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“AGE QUOD AGIS.”
THE SENIORS’ RETREAT
By: Gilbert Arrieta

Finally, all Fourth Year High School students have undergone the last phase of the SERVANT-LEADERSHIP RETREAT, a three-day spiritual journey held at the Mary Help of Christians House of Spirituality at Don Bosco-Batulao. Fr. Eduardo“Duds” Hila, SDB, our Assistant Principal for Pastoral Affairs, facilitated the retreat of our Seniors. Mr. Emelson Reyes, the Fourth Year Guidance Counselor joined all sections and facilitated some of the retreat activities. Mr. Mike Millanes, the 4th year Christian Living teacher, assisted in the  retreats of sections 1,2,4,6 and  7 while Mr. Gilbert Arrieta, the Christian Living Area Head assisted in the  retreats of sections 3 and 5. The Christian Living teachers also facilitated some of the retreat activities. All Fourth Year Class Advisers joined their respective advisory class and facilitated the class open forum which was held on the second night.
Part of the Seniors’ retreat is Vocation Promotion and Orientation. Before going to Don Bosco-Batulao, the Seniors were brought to Don Bosco College Seminary in Canlubang. Francis Lee, an aspirant who is now in 2nd year college at the seminary and an alumnus of Don Bosco-Makati City shared his vocation experience and his life in the seminary. Later, the Seniors toured the seminary. There they met some Salesian priests who were previously assigned at Don Bosco-Makati City like Fr. Vester Casaclang, SDB and Fr. Louie Castaneda, SDB, our former Rector.
The Seniors’ retreat focused on the importance of one’s relationship with God, with his family, with his classmates and with himself. To bring us back into this spiritual journey, Josef Mari N. Ponce of 4-7 Industrial Drafting and John Erick Quiniquini of 4-3 Electrical Technology share their personal reflections and realizations:
            “It has been weeks of overflowing assignments, quizzes, tests, projects and other school requirements. Balancing everything is definitely hard and we can not help but take a break from all the pressures and stress of being a Senior High School student. Our class has long been waiting for our chance to have the three-days-two-nights retreat at Don Bosco- Batulao. After seeing how jubilant the other sections were after coming from their retreat, we became more excited and somehow impatient with our turn.
            The day finally came. It was our turn to have the retreat. We felt that we really needed to “RECHARGE” our relationship with God. We left temporarily our stressful lives in order to have a deeper feeling of God’s love for us. Right after the morning assembly, we gathered inside the Our Lady’s Chapel to receive the final instructions for the retreat from Mr. Bien Mendoza, our school’s Campus Minister. Then, we left the school at around 9 in the morning and headed to Don Bosco Seminary- Canlubang.
            Later, we proceeded to Don Bosco – Batulao. It was drizzling and foggy when we arrived there. The place was very quiet and tranquil. It surely is suited for self-reflection and renewal. After we were welcomed and were oriented on the rules of the retreat house, we were given the room assignments at the session hall. We fixed our things and started getting ourselves ready for our first activity which was a visit to the Apparition Site, a few kilometers away from the retreat house. Soon after we have prayed and were blessed with the holy water, we went back to the Retreat House for a quick shower.
        At 5:30 P.M., we assembled at the session hall. This time, Fr. Duds Hila, SDB, our Assistant Principal for Pastoral Affairs, introduced us to our spiritual journey. He gave us some inputs. Then, he divided the class randomly for the group activities. Surprisingly, someone who I consider an enemy became my group mate. Right that very moment, I could not describe my feelings. I did not know if I will immediately reconcile with him or just stay cool and go with the flow.
      To cap the first day, we prayed the “SPECIAL ROSARY.” It was the day’s most unforgettable moment. We were able to hear all the heartaches, desires and pains that we were all going through. As a class, we prayed for ourselves and our loved ones as well, so that we will be strong in facing life’s challenges.
    The second day was a bit exciting and fulfilling. It started with a morning prayer at the garden. After breakfast, Fr. Duds Hila, SDB gave us more lectures about life, faith and love. He inculcated in us the importance of going out of our comfort zones, and reaching out to others.  The value of trust among us was strengthened as we did the “TRUST WALK” activity. Unexpectedly, one of my enemies volunteered to be my partner. I did not really know what to feel at that time. Even before that activity, he already gave me a peace offering. But I thought it was only superficial. However, he was very persistent to be my partner. Eventually, I accepted it. The activity was fun and exciting because I did not know what will happen to me. All I had to do was to trust my enemy. I got a slight bruise in my arm and leg because he directed me to walk to the wrong direction. He said though that this was not intentional. After that activity, it seemed that we were beginning to patch things up. The only word lacking that time was “sorry.” Through this activity, we were able to prove that we truly have a shoulder to lean on.

     After lunch, we were visited by our Principal, Mr. Lito Tenerife, and Assistant Principals, Mr. Hernan Los Banos and Mrs. Wilma Gamo. It was so nice to see them being part of our retreat even for a short moment. In their short inspirational talks, they highlighted the importance of our spiritual journey. They said an activity like this should be taken seriously for one’s growth as a person.

     At dusk, we went to the “Chapel on the Hill”. Fr. DudsHila, SDB prepared us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All of us confessed and walked on the labyrinth as part of our inner healing.  It was a very solemn afternoon as we went through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Indeed, we felt that God has finally taken over in the retreat. To make our confession more meaningful, Fr. Duds Hila, SDB began saying the Forgiveness Prayer. Through this, we were given a chance to forgive all the persons who may have hurt us in one way or another. It was really moving to see one another pour out our feelings and to forgive all those who have hurt us. Peace reigned in the hearts of everyone, as we threw away all the grudges and the heartaches which we kept for so long. At the end of the activity, my considered enemy became my friend again.

            Before the night ended, our advisers, Ms. Au Arcibal and Mrs. Sally De Villa gave us important advices and encouragement. We discussed our classes’ concerns and started to get reconnected again with one another. We resolved our issues and shared our insights on how we can improve our unity as a class. Truly, that night did not only bond our class as one, but also fortified our own individuality. Our advisers were like mothers to us. They said that we should not be afraid in opening up to them. They underscored that they will always be there for us. Renewed, cleansed and fulfilled, we slept with smiles written on our faces.
            The third day is the beginning and the end of our journey. This is the end of our spiritual retreat but it is also the start of our real spiritual journey. This day was capped by the Lakbay-  Diwa experience which was a realization of the importance of our family in our lives. Many said that a retreat would never be complete without this activity. Before it started, my friend even joked that he would use my shirt as his handkerchief once we are into this activity. He knew we will all shed tears.
     And truly, we all cried and poured out our love for our families. This Lakbay-Diwa experience made us appreciate the value of life. It encouraged us to live our lives to the full. When we opened our eyes, we were told to open letters written by our families and friends. It was very heart-warming to read the letters of our beloved parents. Their messages of love, care, and pride made us all feel that we are so blessed in life. After reading all the letters, it was now our turn to write a letter addressed to our parents and loved ones back home.
     Our retreat culminated in the most fitting manner. We had the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Truly, we have found ourselves. But above all, we have found God again. It was an amazing experience with God and with our classmates. Our class had experienced something that we may not experience once more. The retreat will forever be remembered not only as an experience that bonded members of our class, but also a light that showed us a new path that we can pursue in our lives. We are no longer afraid for we are confident that the lessons we had learned from this retreat will forever be in our hearts.
      We can do our very best in all that we will do. “AGE QUOD AGIS.”