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!!!
