“Itlog.Itlog.Itlog”
“Tweety Bird” “Itlog.Itlog.Itlog” “Lawin” “Itlog.Itlog.Itlog” “Superman”
LSS?
Yeah right, this is the last song syndrome of every delegate of the 14th
Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC).
I`m
just a dreamer before and admirer of other AYLC alumni in our university. I
wish to become like them in the future, have my tarpaulin in the gate of our
school. But then, as I joined in different activities in our school I realized
that there is more than that. Being a student leader, I was able to make my and others dreams real. My dream to help my community who is in
need of people who are dedicated and passionate in building the future. I
used to become a volunteer teacher though I`m a marketing student. I had
experienced things which I was blind before. Thank you, for all those people
who had guided me and let me experienced those things.
In
my application form, I really do not know what to write. Perhaps, I was lacked
of ideas and maybe I am not really an achiever like the other students who were
really studious and excellent. I may not be the most outstanding student in our
university. I`m a bit short in height, or let us say I`m really a short guy but
with a killer smile. I`m just an average student who usually go with his
friends, feeling-close with every student, faculty, guards and even janitors in
the campus and can be seen roaming around the campus. I never expected that our
Office of the Student Affairs will gave me a chance me to be one of the AYLC
nominees in our school. I`m one of the ten applicants.I`m with the brightest
and excellent 9 students.
I
forgot AYLC but there are times that whenever I see something related to Ayala
Groups, it reminds me about, “what happen to my application”. It was a normal
day, first week of second semester when I received a letter about the result of
my application. YES! Thanks God. I`m one of the 179 qualifiers for the panel
interview.
Interview
Day!
I
was excuse in our class though I had to take my special quizzes after this. I
had a friend`s birthday celebration at night. I really can`t focus with my
interview. There are a lot of things that struggling in my head. But when I`m
in the BSA tower and it`s my FIRST time, yes it is, ALL I can say is “Oh My
God” angsosyal. Maybe because of everything prepared so special just for us.
During
the panel interview, I am wearing my jacket because I feel so cold. I enter the
room. I cried, laugh and tell the story of mine. I thought that it would be a
serious and a very formal interview. But it`s not. It is the most unexpected
interview in my life. It was such an honor to talk with these executives who
will do everything just to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. I admire
their humility and advices given to me. “Challenges
are not here to make you a looser but God gave you these, because He knows that
you can make it and he wants you to become a better person, a stronger one.”
I
might forget their names, but I will never forget their faces and pieces of
advice. And of course the candies they gave to me. After the interview, I`m
sweating though I`m inside an airconditioned room, 32nd floor tower
I.
It
was a nice experience not only because of the privilege to be part of the 179
interviewees but perhaps, I was able to meet new friends who became my FB
chatmates, textmates and real friends.
Two,
three weeks after I`ll be having a leadership congress in Baguio. When our OSA
directress open the door of the Council office, she hugged me and said “Mr. P
Congrats”, then I replied, “why ma`am? ” then she said “pasokka,pasok”. I read
the letter faxed in the university. I do not know what to do. I even ask myself
and pray to God, “is this real? Am I just dreaming?”
Congress
February
7-10, 2012 is the official 14th AYLC Congress. But on the 6th
of February, AYLC launched its newest program which is the “Adopt-A-Delegate”
Program that provides an avenue for the alumni and the new batch to share
something about them. I was lucky to
have KuyaJoed, Editor of Starfish Online (to be launched on Feb. 29, 2012) an
AYLC Alumni who really take good care of me, bought me an ice cream and cooks
for me. He became a real and caring kuya to me.
At
the FHL-or so called as the Filipinas Heritage Library, breakfast was served
but I`m still full. I still became fuller when I saw all the delegates and
interact with them. My God, it seems that we knew each other for a long time,
perhaps due to the FB account that we had that ate ika and kuyajp made for us.
TatayMonch gave us an activity to know each other more by finding and
introducing yourself for 5 minutes.
We
get inside the bus and while travelling to San Miguel Management Training Corp.
_ Alfonso, Cavite or most of us called as Tagaytay, some of the delegates try
to entertain us by giving pick up line and song number.
