Boso-Boso youth levels up!

While most of the people in the Boso-Boso valley were already soaked in deep slumber, there they were, still very much alive and kicking. Excitement was evidently running through their veins. They were the Youth Ministry members of the Nuestra Señora de la Anunciata Parish in Boso-Boso, San Jose, Antipolo City. At 12 midnight on May 14, they were off for a six hour trip to the beach town of Lobo, Batangas for their two-day Leadership and Team Building Training Workshop.

Though a bit tired from the night trip, the teeners and tweeners straightaway switched to [very] active mode when they set foot on the venue. The warmth of the morning sun, the refreshing ocean breeze, the feet-relaxing silvery sands, and the clear blue waters perked them up in a jiffy. A sleepless night therefore became immaterial to them. With their fully charged built-in batteries, “Go, Go, Go!” was their battle-cry in facing the Survivor Challenge-like tests the training designed for them until the next day.

Organized by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (FMSC), the animators of the Boso-Boso parish youth, the workshop was facilitated by Ms. Ellen B. Catchicho, the guidance counselor of the St. Camillus College Seminary in Marikina City. Camillian scholastics Eli L. Navarro, MI and this writer joined the FMSC Sr. Carlota M. Cabili, Sr. Marisa H. Orquin, and Sr. Zita N. Gutang as co-facilitators. Some members of the Parish Pastoral Council were also there to oversee.

Several stations were set up at different sites of the beach. Each station, manned by one facilitator, presented a challenge that tried the leadership potentials and teamwork of the participants divided into four teams. After a team had conquered or failed a particular task, the station facilitator processed its learnings.

Aside from the physical, mental, and relational challenges, venues where the youth enhanced and shared their talents were also provided by the training. At the plenary sessions, equipped with experiences from their group tasks and other group dynamics, the participants imparted to each other their own renewed meanings and discoveries on being a leader and a team member. The facilitators reinforced their reflections with inputs to validate their leveled up learnings and, most importantly, to encourage them to translate all these leadership and team building skills and knowledge into a leveled up joyful service in the parish. The youth then elected their new sets of servant-leaders to cap their Batangas adventure.

Sacristan Jimmy C. Ruizo, Jr. shared this insight: “It was an exciting day. Beautiful and blessed. It was a mysterious journey towards new knowledge, towards a new life.

“At first, I thought we could choose our own teammates, but I was wrong. I didn’t know well most of the persons in my group.  Despite this, as a team, we were able to make the first, second, and fourth tasks. We failed in the third, though. It was because we never took time to plan how to accomplish the job. And there we learned that good leadership entails discipline, cooperation, and communication.

“Through the group activities, I realized that to be a good leader, I should no longer follow the wrong notion that “once you are the leader, you will do everything by yourself.” I should bear in mind that I have members who also have ideas for me to consider, and who are like my friends who will always be there for me.”