The Best Things in I Gained in Volunteering

I started my humble beginning in the compound of Valderrama Lumber Co. Inc. A simple place with simple people and simple way of life but provided with so many opportunities.  The family that I have had provided me what is enough and have given me an education that not everybody in the place can afford. Ateneo- Branch was a school run by Jesuits but situated in the compound of the company, it was a gift from the Borromeos most specifically from Inday Herming Valderrama Borromeo whose dream of bringing a good school to the children of their employees as way of thanking them has came true.  The simple life have taught me to more appreciative of what life may bring.

Joining volunteering through Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) have made my life more meaningful and again inspite of the challenges I made it through.  Nepal was never known to me since when I was a student, I just came to know it when 3 Filipinas has conquered Mt. Everest -the Highest Peak in the World and have gone  home alive and enthusiastic to tell their country they made it and apart from that it was anonymous to me.  I accepted the offer of the VSO as Primary and Basic Education Adviser working with the District Education of Bairahawa.  Cycling going to the six schools of 10, 8, and 5 kms were exciting.  Meeting people and other nationalities were great experience. Learning the culture and ways of life of the people made me appreciative of them and the country and most of all meeting fellow Filipinos and befriend as we share each experiences and plans brings 'kalahi' more closer. My Nepal days were a combination of ups and downs and wonderful yet difficult affirmation of who and what I am.  Finding myself was a relief at least I have a recognition and acceptance of who I am and at least I got someone who openly recognized it too.  I thought it is fine and everything goes on normally and happily as I have found the person that I really want. Someone who have assured me and have respected me the way I am. I thought I can be happy but happiness may never be consistent the way we treat each other with special care and communication. This made my Nepal days so extra special apart from the achievements and my works with local. 

Kenya in 2013 to 2015 was another country to explore.  First in Africa...Finally all those misconceptions of people about Africa may be confirmed. The fear I had travelling in the world of the blacks be conquered on. This second country and my first in Africa have brought me to Tanzania another country in the East  of continent.  For fourteen days we explored museums and conservation forest where wild animals can be seen. indeed those fourteen days have marked as one of the best experiences. After fourteen days we went back to Kenya and start to settle down, go back to work and try to make life easy. Inspite of busy days, we -filipino community managed to meet and make fun.We don't talk about work but instead we share jokes, finding out each others differences and commonalities. Work is always there five days a week. My work have been so challenging coz I was working with managers in schools or the principals but we tried to meet half way. We have made it through what they dream to developed among children. I led them in the formation of the Children's Government in the National level. It made my placement overwhelming.  It was also in Kenya where I was interviewed and documented as material for advocacy. It was nice knowing that you bring inspirations and trust from people in the world.

To date, I am in another country of East Africa which is Uganda.  I arrived March 26, 2017 and I am in my second week of exploring Uganda and how I will make a difference in the VTIs I am placed with.  Look for the continuation of my story as I explore Uganda.

mjuanaBB 11.4.17

GLIMPSE OF THE SUNSET

Glimpse of the sunset.  Viewing from afar I can see the significant colors of life. The dark colors underneath the lights of the sun signifies those dark areas of life where behind it is the presence of hope. It sometimes sinks but never disappear. It always come anew day to day.  I welcome the setting of the sun for it is an opportunity to hold on and rest awhile.  Rest from those that we have done for the day.  Rest from the struggles that we experience and  faces each day.  As the sun completely sets we close our eyes and let go of those insignificant encounter, insignificant people and everything that are not worth dwelling for. As we close our eyes, believe that another day will come with the full bright of the sun that signifies a new beginning,..a rebirth that we need to welcome and celebrate.  

mjuana1969

Life's Blessing in the Midst of Challenges

How will you react into a very bad thing said about you?
When you know, you are accepting to forget the person whom you have contributed an ill feeling because you doesn't want to hurt the person again.
But in spite of it, a situation triggers and the person have attacked your personal life so much.
How would you react?

Is it normal to fire back?
Is it right to just let go of the person?

I was honest when I said sorry and let go of her because I believed on her saying I have hurt her.
But to her it was not the end...She spoke so much against me on January 5, 2014.

I have never thought of her anymore and even never talked about her since October 2013.
But she charges me a lot that  made me paused and checked on myself why.

How would you feel when a person will tell your friend to educate and teach Mary Jane Belenson good values because I don't have it and especially I am a teacher. How would you react on it?

How would you feel if the person will call you a dwarf when in fact everyone knows how a dwarf and human differ from one another.

How would you feel if you were charge of buying friends and getting away friends from others?
How would you feel when a person will twist all your jokes into something that is against you?

How would you feel if you were judge by volunteers who get into extra marital relationships of writing their parents about their life here in Kenya? Hell, I do not even know who their parents are.

Dear friends, these were the charges they put on me here.  People who get into situations yet could not face when they meet incidents along the way. But the sad thing is, I am the product of their judgement.  I know myself very well.  I am happy whenever I am with my good friends.  I can be honest to people, I can be serious and I can be rude if situation calls for it.  With all those questions I posted above, I am happy I was dining with 6 people as we go through the charges a certain volunteer was posting to our group conversation and sending to Eric over sms.  I was happy because they have defended me and assured me of having them in this journey by saying, look who is alone now while you are dining with us.  It put a smile into my face and they never knew how it calm my heart that time when I was feeling to answer that volunteer back.  Because of their words, I said yeah, believe for they have witnessed who you are MJ.  Honestly, I was sad why it happened but I know, it will  end.  I will just consider those and them a part of my life's experience that needed to be buried and learn to forget.  Of course lessons I have learned will retain.  All my life I lived with good and countless friends without being judged.  All my life I am surrounded with good friends and joys. I don't want this few people to just  destroy the feeling of being happy with friends here too. So I decided to live life without those who have inflicted me and forgive them too. On the other hand I also am sorry if I made them judge me.  I continue to pray not for myself alone but for everyone else's life too.  I love and respect myself.