WOW! This
is the first word that came into my mouth when we are in SMTC. Imagine the warm welcome of the AYLC Alumni
and Organizers, even the people of SMTC. When we go to our room another
WOW!, imagine everything was provided and we already saw our jacket “YELLOW” jacket this year that`s why
they call us, tweety birds. Our dream jacket finally its ours.
The
theme for this year is “Wining Hearts
and Minds: Changing Paradigms”, sounds like really timely and very
interesting.
The
RAFI (Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.) Team gave us a world`s record activity, to
getting to know each other. I`m with team
A-dorable, Fr. Francis, Ate Vincs, Jimmy, Rhaine, Kita-kat “Chicken girl”,
Dren, Jalvz ( our source of happiness and energy), Nard(Boy Pick up), Cheska
(Kambal), Fr. Cedrick, Kuya Carlo, Lucy (crush ngbayan), niknik (I wil never
forget this guy) and Rob. The RAFI team
gave us different activities where I learned a lot of things and my groupmates
too. I learned to ask for “HELP”, and realized that leaders are not perfect and
sometimes we have to ask for others help to go out of the struggles. I may not
be physically fit, but I really thank my team for giving me an opportunity to
prove that my height is not a hindrance to try and experienced things in our
activities that will make me a better person. Through going out of my comfort
zone, I was able to test myself and seek God`s help.
I
met my workshop group, I`m with Fr. Chok(our preacher), Kuya Gel
(choreographer), Fabi (an intelligent man), Ate Vincs(our general), Angel
(smiling girl), Wonder Cherry (lady with brilliant ideas), Jax (our future
CPA), Argee (our big brother and musician), Ate DR (nanay DR), Kuya Mark (our adviser)
and our Stage mom, Tita Grace. We started the Getting to know activity, “Who Am
I” artwork.
Tataymonch
share us his inspiring words about SERVANT LEADERSHIP and his starfish story
and we went back with our workshop group and consultation. It`s nice to see
that every session that we`ve had we learn how to solve our leadership
challenges and see that you are not alone but there also other people
experiencing the same thing like you. I`m so blessed to have my workshop
groupmates whom I treated as my family. I`m gonna miss them, especially Tita
Grace who brings a lot of food every session, the “chocnut”, “ovaltinees”,
“jellyace” “boy bawang” etc. Our picture taking session with our different
pauses, “model”, “k-pop” and “wacky” that make the photographers more
interested to take us some picture.
Everyday is a
new day, everyday we meet different faces, everyday we ate different foods
prepared by different companies under Ayala Corp.
I
never thought of meeting Don Jaime, JAZA and FZA, and other people whom I only
saw in TV, Newspaper and Magazines. Sec. ArmiLuistro of Department of Education
is our Keynote speaker, a man of inspiration and wisdom. A man who came from
poor family but continue to dream and aspire to become someone in the future.
It was such a great time meeting with different personalities whom I never
expect to meet before, Kara David, Noel Cabangon, Bernie Liu and Tina Monzon-Palma
(the one who gave an advice in our consultation, I`m so honored to have her).
My
Conveners Family Pio, Pareng Michael, Paulina, Charisse, Fr. Cedrick, Ihna and
Pareng Kevin, people whom with me until morning to discuss everything we`ve had
in our group. The most challenging is the night before our last day, we have to
create our Batch name and commitment. This is so challenging and to think that
we slept at 4 in the morning. And with God`s help and tataymonch pampering
because of the midnight snacks he used to serve just for us, we come up with SALIMBAY (a V Formation of birds) it
describes us, 79 people from 79 different places forming a V formation to reach
our goal of winning hearts and minds: Changing paradigms. I`m gonna miss our
“ka-SABAWAN” everytime we had our session. The jokes we had and brilliant ideas
of every member.
Our
reflection time at Don Bosco and our talent night are things that really makes
me aware that, “Hey, after 24 hours, your time is UP”. Most of us would like to
extend the congress for another 4 days. It`s so hard to leave the camp. To
leave this people who became your family. But as we go home, and get back into
reality. We will bring the learnings we had. Continue to inspire others and
make a difference. It`s more than a recognition, it`s such a privilege. I am
proud to be part of this Congress, proud to be a SALIMBAYani. W.H.A.M. AYLC!
The Author is a member of AYLC 2012 from Baliuag University.
The Author is a member of AYLC 2012 from Baliuag University.
you already! BOOM! :D
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