ILOCOS DADventures

How do you start September with a blast???

Have a getaway weekend at the far northern part of the Philippines, in the beautiful Province of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur!!!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Our entire family (Hazel, J3, J4 and myself) together with 2100+ members of CFC Singles for Christ Metro Manila flocked to Laoag Ilocos Norte for the annual SFC MM Regional Conference.

This year's theme, CHRIST BOUND focuses on our journey to holiness through the different facets of our personal life especially for all the single persons present in there. Family,friends, career, community life and of course, LOVE LIFE. Because LIFE is full of ADVENTURES.

And so there we were, my family together with 47 SFC members from East B Sector (oh 1 was from the West Sector, I forgot her name) in 1 exclusive bus all bound to Laoag. And not to forget our kind tour guides from Junior Explorer, Popsie Onnie and his better half Momsie.

I hope you can imagine the fun inside the bus in this more than 8 hour journey (make that 10 hours to be exact counting our flat tire experience). Feels like HS again. Field trip lang ang peg. This travel has personally created bonds for me with other SFC members whom we are pastoring in East B yet we hardly know personally and seldom had the chance to interact with. It was a great experience bonding and laughing with them and it was surely a good start for a deeper relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Few things that I discovered during the travel:

1. Many SFC sisters are very MOTHERLY. Ang galing nilang magpatahan sa tuwing umiiyak si J4.dahil need ni Hazel magCR break. Sarah, Nalyn, Liz (the sister from West B, thanks to my wife for reminding), Pattie, Julie, Rona and even Karen Mangulab, one of SFCs full-time worker.

2. Parang may 'something' between Waway and Sarah. Ahaha. Just kidding. Pero game sila pareho kapag tinutukso ng mga members nila. Lalo na si Sarah.

3. Waway again this time as our Bus Team Leader. Masarap pala mag-alaga ng members si Waway. First time kong na-witness maglead si Waway and nothing but thumbs-up for him. He always make sure that no one gets left behind. Kaya siguro love na love siya ng mga sisters.

4. Si Nalyn, mahilig sa lbre. Suki ng mga tindero at tindera na umaakyat sa bus.

5. Si bro _____ na kayang taluhin lahat ng CR basta may tissue lang. :)

6. Si bro Mike na nakasama kong magpuyat online sa courtyard ng Northview Hotel. Siya busy sa online game niya ako naman sa online business ko.

7. Si Jionel na laging nakaalalay sa mga bitbitin namin. Salamat kapatid. Inaabangan ko pa rin na ipost mo yung mga kuha mong pictures sa byahe natin.

8. And sa lahat ng kasama namin sa bus na lagi kaming hinahanap kapag nawawala kami sa eksena especially nung Saturday session na nauna kaming bumalik sa bus at hinahanap nila kami nung uwian na.

We are looking forward sa next sector event natin and hopefully ay makasama namin ulit kayo doon. October 22-23, Sector Retreat at Our Lady of Antipolo Retreat Center.

Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Ric and Annie Manuzon-Rufino and the rest of Junior Explorer for the bus and hotel accommodations. Thank you for making this adventure possible for our family. Both of you are a blessing to us. :)

Wala akong masyadong masabi sa mga pinuntahan naming lugar sa Ilocos. Hindi yata ako mahusay mag-appreciate ng magagandang tanawin. Parang sa akin, wala naman sila pinag-iba sa Montalban. Kaya hindi talaga ako looking forward sa mga gala-gala.

But what makes me want to travel is my family. I always like na makasama yung family ko. So hindi masyadong big deal sa akin kung saan kami pupunta basta mahalaga magkakasama kami. Happy na ko nun.

And thank you Lord for this wonderful weekend. Your blessings overflow. Continue to guide us in this journey called LIFE.