Ninoy, Harvey, Eric, Patrick, Perry, Joy, Mykiel, Leah, Aileen and our precious Ate Maru, I thank you for being a good friend to me.

You are the people who calmed me down when I feel terribly bad,
You are the people who made me smile and laugh too terribly loud,
You are the people who raised myself up when I am down,
To me you are the people who are worthy to be with.
Spending time with you has never made me bore,
Spending time with you has made me feel at home,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
You all are worthy to be adorned.

"The feeling of love is the highest frequency you can emit. The greater the love you feel and emit,the greater the power you are harnessing"- The Secret, Rhonda Byrne

Mjuana BB

My Childhood and Teen Years: Happiness in the Simplicity of Life

1975  was when I first joined the formal school at the Ateneo de Davao-Compostela, in the compound of the Valderrama Company where my father have proven his loyalty for over 3o years.  I was and is still grateful of the Valderrama’s for allowing our tatay to work with them and for bringing education within our reach and within my parents economic requirement.  Yes, the school was ran by the Jesuits and is known to be one of the most expensive schools as we followed the same standards with the other Jesuits run schools.  With all the simplicity of life being shown by the owner of the company and was taught in school, we embibed the spirit.  I was a pre-schooler or known to be visitor then when I learned the first song  which is …“Fly, fly, fly the butterfly in the garden is flying high, in the meadow is flying low , fly,fly,fly the butterfly.”  taught by the president of the school, Rev. Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, S.J.  Normal kid, love to sing and move around so that is why I would never forget Fr. Barcelon and his song for it gives  me the energy.  It was such a friendly exposure for a little kid that encouraged her to attend school.  Life was so good to me and I thank God for the people that made it possible for me.

The following year I was promoted even I was young to join class 1.  I could remember how I tired my nanay and my sister of bringing me to and fro of the school and home as I would always start the day with crying...shame on me.  Thing that I was and so sorry for my one and only sister who was so patient to understand me as  I would have  my tantrums often.  Anyway, we laughed at it as we try to recollect it when we are together.  Yet, in spite of my tantrums I gained a lot of favors from God through other people.  I became part of the honor list, I had the opportunity to join the field trips, joined the dance presentations, trained for the elocution, best in art works and became the favorite of most teachers and “boys” classmates.  I remembered very well, Joel Galenzoga who would cuddle me and press both of my cheeks outwardly, Joggy Damasco-the brightest in Science (he got perfect scores in the exams) who considers me as one of his sisters so as the late Lino Delante, Edilberto and Bernie Aguilar; Juanito dela Cruz–the class president who was so kind to me, Randy Aculado who was a dear friend and to whom I became so close to their clan, Jonathan Rivera who seeks words of wisdom as he courts one of our batchmates, Roel Panistante whom he doesn’t know I had a crush on him while we were students until we parted ways after High School, Rex Maximales, Ulyses, Limbing, Epiphanio,  Edgar Agang  (lives far away from school and whom I admired his willingness to learn) who have shown the real kindness and concerns over anything that we go through.  Each of them have made me feel confident to face what life has for me each day while I was growing up.  I had never noticed and never felt I was  a little girl.  There were bullying then during those times but I never had given attention to it because I was surrounded by wonderful people…who were my family, teachers, classmates, my friends and my companions.  I may be unfair to my girls classmates but they very well knew how we worked and have enjoyed each other’s company too.  Scouting, planting gabi-gabi,  ballet lessons in P.E., cooking jam and relleno, sewing and making dasters, playing Chinese garter, “dakpanay sa swing”, night school for a year, running home at night after class, staying in one room during retreat, cries during recollection, laughing together during soiree because of classmates dreaming, fishing and swimming together, enjoying marching during CAT and so much of activities I have enjoyed with them.  Lucky I was and  as I try to recollect on these wonderful moments, I just smile as my heart leaps with joy and happiness. Those not so good and unhappy moments was covered with all those happy memories during my childhood and my teen years. Simple yet there was beauty in living with the simplicity of life.   

//March 1984

Many years to be thankful of God’s grace in life.

MjuanaBB

“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness, and truth.” 
― Leo Tolstoy

Invitation

As people grow old we look for the detailed  meaning of our existence.  How well have we done our mission  as I personally believe that we are created to embrace and do our mission. When I was young, I started to dream what kind of life I wanted to have…very specific and ideal for a child.  I grew up in a family where we are free to do what we want to do but we are always guided by set of values to observe.  We don’t sacrifice our family values as it is the only treasure our parents could leave to each and everyone of us.  But I am not saying, I belong to a perfect family because we’re not.  However, I had the best tatay and nanay (father and mother) then.   No matter how my late parents tried hard to raise the ten (10) of us in the most decent and good way,  circumstances tend to lead some of us astray.  Do I regret? I think, the most fair answer to that is… n-e-v-e-r .  It is because each of those occurrences were just part of life’s journey, learning process and building our own destiny. This is how I thought of sharing my “Personal Glimpse.”  This is just simple glance on how life is.  I welcome you to have a glance on my Personal Glimpse.

For over 40 years of existence, 38 years of those are still remembered.  It is probably because I considered those years of my life precious.  I have seen the greatness of life through the relationships I have with people and the other creations of the creator which I owe it unto HIM ---GOD.

Mjuana BB