Maricar's Reflection

Hi, blessed people! I really feel blessed to have reached the Manabo Peak of Mt. Malipono and to come back in one piece.

First of all, I would like to thank everybody (para bang Oscar Awards?) who joined the climb and who each contributed in his/her own way to the enrichment of our collective and individual experiences. I feel that we all have various abilities as well as weaknesses that enabled us to touch each other's lives.

Special mention must be made of those who made alalay to me during my moments of weakness (di ba ga may fear of heights ako?) and who held my hand and encouraged me to go on, viz., Grace, Rex, Ritchie, Violet, Rene, Alvin.

I must also thank Lani Girl (as in girl na girl) for her leadership, for showing us that it is important to climb as a team, and for her ability to make delicious pasta in 2 minutes! I also thank Chona for her sense of humor (always!) that enlivened the group and for selflessly offering to assist me even in the middle of the night if ever I wanted to answer the call of nature. Special mention must be made again of Grace who was always helpful and ready to help anybody in distress. (Swerte talaga makakapag-asawa sa kanya!) Biro nyo, she even dug a hole for me so that I can make popo! If I'll be allowed to paraphrase a passage from the Bible, "Nothing has more love than this, than to dig a hole for another's popo." Touched talaga ako! Grabe! Ang babait talaga ng mga sisters na kasama ko! Si Alvin, ang bait bait din! Di pa niya natutulugan 'yong tent na pinaghirapan niyang dalhin tapos pinatulog pa niya kami doon! Siyempre, sister din siya kasi! Actually, lahat mabait, wala akong masabing masama.

Second, I would also like to thank the Lord that we are all able to come back in one piece. Do you remember that we prayed to Him for safety and for him to bless our relationships with one another before the start of our climb? Well, He answered all our prayers and more! Ang galing galing talaga ni Lord! I feel that we should not take it for granted that we are able to make it home safely, even if it's just a "minor climb" in the vocabulary of veteran mountaineers.

Freak accidents can happen.

I think it's a blessing that nobody among us suffered nothing more than a few scratches here and there. Thank God nobody twisted an ankle. I think it's a good practice that we always start our trips (dapat sa assembly place pa lang) with a prayer for our safety, etc. I suggest that for our next trips, we should also end our trips with a thanksgiving prayer (regardless of what happens). Dapat di natin Siya makalimutang pasalamatan para di niya tayo pababayaan.

On a personal note, let me share with you that I was ill the past two weeks so that I was worried that I might not make it for the climb last September 14 and 15. Noong gumaling na ang katawan ko, sumakit naman ang ngipin ko! Naka dalawang visits na ako sa dentist for root canal (and two more scheduled) before I went up to Mt. Malipono.

I even had a migraine attack on Thursday morning before the climb that prevented me from attending the hearing for an important case. Hence, I prayed to the Lord that I will not be ill in any way during the climb. Aba, pati 'yong period ko pinag-pray ko na matapos kaagad. (Biro niyo, lahat ng nasalihan kong activity natin -- Batanes, Coron and Taal Hikes -- may period ako! Hassle talaga!) Well, what do you know? Granted lahat ng prayers ko! Pati period ko, nakipag-cooperate for once, hahaha!

Third, I would also like to share with you my meditation from my prayer time the day after the climb. As I was thanking the Lord for bringing us back safely, and for allowing us to experience the wonders of His creation, I sensed the Lord telling me His message for us that our experience of reaching the peak and of enjoying His creation should not end there. Yes, He created all these mountains and the oceans for us to enjoy. But that is not the end.

He created me/you/us and the world in order that we may experience His love for us through one another and through nature which we love so much. Hence, we can do no less than to love Him back. He is indeed a great and merciful God! Anyway, 'yon lang muna yong feedback ko. Sori po, medyo napahaba. Saka na lang 'yong reply ko sa ibang mga questions. Lab,

Maricar