us. He invites us to come to Him, and by prayer, and reflection to get in tough with what is really important. It is a great way to "Get Your Batteries Recharged".
Happy Birthday Dad!
Today is my dad's 60th birthday. Sad to say I can't be there during this day 'coz I had to go back to CDO for my usual career routine (work.. work.. & work, tsk! tsk!). But we already had a pre-birthday celebration yesterday after my two-day retreat at the monastery. And.. oopps! Here comes another bonus treat! My big sis came here this morning (straight from Malaybalay) bringing some delicious goodies and... tsadaaann! A layer of my favorite chiffon cake! Hehehe! Thanks 'Mang & 'Pang!
To my dad out there, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You'll always be my number one hero! We love you very much!
It's Holy Week...
...and I wanna join those thousands of people flocking to Camiguin Island for it’s yearly Holy Week activity, the “Panaad” (Promise) wherein I could be among those devotees gathering together to walk the 64-kilometer circumferential road of the island, survive and reach the Walk Way for the Station of the Cross, trekking the slopes of Old Vulcan as expression of penitence and spiritual enrichment. This would be my first time observing Lent at the island, and my first time spending Holy Week away from home.
Last Monday, I called up my high school friend Maricel for some urgent summer vacation info. Ooops! Whatta an exciting feedback! She has informed me she’s going to Camiguin this Holy Week with her colleagues and she’s inviting me over to join them. A perfect timing too, ‘coz I had been looking for some buddies to go with me to Camiguin (else, who would dare going to Camiguin and observe “Panaad” alone? Hehehe!). So right there and then, we fixed everything and set for our departure sched – early morning on Maunday Thursday.
I was getting excited and all.. but uh-oh! I got a terrible headache (I was nearly getting a flu) the following day, and my ill
condition wasn’t getting any better.. even upto now. Just as I thought, I couldn’t go on a travel, climb uphill those mountains, and trek the entire island for three days with my not-so-good condition. So I had to cancel my Camiguin plans then. Just an hour ago before I started writing this note, I texted my friend and said I can no longer join them for their Camiguin trip tomorrow. Perhaps I can push through with my “Panaad” plan on next year’s Holy Week.
As for now, I’m contemplating of visiting the sacred Mt. Banahaw, and there I'll have my penitence. (Tsk.. tsk.. dli man gani makaadto ug Camiguin, Mt. Banahaw na ba kaha, hehe!).. Bitaw, I’m going to my home sweet home Malaybalay… and there I will spend holy week with my family. My bestfriend Grethel will be coming over too! She’ll be home a week after holy week, and we have arranged a schedule for a retreat at Benedictine Monastery on the 22nd of April. So I’m looking forward for our post-Lenten retreat then. I have received an email from my fellow amuler Walter containing a very inspiring Holy Week Reflection by By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD.. Being struck by the message, I have posted the entire article at my WordPress web page. Hope you'll also find time reading the reflections. Have a blessed Lenten Season, everyone!
I'm Soaring At Six!
Y2K. Tuig dos mil. Millenium era. Absolutely a memorable year for me! And why so? Precisely because it was the year when I set a new milestone (after passing the hurdle of that five-year engineering course in college), the year when I first stepped into the corporate world, the year when I started building up my IT career in this premiere telecommunications company in Northern Mindanao. And what year are we now? 2006! Wow! Time has really flown so fast then that I hardly noticed it has been six years now since I joined Philcom. Yes, six long years! And what had that six-year stay brought into my career life? A little bit of storytelling would answer that question.
I started my IT career in Philcom as a Junior Data Controller at the IT Billing & Operations section. This was one
tough job for a once neophyte like me due the shifting schedule which I was not accustomed to (ironically, the graveyard shift was my favorite haha!). I was with the dynamic IT Operations team composed of Sir Maynard, Sir Joel, Sir Edwin, Benjie, Oliver, Edward, Ate Shirlyn, and Candice (sorry, I had no filed photos during my first few months in Philcom, so I'll just post here a picture with the MIS team and family).
A few months later, the company had set up a new section in IT. Along with the two other sections, Systems Development and Technical Support, the MIS was formed. I was then pulled out from the Operations group, and was among the pioneers of the MIS team composed of Sir Nathan (my manager), Sir Edwin (my supervisor), Oliver (my mentor) and yours truly (the newbie and the only rose among the thorns). A year after, the company had undergone LEC wide retrenchment, reducing more than 60% of the total manpower. Along with the retrenchment was the early retirement program, to which all of my three MIS teammates had availed, leaving me all alone in my section
, and I had no choice but to absorb the works they have left. At times I would found myself on the verge of shouting “Darnaa!” ‘coz I really felt as though I was doing superwoman’s job in just a wink of an eye. Nangapa ug taman-taman, nakasalom ug ahat. Just a few months after the transition period, I was turned over to a new boss, Sir Maynard, who had eventually been moved to another department, thus leading me to another boss, this time with Sir Joel. Breathing a sigh of relief this time 'coz I had new fellow MIS Analysts Lily and Mayet to share the burden with. Thank you, girls!
