UA Employees's Lenten Retreat 2012

Another backlog blog post: This Retreat was held in Carmelite Monastery, Tagaytay City last February27-29. It is quite a sentimental event for the reason it'd be my "last" retreat as a UA clinical instructor.  The 3-day stay was worth it. I bonded with my colleagues, had the chance to know them on a deeper level,  learned important informations regarding the celebration of Lent and Holy Week,  and feasted on sumptuous big food servings.:) Kidding aside, the homilies shared by Bishop Mallari and Fr. Deo Galang, the university president and VP for Finance respectively, were ones for keeps in my heart. These men are simply brilliant and holy. Father Deo mentioned the greatest respect is Respect of Oneself. The song "Love Me for What I Am" of Karen Carpenter best exemplifies acceptance of one's strenghts and weaknesses. He made an illustration of the iceberg. We only see its tip. A person's deepest layer and persona is hidden.We need not judge, rather make time to know and understand the person more. Truthfully correct,right?

Sr.Zeny leading the prayer for a safe journey.

Lornz,my seatmate.

Ma'am Lorna took good care of me. We were room neighbors in the convent. She is a doting friend. Beneath her funny lines lies a heart that is genuinely nice.

First taste of chicken & mushroom pasta on our SLEX stopover.It is good.

My surrogate friends who welcomed me warmly: Lornz,Sel,Russel & Belle

My two closest friends in the Nursing department, Ate Ana and Harry, unfortunately weren't able to join us because they were having their clinical duty in Manila. It wasn't difficult for me because my colleagues never left me and opened their tolerance for me to the maximum limit. It is always a welcome gift to develop new friendships while keeping the old ones.

A devoted wife & mama,a dependable buddy too.

Thank you for this chance to bond with you.

I had to limit my food intake or else, the clothes I brought won't fit anymore.

Good morning, Tagaytay.

Flowers, how lovely are the flowers...

.....blooming in the garden.

Hot mommas.

According to the convent directress, these koi fish commit suicide when there's too much noise.Translate: Mitzi,shut your mouth.:)

Snack bread.

Yummy treat. We were served well.

Mitzi the stalker with Bishop.

With Fr. Jess Layug,our speaker on the 2nd day,and muh friends,the Dominican sisters.

 I am a person with a very short attention span. I get fidgety only after minutes of listening to talks or seminars. ADHD trait posssibly. On this occasion though, I made a resolve to be "serious" in my resolve to get to know God farther and try to be a better girl. God's instruments, the speakers, were able to catch my thoughts and strucked chords in my being.Among the few I remember and ponder upon:

• The essence of SILENCE. "Let the word of God speak to you thru silence. Be patient. The grace of God will certainly do something good.
• We need to express our laments to God. It is alright. In the face of pain and suffering, we must not be afraid to cry out to God and speak to Him what hurts us the most.
• The 2 elements of a Lament prayer are the Lament itself and HOPE. Hope that come hell or high water, when nothing seems to help, we should never lose Hope in the Almighty.

Hi.

The Dabarkads who accept me as the kikay me.

Oh food,how can I resist you??

Tummy ached from laughing out too hard!!!

During a session break.

I love that there's always soup served.

Thanks for the tolerance with our noise,Kuya.

The Girls Pick-Up. I tell you these RNs all have sense of humor that could level up with Jose & Wally plus Ogie & Michael V.

This year's retreat I must say is THE best one in my duration as UA employee. It served as an important tool to help me accept the now and tomorrow with a bright hope and faith that God's love will continue to nourish me with a blessed and beautiful life.