CARAMOAN: SURVIVOR CHALLENGE

For 2 days and  2 nights (Feb 4-6, 2013),  19 CFAM volunteer catechist coordinators took the survivor challenges during the planning and team building activities held at the La Villa del Leonila Tourist Inn, Brgy. Paniman, Caramoan, Camarines Sur – the very site where some scenes of the Survivor USA were held as seen over Channel 7.

Challenge #1--- 12 ½ Hours Trip Challenge

Departing at 7:30 pm from Raymond Bus Line Alimall Station,  the team arrived 5:30am at Sabang Port where we boarded an 80 seater wooden motor boat bound to Guijalo Port, Caramoan.

Boarding the boat in the dark was the first hurdle encountered by the team -- slippery port, waves moving  the boat and small entry into the deck.    Thanks to the porters who assisted us with our heavy luggages (for a minimal tip).

During the 2-hour boat trip, there were times and places, the ocean waves were big enough to make many (including me)  sea-sick and throw-up. Thanks God I felt better by the  time we reached Guijalo port.

From Guijalo Port, a 30 minute  jeepney drive took us to our first stop  -- St Michael Parish.  Then to a very isolated location in Brgy Paniman  --- La Villa Leonila Tourist Inn where we were welcomed by Sr.  Hilda “Dahil”  Cederia, DM

St. Michael Parish, Caramoan

Early morning of Tuesday (Feb 5)  and Wednesday (Feb 6) saw us travelling through dark and narrow streets from Villa Leonila to the St. Michael Church where we attended  the Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Buddy Crucillo, Asst Parish Priest on Feb 5, (Tuesday) and  by Fr. Nonito Verzola, Parish Priest  Feb 6, (Wednesday).  

After the Holy Mass we said our Morning Praise.  Thanks to Mang Jimmy for picking us up as early as 5:00 to drive us to St Michael and back to La Villa Leonila.

Day 1 (Feb 4, 2013): Island Hopping  - Lahos and  Matucad Island

After a short rest and lunch, we boarded 2 small motor boats bound to Lahos Island.  During the 30 minute or so boat ride,  the  even bigger waves lead everyone to fervent prayer for a safe boat trip. 

This  reminded  me of the Gospel story about   Jesus calming  the storm after the apostles frightened by the storm woke him up  (Lk 8:22 ff).

From Lahos Island, we boarded back the boats for our next island – Matucad  -- where swimming and picture taking resumed. After washing up at the Villa, we had vespers  and dinner.

Challenge #2 – Walang Tulugan Challenge

For 2 nights after dinner, sleepy and exhausted from the whole day’s activities,  the team sat down for the finalization of the Volunteer Catechists Commission Action Plan for SY 2013-2014.  Professionals  as we are, we kept awake during the planning and evaluation sessions .... though a few could not help snooze while discussions were going on…

Day 2 (Feb 5, 2013): Survivors EXTRA Challenge – Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine, Tagbon Island

After breakfast, we boarded 2 boats bound to Tagbon Island – about 20-30 minutes boat ride from Villa Leonila.  This time the waves were very “behaved” compared to yesterday’s. 

Thanks much  to Big Boy and  Kuya Jason, tour guide up to the shrine who stayed closely behind those who needed assistance as we climbed up the Our Lady of the Rosary Shrine  --  557 steps equivalent to   750 meters above sea level (more than twice higher than the Grotto in Baguio, Kamay ni Jesus in Lucban, Quezon and Nuestra Sra de Asuncion Church in Sta Maria,  Ilocos Sur – a UNESCO Heritage CHurch).

According to Kuya Jason, the original statue was built in 1990 by Fr Felix Varella,  a  year after he dreamt of a lady who instructed him to build a shrine on said location.  In 2005,  a lightning struck the statue leaving  a heart-shape whole its back. The damaged statue is buried underground behind the existing statue built by Fr Noel Alfuerto  in 2007.  Fiesta Day is May 21-22.

All 19 CFAM volunteer catechist coordinators (including 7 senior citizens)  passed the survivors EXTRA CHALLENGE.  We could not imagine how we all made it to top – in about 45 minutes while praying the Holy Rosary in been gasps for breath and short stops to rest and/or take a drink.  Truly, our strength is in the Lord, who makes all things possible. We proudly declare ourselves ---  survivors in God’s care.

   

Going down, we were able to enjoy the breath-taking scenery which we failed to appreciate while concentrating on going up the stairs.

From the shrine, a 20-30 minute boat ride took us to  Baging Island where we had our lunch and  the adjacent Sabitlaya Island for swimming at  walang kamatayang pciture taking for facebook posting.  Baging Island with its numerous rock formation of various sizes and shapes is the very same place where the SURVIVOR USA challenges took place.  As in the other islands we “conquered”, sand was white and fine as iodized salt.

Tragic Last Night at the Survivor USA  Eviction Site (Feb 5,  2013)

After vespers (by the shore, facing the ocean),  we took a walk by the shore, to the place where Survivor USA eviction nights where held… with the  four tribal flags still up and waving high.

To complete the tour of the place, the CFAM volcat survivors walked through the wooden bridge where outcasts walked through on their way to the eviction point out of the island.  Unmindful of the caretaker’s warning that said wooden bridge is already weak and due for demolition to avoid untoward incident, the group posed for a last minute group picture. For the second shot, with Jhosie Olayres taking over the camera for Sir Art to join the group, the bridge collapsed!! … with 4 or 5 of the survivors hitting the ground… Thanks God, there were only two minor  casualties  ----  Aida Tuyor (wounded heel) and Jessie Galac –  flattened leg muscles that needed the soothing massage of Jhosie  Olayres and a dose of pain killer.   

The Caramoan - Naga trip is indeed an experience of a lifetime we shall always reminisce. We shall forever be thankful to the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM) for  giving us the opportunity to visit an exciting place such as Caramoan.  

Our special thanks go to  Sir Art Barbadillo and Sir Ed Frando, Volunteers Catechists Commission, Ministry Assistants – for their kind and caring patience   especially to the senior citizens in the group.  Words are not enough to express our gratitude for accompanying  us  to  the experiences we could not have imagine being able to go through without you by our sides.

Having  bravely gone through the Caramoan trip, anything in the future will  be less difficult to face. Next challenge: domestic mission assignment. Any volunteer ??  Taralets!!!  … while we still have some remaining physical agility to go on mission.

The Caramoan  trip was indeed an experience of a lifetime we shall always reminisce. We shall forever be thankful to the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM) for  giving us the opportunity to visit an exciting place such as Caramoan.  

Our special thanks go to  Sir Art Barbadillo and Sir Ed Frando, Volunteers Catechists Commission, Ministry Assistants – for their kind and caring patience   especially to the senior citizens in the group.  Words are not enough to express our gratitude for accompanying  us  to  the experiences we could not have imagine being able to go through without you by our sides.

Having  bravely gone through the Caramoan trip, anything in the future will  be less difficult to face. Next challenge: domestic mission assignment. Any volunteer ??  Taralets!!!  … while we still have some remaining physical agility to go on mission.

To our CFAM partners in mission …. looking forward to more exciting adventures as we continue to serve God together through the catechetical ministry. Praise God and  more power to the  CFAM Volcat Survivors!!!