Beyond a World of Goodbyes

A personal essay on the SIF-ASEAN Student Fellowship 2004 in Singapore
By Angel Constantino

Published: April 2005, Goddess of Light v.1

"Reach for the stars, fly high as you can,

Brave the wind, move the mountain,

You can do it, YES, YOU CAN!"

- From the song Reach for the Stars, sung by Tata Young

at the XIII Asian games in Bangkok

The summer of 2004 had just begun when I stepped into the Office of International Programs in my home university for my qualifying interview into the SIF-ASEAN Student Fellowship program. Dressed in my freshly ironed black slacks, red collared top and leather boots, I confidently entered the room with a bright smile and a ready heart. I took a seat in front of the panel of interviewers, which was composed of the head of the Office of International Programs, two Filipino fellowship alumni, and Mr. Gerald Yeo, Director of International Networking at the Singapore International Foundation.

After several minutes of talking about my personal strengths and abilities, sharing my passion to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen, and defending my choice of candidate for the upcoming Philippine Presidential elections, Gerald asked me a most unexpected question. He said, “Angel, I noticed you like to smile a lot. Tell me, what is it that makes you feel really sad?”

Having been caught off guard, I paused momentarily to think of an answer to this perplexing question. Finally I said, “What makes me feel really sad is saying goodbye.”

Reminiscing our days at NTU

Indeed, we live in a world of endless goodbyes. Having just graduated from my university a few weeks before the interview, I recalled the pain of saying goodbye to the people I cherished most in my four years of college. After I found out that I was accepted to the fellowship, I again went through a whirlwind of goodbyes as my family and friends gathered for traditional Filipino despedida parties celebrated in my honor as a way of sending me off into a new and exciting journey. Saying goodbye to my family and friends in the Philippines was not that difficult because though I was filled with trepidation at the idea of being away from home for five months, I was also filled with anticipation for the wonderful new experiences that lay ahead. Little did I know that only a few months later, another painful goodbye awaited me.

I remember the last day of the fellowship well. Hardly anyone slept a wink the night before because we were all doing last minute packing. Our rooms were turned upside down as we contemplated on what we wanted to take home with us and what we had to leave behind. In the wee hours of the morning of 10 December 2004, we lugged our overweight suitcases down several flights of stairs and hauled them into the bus. On the ride to the airport, we were silent, perhaps because of the fatigue we all felt or the dread of seeing the fellowship, not only for our batch but for the program itself, finally come to an end.

NTUers last complete photo. December 10, 2004.

Good thing our swollen eyes aren't obvious in this picture!

Arriving at the airport and seeing the fellows from the other universities was an intense and emotional period. It was not the first time the tears flowed. We had been crying since ASEAN Nite, during the fellowship reflections, on the bus ride to the airport for some, and perhaps even before that for others. Seeing everybody at the airport clad in their blue and grey “baseball” shirts with their luggage strewn about and plane tickets in hand brought down the reality that this was going to be the last time we would be together as a group. Indeed, it was hard to fathom how the people we were saying goodbye to during those moments had come to mean so much to us after what seemed like a very short four and a half months.

The NTU girls just can't let go of their favorite guy

At the end of the fellowship, it was difficult to say goodbye because for a few months, we had experienced life together. Some of us went to the same university, slept under the same roof, visited the same places, and participated in the same activities. But while we were having similar experiences, we also met different people, studied different subjects, and experienced the fellowship in our own unique ways. We grew close to one another because whether our experiences were different or the same, we immersed ourselves in each others' stories. Not only did we share in each others' joy and happiness, we also shared in each others' pain and sorrow.

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Bicol CLC: Transforming Lives

A trip to Bicol with friends from the Ateneo Christian Life Community left a big impression on me and inspired me to keep living the way of life.

By Angel Constantino

Published: March 2005, Goddess of Light v.1

The region of Bicol, located in the east central part of the Philippine Islands, is considered to be the second poorest region in the country. Its vast farmlands, rich natural resources, and smiling people, however, would make you believe otherwise. My adventure begins on the eve of March 3, 2005. Together with six graduating seniors from the Ateneo Christian Life Community (ACLC), I boarded a bus going to Naga City and embarked on an exciting journey.

Being a member of ACLC for four years largely defined my college life. It's a place where I matured as a person, developed my relationship with God, and formed deep and lasting friendships. Now that I have graduated, it is time to discern about whether or not I want to continue the way of life that I have tried to live out for the past four years. The trip to Bicol was a chance for my friends and I to be exposed to the larger CLC community and to help us discern about our commitment to CLC.

Mayor with a Cause
We arrived in Naga in the wee hours of the following morning. We were greeted by Mr. Sabas Mabulo, or "Mayor Abang" as he is fondly called. He brought us to the nearby town of San Fernando, where he grew up and which he now presides over. After resting and settling in, he brought us to the municipal office where he told us about the projects he has done for the town, such as building extensive roads and water systems. Being a CLCer, he tries his best to live out the way of life amidst his battles against the NPA, jueteng, and other maladies that come with traditional politics. It has been said that in order to change the world, we must first begin with ourselves and our sphere of influence. Mayor Abang may be a simple man living in a small town, but it is truly impressive how he has made a difference in the lives of his 27,000 constituents, as well as in the lives of the people he meets every day.

Clockwise from left: Mayor Abang, Son-J, Deacon Stan, Ate Salve,

Pearl, Angel, Kekek, Eugo, and Alfie. March 4, 2005.

The Maangas Fisherfolk
Our next stop was to the small, far-flung town of Maangas, a two-hour car ride and a 45-minute boat ride away from Naga City. This time, our guide was Deacon Stan, a veteran CLCer who formed several CLC communities among the fisherfolk, farmers, and indigenous peoples in Bicol. On our first night there, we were amazed because when we looked up, the sky was dotted with a million stars. Without the bright lights of the city, the stars were able to shine in all their splendor and glory. We could actually feel that we were in the Milky Way!

The next morning, we walked around the town and met the members of the CLC community in the area. They talked about their daily problems and concerns—poverty, lack of good education, lack of health services, and others. Amidst all of these, however, they never lacked in hospitality and good cheer. They told us of their experiences with CLC and how it has gradually changed their lives over the last three years. Pay Billy and May Ason, the elders of the community, told us about a time when food was scarce in the village and they gave away their last two bags of rice to the community. Simple and down to earth, their only request was that we remember them once in a while and help them in any way we could.

Of course, the visit would not be complete without a swim in the beach. Later that day, we rode a boat to a nearby island that had smooth white sand and beautiful seashells.

The view from Aguirangan Island. March 4, 2005.

Grass Art: A Testament to Philippine Ingenuity
On the way home from Maangas, we passed by the town of Pili where we met CLCer Mike Dychinco. He and his wife, Dinah, own a business that exports products to countries such as Australia and the U.S. We had a chance to tour their factory and see how their amazing products were made. Employing over a hundred workers and using natural raw materials found only in Bicol, Kuya Mike and Ate Dinah truly make the region proud.

Can you believe that cute little raccoon is made of grass? March 5, 2005.

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