We’re midway through our CPE course.  And now the end is near.  It makes us sad just thinking of that end but what could we do?  Let it just come.  Right?  I think it’s better to just talk of our happy days and greatest experience in this CPE quarter, which for sure, we will all treasure in our entire existence.  At least we have something to counterbalance the amount of issues that we have.

After weeks of processing verbatims, biblical image, the mid-point evaluation, case studies and hospital visitations; after weeks of facing the computer, staying up late at night, writing scripts, cramming and rushing to the printers and copying machines; after weeks of getting to know ourselves and our peers, I think we really deserve a break.

And so, there it was… 

November 22, 2008, 8:00AM: we left St. Camillus Provincialate Compound and headed down C5 and the Express Way going to the CARD MRI training ground in Bae, Laguna for an overnight stay.  We really found it very beautiful.  We were accommodated well – thanks to the kindness of Mr. Gilbert Llanto.  The food was extraordinarily delicious – thanks to the cook.  We must have gained at least one pound each.  We enjoyed eating, jamming, drinking, swimming, singing and dancing.  We spent the evening hours bonding and relaxing.  It was really the best! 

November 23, 2008, 12:30PM: we were all excited.  It was Enchanted Kingdom’s time.  Indeed, we were all enchanted!  We really enjoyed the fear conquering rides.  It was really a fantastic awesome experience.  We could not imagine how we must have looked like and how loudly we screamed as we dared the rides:   the stomach-turning Anchor’s Away and the breath taking Space Shuttle.  Only in the Enchanted Kingdom could such a thing happen.

After all these, how did we feel?

I felt grateful for the lively participation of all.  I felt satisfied with the many good deeds by Mr. LLanto and the staff in favor of the poor and the poorest of the Philippines.  I highly appreciated the program committee and all performers of the evening gala performance.  I felt happy for our bonding as a group.

—Fr. Pedro Arotaipe, MSSP

I really enjoyed the experience.  I enjoyed all the activities and the companionship.  I will really treasure this moment which is one of the greatest experiences in my life.  Particularly unforgettable is the fear-conquering experience in the Enchanted Kingdom.

—Bro. Alfons Oles, MI

I felt happy.  It was an indescribable feeling.  It was my first experience of getting closer to one another.  It was really great being in the Enchanted Kingdom. 

—Bro. Bernard, MI

I’m happy.  That was liberating…  —Sr. Gina Abaigar, SMI

A very timely break for everyone to have fun and quality time together.

—Johanna Resari, Lay Columban Missionary

I feel quite high in general. —Bro. Andrew De Vera, SOLT

It is cool and liberating! —Bro. Marven Ruyeras, MI

I was happy and at the same time sad because I was in the pain of separation with my teeth.

—Postulant Seo Jung Ju, MI

It was a fantabulous outing!  And I felt blessed and great.  —Bro. Anthony Pabon, SOLT

I felt happy and satisfied with the outing.  It was a moment of fun, relaxation and bonding.  But at the same time, it made me sad realizing how the CPE was slowly coming to an end.

—Postulant Ryan Oliver Bautista, SDB

It was really a worthwhile and enjoyable outing.  What was particularly meaningful and great in our experience was how we enjoyed the presence of one another.  We enjoyed as a group – appreciating the moments together, laughing and shouting together.  And this is really an experience worth remembering.  For sure we will all be looking back at this shared event with nostalgia – a memory that is worth telling.

By the way, we would like to thank the generosity of Sir Gilbert and the CARD’s staff, the Salesians and the administration of Enchanted Kingdom, and all of us who made this outing enjoyable and successful.  And thanks be to God who made all these things possible.  Hope things don’t just end here… hope there’ll be another moment of gathering again.