05 JULY 2006

Dave's Midyear Experience

“Yes, five months have passed and all of us are still here. Changed, yet still here. Tired, yet still choosing to stay. Wounded, yet determined to persist until the end.”

The experience of the recent JVP Midyear Seminar in Cebu was surely different for each of the 28 individuals of the batch of JVP volunteers, Beinte Sais . Let me tell you how it was through the eyes of one volunteer named Dave.

A happy reunion

For Dave, it was firstly a time of happy reunion. Dave and the nine other volunteers assigned in Mindanao should have been exhausted from their long travel from Cagayan de Oro City. But upon arrival at Ray Yap's (JVP alumna Batch 19 who resides in Cebu ) house, where they would wait for their fellow volunteers from Luzon and Visayas, they still found themselves full of energy! It was not long before Jeanie (a volunteer assigned in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon) was playing the piano and the boys were singing, laughing, and dancing!

Suddenly, the Mindanao volunteers saw the bus of the other volunteers approaching, and Dave and the others ran like pre-school children, looking for a place to hide and surprise the others. Then came a joyful pandemonium inside the house when, at last, the newly-arrived volunteers found the hiding volunteers, and they were all reunited after five long months. All the volunteers wore big smiles. Tight hugs were exchanged. Greetings of “Tumaba ka!”, “Pumayat ka!” and “Oooyyy” were heard everywhere! And while the Mindanao volunteers were the ones who wanted to surprise the others, Dave felt that they were the ones who ended up being more surprised! He was dumbfounded when he was reunited with his twin brother (a volunteer in Samar ) who looked very much different! They were all surprised to see the physical changes of their batchmates: some had longer hair, others shorter, some gained weight, others were thinner. But more than that, Dave felt an unexplainable inner change that permeated every volunteer. Something vague and yet undeniably very clear…Something deeper. “May kakaiba at bagong lalim…” In their eyes, Dave saw many stories and new experiences of the past five months, all waiting to be told and shared.

And indeed, stories were shared throughout the seminar. To Dave and the other volunteers, they were more than mere stories. They were snippets of the profound experiences from the life of a volunteer, “Stories of Hope,” as Ma'am Jo, JVP Executive Director, would say. They were clips from a film written, produced, and directed by God – the God to whom the volunteers committed during their Orientation Seminar last May, and to whom they recommitted and renewed themselves through the deepening groups (sharing groups) and the recollection during the Midyear Seminar.

As always, the patient and loving guidance of the formation staff was there – they were available for individual consultations (ICs), facilitated deepening groups, prepared skills enhancement trainings, ran here and there to make sure everything ran smoothly and the volunteers were taken care of. In short, they were the perfect spiritual directors, teachers, and even parents. “Kahit ngarag na sila, naka-ngiti pa rin, sige pa rin, bigay-na-bigay pa rin,” was all that Dave could say. Dave saw that all this was done with sincere love. “What else could it have been but love and care for Batch 26?”, he thought. For the volunteers, they were true examples of magis –of going beyond themselves to make the Midyear experience fun and memorable for everyone.

A time to celebrate and share

For Dave, the Midyear Seminar was also a time to celebrate. Indeed, even the celebrations were done with magis ! The staff and the volunteers held not just a simple Halloween party, but a Masquerade Ball! They not only had juice, punch, and beer, but also tuba straight from Samar ! They held not just one birthday surprise, but two! One was a unique birthday “rally” at that! And all these were celebrated in a retreat house run by very kind and hospitable Franciscan sisters! Yes, like their service in their areas, they did their best and went beyond what was required with their celebrations. In the end, it was truly all of them who made the Midyear Seminar more than fun and memorable.

The Midyear Seminar was also a time to share as Christmas was celebrated early for Batch26. Each volunteer brought special gifts from his/her area (the most unique of which was from Jayjay, who humorously bought expired home made gift checks supposedly promising a present from him) for the Christmas Kris Kringle. But more than these gifts, it was the “gift of people” which Dave treasured most. During the seminar, many of the volunteers would stay up until 3 o'clock in the morning to listen to each other's stories, sing songs, and just be with each other….Sharing their time…Sharing their tears…Sharing their heartfelt laughter…Sharing themselves.

In the Midyear Seminar, there were also daily celebrations of the Holy Mass. As God shared Himself to us through the Eucharist, the volunteers and staff also shared their peace and love with each other through tight, sincere, and warm hugs of peace! Yes, it was an amazing gift from God – the gift of people.

A time to look back and appreciate

Dave thought - we've been together for less than 16 days (ten for the Orientation Seminar, six for the Midyear Seminar) and the time I've spent on serious conversation with some wouldn't even add up to an hour. But the mere presence of each person is more important than any word spoken. I guess that made the Midyear Seminar meaningful for all of us – presence; the presence of one executive director, one national chaplain, two Program Officers for Volunteer Service (POVS), six formation staff members, and 28 volunteers. Yes, five months have passed and all of us are still here. Changed, yet still here. Tired, yet still choosing to stay. Wounded, yet determined to persist until the end.

Dave is always left amazed whenever he looks back and sees how close their batch has been since Day One: since the time they all first met back at the Ateneo de Manila, when their bus was delayed by Divine Providence and they were left stuck and waiting by the Cervini steps together with new faces, new people, and new friends.

And Dave continued his thought – much like our call to service, we are stuck with each other for the rest of the year – sharing ourselves, our prayers, and our support to each other. As for me, I've enjoyed every minute of the 16 days so far. It has truly been a privilege to know each and everyone in the batch and the formation staff. We've only been together for 16 days, but the friendships formed would truly last a lifetime. Truly, for Dave and the other volunteers, the Midyear Seminar was also a time to look back and appreciate.

A time to respond to God's call

Lastly, for Dave, the Midyear Seminar, was a time to once again respond to God's call to service, simplicity, solidarity, and social justice anchored in spirituality. The volunteers went back to their areas with a clear response in mind – that of doing God's will for His greater glory.

While on the bus back to Marbel from the Midyear Semiar, a flock of white pigeons on the distant marsh caught Dave's attention. The birds took flight – synchronized and choreographed by the Maker himself, refreshed by the repose their sanctuary had given them. They flew together, a magnificent sight to see. Not long after, however, they broke their aerial formation. It was slow and cautious, as if the birds were bidding each other farewells and blessings for the journey to come. A pair broke free from the group, and then another pair, journeying towards a new direction. Others flew away alone and ventured a solitary flight.

The Midyear Seminar was a time of coming together for all the volunteers. And like the flock of birds, we took flight when the Midyear Seminar ended. We had re-committed ourselves, renewed our beliefs, and rekindled our passions. Together, we took flight…a sight truly magnificent to behold. Though some would fly alone, we were always reminded that all of us traverse the same sky. And when the journey ends, we return to our sanctuary – our flock. Our community. Our batch. Beinte Sais .

The batch year-end is just around the corner. Until then, Batch 26 continues “to give without counting the cost.”

Note about the Author:

“Dave” is one of the many names Benjoe Panahon has been mistakenly called during his first five months as a Jesuit Volunteer. His other names, which he deems incorrect but loves nonetheless, include “Joe” (by his partner), “Beho” (by his twin), “Jhong” (by a certain DepEd Official), and “Bonjie” (by a group of students in Tacurong). “Dave” is by his newfound friends in Davao .