Three years later, the company had ventured into Software & Applications, providing financial software and developing financial systems for the business clients, and so it had pushed through creating an IT group who will develop the Enterprise Solutions for the growing number of clients in Visayas and Mindanao. Thus, the Consumer IT was formed. Again, I was pulled out from MIS to be part of the Consumer IT pioneers (Sir Cenon, Sir Dexter, Ali, Wyeth & me). Within the succeeding months, three other CDO colleagues joined us (Fe, Cherry and Mayet), and three others at our Davao office (Ma’am Netz, Louchie and Rey). Ayan, lumalaki na ang Consumer IT family! Ang saya-saya! Being an IT person, I was kind of a backroom beauty then, confined in my cubicle with heaps of work to do (systems analysis, web design and layout, debug programs and all). But when I joined Consumer IT, I’ve spread my wings into the outside world. Business travel, that is -- implementing the system to our clients all over Mindanao and some parts of Luzon. Loving my job and loving the perks of travelling for free, I was indeed enjoying the best of both worlds! Thank you, Philcom!
Anything more to come? Hmnn... let’s just wait and see what’s my future career has in store for me. As for now, I’m just enjoying the blessings God has bestowed on me on my sixth year in the corporate world. Soaring at 6! Whoaw! Such fruitful years indeed! Thank you, Lord!
More snapshots at my yuppie life photo album.
What comes first into your mind when you hear the words “low bat” or “battery empty”? Gotchaa! It’s cellphone, right? And out of nowhere, you’ll hear a colleague or a friend pleading “charger puhhleeaassee!” hehehe! Well, just like us, we do experience being “low bat” and all. Think of those daily pressures at work, family problems, financial concerns, etc. etc… and you’ll be completely burned out! And if stress and pressure seemed to kill us, we immediately want something to relieve us... a battery charger that is. Thus, we need some time to withdraw from our everyday business and family worries, a time to reflect and get a fresh slant of life, a time for solitude, a time for prayer… a time for God alone. Now, what comes first into your mind? A retreat… I know it!
Last weekend (April 22-23, 2006), me and my bestfriend Grethel had a soulful personal retreat at the Benedictine Monastery of the Transfiguration at our beloved hometown Malaybalay. We really did set a schedule for it amidst our busy lives in the corporate world. Grethel still had some pending projects at work, and I, too, had bulk of works at hand, but we took time setting aside those concerns, and be relieved from such burden at once. Whew!
the hospitable staffs of the guesthouse, Melvin and Ella. The place was so peaceful and quiet indeed! We haven’t started with the retreat proper yet, but we can already feel the enigmatic presence of God closely looking over us from above. The scenic view of the surroundings hadn’t escaped from our sights too! Around the monastery sprawl coffee plantations, fields of grain and fine orchards -- mute witnesses of the monks' dedication to their motto, "Ora et labora " (Pray and work). Right in the middle of the monastic grounds towers a gem of a modern church, the architect's vision of a silent prayer to God. The reverent silence that envelops the monastery throughout the day is broken only by the merry chirping of the birds and the gentle swaying of the tree branches being blown by the cold winds. Whew! Such a breathtaking scenery indeed! Enjoying one’s gaze through this wonderful manifestation of God’s abundant blessing is already a form of “retreat” itself.
After a series of prayer sessions and reflections, (and a couple of breaks), we headed down to the New Monastery. No transpo this time, we hiked the 1-kilometer trail with much ado. So inspired to get to the new monastery church, we hardly noticed we were walking under the infuriating heat of the sun for almost half an hour! Hehehe! When we finally get the last step towards our destination, a big “whoooaaawwhhh!” was exclaimed! Perhaps a mixed emotions of relief (from such long walking) and amazement (from such panoramic view there is). A few more steps then led us to one corner outside the church where we sit back and relax… savoring the cool breeze of the air. It seemed we found a perfect spot for waiting the sunset! The stillness of the entire surroundings was so enticing, it really did
drive us to have our eyes closed, our heads bowed down, and prayed with overwhelming peacefulness within our hearts. God’s magic seemed to outpour then, ‘coz just in time when we started praying, we overheard the mystic, solemn voices of the monks chanting their prayers inside the church. I felt a definite chill down my spine as I’ve heard those heavenly voices echoing from within. Namlibawot jud akong balahibo... and so was Grethel’s! I knew then that God’s Holy Spirit was residing within us. Thank you Lord for empowering us with Your divine and holy presence!
The entire night during that day was spent for our individual prayers and reflections. I was greatly amazed by how God worked within me on that moment ‘coz when I opened my bible, my first flip of the holy book led me to Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”.. That was indeed a powerful message for me ‘coz one of my main objective of the retreat was about life’s discernment, and I was really claiming for something from God, that He’s gonna provide it for me.. in His Name, I’m claming for it. And voila! He has a definite answer in that particular verse where I was led! Thank you so much, Lord!
Lord. I really was filled with His holy presence then, and I was double filled (errr.. my stomach that is, hehe!) with that yummy breakfast served by their friendly crews. After that sumptuous meal, we proceed down to the new monastery to hear the holy mass. While yesterday’s departure to the distant church was with a BMW (By Means of Walking, lol!), this time we already have a ride through the monastery’s shuttle service. The holy mass marked as our concluding activity for the entire two-day retreat. It was such a fruitful activity for the two of us. We felt recharged, refueled, and empowered by God’s grace.
