Sunday, December 5, 2010

Halang, Amadeo, Cavite Youth Hike 2003 Reminisced!

I will share with you all the things that I could recall about this hike in summer of 2003 in Pakil, Laguna. I can't even remember the month! Huh! Sign of.......wisdom? he he! As I have said, Rolly and I are the ones who( I can't think of the proper word to describe) organized? No, it wasn't planned! I don't think so, coordinated? Not again,!I think I would say convened the youth for this climb. Why did I choose to say that word? Little did I knew about mountaineering that time. We did that climb without knowing the proper attire, gear, things to bring, etc. in climbing any mountain.In short we're not properly oriented. Our pictures will attest to this. Ha !Ha! Poor Rolly didn't even show  up that day! Thanks to Ian, Aldrein and his fellow mountaineer who served as our guide. Only a few months ago, after we had Basic Mountaineering Seminar, Darwin told me that after we did that climb Rolly did a post climb as a consequence.

Pakil, Laguna depending on the traffic, is approximately a two -hour drive from Las Pinas City. A few kilometers away from Sta. Cruz , Laguna and 114 kms. away from Manila . I drove my car and others hired a jeep , so I don't  have any idea regarding fare cost on public transportation. I'll ask Rolly to help me post more information about this place.

I would say it was a fun climb, as we walk up that grassy land  we've never met any mountaineer  along the way unlike our recent hike, except for one local , riding with his horse. Probably the area  is not that known to mountaineers during that time of our climb.After an hour of trekking we've reached the first hill and took a rest for five minutes. I felt exhausted, took a sip of water then walked again. After a while, we crossed a barbed wire fenced heading towards the falls. As we get near the place everyone got excited upon hearing the rushing water from the falls. There's a steep slope going down to the falls. Everyone managed to get down. And then, finally! We arrived at the place.Huh!

Everyone was so happy seeing God's wonderful creation especially when we've reached the falls after two hours of trekking.( Sulit ang Pagod!) Upon seeing the area, the visual reward is worth the effort. Everybody just awed by the beauty of mother nature.Everybody can't wait to swim on the clear water of the falls.We spent about an hour and a half at the place, had lunch, socials, then we head back to the jump off area . It's also good that I didn't know what I supposed to know about climbing way back then.  If not, that would not be a fun climb perhaps.

Thank God for protecting us and for giving us the strength to endure the scorching heat of the sun. Everyone went home with happy faces!


    
"Let the field exult, and all that is therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy."     Psalm 96:12

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Detour - Youth Rebirth

     Detour is a group of young people of Jesus Christ Full Gospel Int. Mission located at #7 Zenia St. . Vergonville Subd. Las Pinas City, Philippines.It is  headed by our Senior Pastor Rev. Bienvenido A. Bayas. 
     On the 25th of September 2010 , Youth Ministry was revived after more than a year of silence. We appointed new set of officers who are willing to give their time and talent to lead this group of young people. Myla Dimapilis, Louise Anne Bayas, Dennis Dimapilis, Bodjie Delos Reyes, Matthew Castro, and Patty Sarreal were chosen and commissioned on the following day by our Senior Pastor during the morning service. Since then, a regular Fellowship of Youth is held every four o'clock of Saturday.
     The following Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010 we had our lunch together at Eggyman, a small Tapsihan along Aurora Drive near the church. We had some brainstorming and made our plans there for the last quarter of 2010.
      One of my ideas to encourage youth in joining our group is an outdoor activity. So, we set a date for hiking and asked my friend Rolly Bolocon to help us organize the activity. Because Rolly and I did the same thing on one of our daughter Churches in Halang , Amadeo, Cavite, which I served as a Pastor from 1998 - 2003. We brought them to Pakil, Laguna on the summer of 2003. Rolly in turned referred me to his fellow mountaineer Darwin and Aldrein Cavida of E.L.I.T.E Group Inc. (more of this on the next episode)
     So what's my role then for these youngsters? I served as their mentor. My wife Desiree, on many occasions has done a lot of help on  our meetings. I would say she is a master in breaking the ice. My goal here is to develop their leadership skills and God given talent . For every youth to come and surrender their life to Jesus, join us as we journey through life.

     Jesus said, I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life!