Ever since I learned all about superheroes, I began thinking on where do they really get their powers from. Why are they so strong? Is it because of their swords, laser beams? How are they able to defeat their enemies for someone?
As what is usually done every month, the Volunteers for Change and Tamaraw Volunteers again climbed the mountains of Rizal as a part of their continuous program on helping the tribe of Dumagats. Being unable to attend the thirteenth immersion made me feel a lot more excited on going to the 14th. Scheduling it on holy week was more interesting for me because that would be my first time spending the holy week in a different manner and in a more meaningful one. Thus, I promised myself that no one could ever stop me on climbing up there. And so did I.
Our group, composed of 12 members, arrived at the Citio of Calawis earlier than the time of our arrival on my first try. And as a second timer, I was told by Kuya Celmer and Kuya Ago to join the second batch composed of Pablo, Kuya Celmer and I, to wait for the horse that would carry our bags. It took us quite a long time waiting for the horse. We already got a nap, a breakfast and the horse isn’t still there. After three boring hours, there it came these two large creatures carrying a man each on their back, the horses. There the adventure began.
Three mountains. Two rivers. Heat of sun. Normally, a person from other place would need to experience four to five hours of walking in order to reach Malasia, the place of the tribe. But I together with Pablo, joining the Master of the Mountain, Kuya Celmer, were able to make it within a bit more than 3 hours. Was it great? Laughter would only be my answer.
These second try of mine on climbing the mountain is easier than my first attempt. It is because of the fact that the heat of the sun is being blocked by the thick organization of clouds and the sad joyful reality that Sarah, Kat, and Sharmane were not with me this immersion which gave me a no burden walk. It was quite sad though because on every step that I make, and on every memorable place that I see, I somehow remember the fun and happy moments that we experienced in climbing up. But on every point that I feel a bit sad because of missing them, I always remind myself that my purpose on doing this thing isn’t about fun, it is all about my task as a man who wants to be a superhero of those persons who are waiting for my help up there in the mountain.
Nearly approaching the place of Kuya Gener, we met these two kids, Eman and his buddy, whom we already recognized because of the dark complexion of the boy. They immediately went to us, and rapidly run to the house of Kuya Gener to report to our co-volunteers who are waiting for us that we are already coming.
Upon arriving at the place, I was quite puzzled because some of our co-volunteers are missing, particularly Kuya Danilo and Kuya Kevin. But after a few minutes, there these two guys came with a smile on their face, while proudly saying that they had successfully accomplished something, to release some toxic wastes from their body. After them, the others also arrived from doing their respective tasks.
After some moments of resting and cleaning myself, two little boys approached me and called me Kuya Ren, my co-volunteer whom they had used to play with on previous immersion but wasn’t able to join the fourteenth immersion. They thought he was me for unknown reason. We laughed a bit but that funny moment became the start of my special bonding with these guys, namely Rommel and Eman.
On that same time, we went out and played some games. At first, it was only the three of us, but eventually Ate Grace followed by Kuya Celmer joined us on playing football that led us into a crazy people as we continuously laughed upon enjoying the said game with the guwapitos of the tribe.
The lunch is already set, and I was so excited that time for I have missed the fun of eating together in a banana leaf. It still feels great. What made that meal special is having the opportunity of eating with our royal princess, Ethel. That little lady serves as my appetizer as every time I look on her way of eating, always I get some source of eagerness to eat.
Ingestion was done. Cleaning the table, washing the dishes, refilling the waters followed. Now, its time for us to experience one of the most awaited moments of the immersion, taking a bath in the river. After a 15 minute walk, there the watercourse appeared. Rommel and Eman’s group got into the water first, followed by Kuya Ilo and Ate Gisa and so the others. It was so refreshing and exciting that even if there are so many “lumot”, we still continued swimming on it. And as I decided to go out of the water to have some soap on my body, Kuya Pablo snatched my attention. He was drowning. I immediately went to him with some fear for I don’t know how to rescue a man without me being in safe. I was able to help him out with the help of Ate Gisa, but dude, I almost got drowned too. It’s a good thing that Ate Gisa was there.
After washing ourselves, we had decided to go back to the place. Refreshed at last. When we got there, we had some bonding with the tribe. It was a great experience, having time to link with them and know them a lot better. I got a chance to listen to the music of Kuya Gener. It was amazing, really amazing. It touched my heart so real and I couldn’t believe that on that place I could hear the most meaningful song that I could ever hear on my entire life. And so my other co-volunteers came and got the same reaction. This touching moment was intensified as Ethel, our little princess, sang a song with her father, “Munting Bata”. If the first song was indeed great, this second number of the father with her daughter is so heart captivating as some of my co-volunteers almost shed some tears. The lyrics was so great and the way they sang it, you could really feel that the song is truly being played from their heart.
We had our dinner, same setting, and same fun. After it, I, together with Kuya Celmer, Kuya Ago and Kuya Pabs prepared the bonfire for the activity later in the evening.
We began to gather in the place around the fire. A prayer started the activity. Led by Ate Grace, we started the commotion. Questions were asked and answers were of course thrown. But what really captured my attention is the every moment that Kuya Gener and Ate Mercy share their sentiments about the topics.
I am quite amazed about the things that they were able to say. As if I feel a bit ashamed to myself that I, a luckier person compared to them with regards to our standards in the society, couldn’t afford to think the way they do. They really love God a lot that even if they are so unfortunate to have a better life, they still believe in Him and not leave Him. But I, who is a bit higher than them in the society, keeps on blaming God or somebody on why am I experiencing some troubles in my existence here in this world. They truly possess a great principle in life and I salute them for that. Reflections were made, tears were almost done, the fire is starting to go down, and thus, we called it a night.
I had a hard time sleeping because of my own fault, tardiness. I did not bring any jacket or jogging pants even if I know that the temperature there every night is freezing. Thus, I suffered. I wasn’t able to sleep. I just spent the night on finding ways on how will I save my body from freezing. Then the morning came and the beautiful scene greeted us but we have to move a bit quicker to have our breakfast as soon as we could because the children and the moms are already waiting for us, waiting for some knowledge to again feed to their minds.
This time, as I compare it from previous immersions, is a lot better in terms of controlling or educating the children for we were able to have our own students and focus on them one on one. I could say that our students all have the potentials on being so great. If we could just provide them a better facilities or send them to well known institutions in the city, they would perhaps excel in their own fields.
As an ice breaker, Kuya Ago conducted a story telling with an actual portrayal of the story which is being told by him. I together with Kuya Kevin, Jane and Kuya Pabs, were the actors. We had some fun doing it and we hope that our viewers had some fun too.
Time for our lunch, this time we spent it with the whole kids out there. Eat in. Eat out. Reach In then place it to your mouth. This is how we did our meal and it is quite fun and I enjoyed it.
After the meal and doing our respectable task, we enjoyed watching and hearing the voices of the little children as they sang altogether the Munting Bata. Even if it was already the fifth time we heard it from them, we still had that happiness upon listening to it. It seems like it was our first time to hear it from them.
Rest. That was the next thing that we did. But as I am doing it, I had the opportunity to have this time with Belle, my co-volunteer. We talked about some things, serious things. I was a bit affected on our topic for I almost had the same experience that her friend had, though it wasn’t as bad as compared to what her friend had undergone. It may not be an appropriate topic for us but that led us to be a lot closer. And on the middle of our conversation, Ate Mercy with her tickling laughter, came and invited us to stay on the kawayan house located on the higher part of the land. There, together with Kuya Ago, Kuya Kevin, and Kuya Pabs, we shared different experiences in our lives, do some jamming with the little guitar, and built a better friendship. Because of the enjoyment that we are having, we forgot that it’s already getting dark.
We took our bath, and then the dinner. After that, we then go to the tribal hall where we are going to spend our night. When we got there, a group of kabataan is also occupying the hall. They invited us to have some fun with them and so we did. A mini program was done. Questions here and there. Laughter, an infinite laughter (thru the effort of Ate Gisa). Music, jamming. The night is getting deeper and we decided to have our rest to prepare for tomorrow’s new adventure. A rest which was completed with the great massage that Kuya Ago had given us. It was so relaxing, so relaxing. It led us to a great sleep under the peaceful night.
The sun went back to its existence and signaled that we should now prepare ourselves to leave. We had our last meal and packed our bags. We refilled the water that we need upon crossing the mountains (I should know it). Pictures here and there to serve as our souvenirs. After it, the hands began waving as a sign that we are now going to leave. I purely avoided looking to the two guys whom I had bonded with for I will surely miss them. I hate those scenes of departure, really. I just walked until the views of them were already gone.
On our way back, and as I had the opportunity to again look back on the things that I had experienced with the tribe, I remembered something. “Natututo kami sa inyo,” a statement that I had heard from Kuya Gener on the night that we gathered around the bonfire. I immediately disagreed to that in my mind for I believe that we are the ones who were learning from them. It may not be physically or something that has to do with money, but we are learning ideas from them that could probably enrich ourselves emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Things that could most likely help us be a better hero.
A better hero. I suppose that Eugene’s laser gun, Goku’s Kame Hame wave, are not the things that makes them a superhero. It is their heart, our heart.
Yes, our heart which is being strengthened by the things that is being shared to us by the ones whom we are helping; a heart which is being filled with love by the people whom we are serving. It may not be obvious but the only thing that makes us (superheroes) keeps on going is the unknown thing that is being fed to us by them. A thing that helps us realize that we should put a lot more eagerness to help them. And that what makes us, just like the famous superheroes, strong.
