Ben was never close to me before Kool Camp. I first noticed his group mate, Fe, because I was amazed by her camp name, Athena. Then, I noticed his teammate Elizar, who was my tribe mate and one of my partners in going up to the Climbing Wall. While we were up the wall, I had a hard time climbing because there are no more grips to hold on to. So, Elizar offered his weak arms and aided me to climb higher. WTH.


It was during the Upland Immersion that Ben and I became close. We woke up early in the morning to drink coffee and to have a chit-chat with the people who were assigned to cook our lunch that day. They told us some stories about how life in the upland area is.


During the coastal immersion, Ben and I became more close because he was the only group mate I had whom I can jam with. We talked about a lot of things. Because the YMA people noticed our closeness, some of them started to tease us. Fuji even teased me. He was pointing at a picture wherein the name “Benedict” was found and said, “uuuyy, Benedict.” WTH. Had he known who my crush was at that time, he would hesitate to tease me.


Before graduation, I had the chance to talk to Ben and asked him to help with the data of our research project. Although my group did not have the chance to report, I was glad that Ben helped me prepare.


I don’t know why I am very comfortable with Ben. I can say that we share something more than what simple friends share.

I never knew that Ben voted me for the Bridging Leader award. I never knew that he treats me as the best of the friendliest YMAers. :D

Few minutes passed by, some teams were at the venue. With their business attires and cocktail dresses, they were very nice to look at. It was as if they are not students anymore, but professionals.

The VIPs include Sir Bobby Aboitiz, Sir Roberto Aboitiz, our headmaster Ma’am Eve

January 25-27, 2009
Girl Scout Camp/ Punta Engaño

Learning while having fun is what RAFI’s Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) is giving. It introduces recreational activities wherein the camper can learn many valuable lessons.

KAC has a main principle which is “challenge by choice”. It says that every person has the right to decide on which level of challenge to choose. It teaches a camper to respect a person’s ideas or choices. It’s the chance to try new challenges or the opportunity to back off from a challenge.

Awareness and trust to one’s self, focus, value of time, playing to win, safety, courage and paradigm shift are some words or set of words that I have encountered in the camp.

Awareness and trust to one’s self leads you to be a better person and are very essential in achieving one’s success.

For me, focus is having concentration. One should concentrate to one thing only because no one can serve two masters at the same time. “When you master the ability to focus, you will master the thing itself” (KAC Handbook)

I have also learned the value of time. Time is gold, very precious. It can’t bring back what was once lost. It should be used wisely.

Playing to win is the favorite lesson that I have learned in the camp. It’s learning, without beating someone or reaching a goal. It’s just about seeing change as a challenge taking risks. It is very useful in facing life’s obstacles without stepping into others or hurting someone’s feelings.

Safety comes with the word responsibility. One is to ensure the safety of his/her comrade or loved one. It is a primary rule in taking risks and slaying dragons. Eyes on the climber, two hands on the rope, feet to the ground and staying focus are the things that did when doing the rope courses to ensure my teammate’s safety.

Paradigm shift is one of the nicest things that I have learned in the camp. It’s just a matter of seeing things in different perspective, being optimistic. I have always been pessimistic before but KAC helped me to look at things positively.

The camp taught me that there really are some persons who are willing to catch you if you’re falling, who are always there to help you in times of need, and who are always there in to share with you your happiness and sorrow. They are the so-called life spotters and belayers.

I have been through a camp before, which is camp 162, but I have learned more things in camp 189. I learned to share my God-given blessings to everyone equally, fairness. I have gained the trust of some people whom I have known for just a few days, trustworthiness. I have cared for some people whom I considered perfect strangers before, caring leadership. I have stepped up, followed rules, stay grounded, respected other’s ideas and choices and taken the responsibility to lead.
In Kool Adventure Camp, it’s not what happened to me that’s important, but it’s what happened in me…

January 3-4
RAFI Plenary hall

January 3 at the RAFI Plenary Hall: our first day of class in the Young Minds Academy (YMA). There, I saw new faces, met new friends, and heard the miracles that God has showered upon Ms. Celine Yu, our speaker for that day.

Our session was all about S. Leadership, being a leader through
the Potter’s way.

S. Leadership taught me how to live every day of my life by putting God at the center of it. Matthew 7:7 tells us that,” Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” I should not hesitate to approach God because He is always there to help and to guide me the right way. He will always be the superhero who gives me yoke, who’ll guide me to be a better person.

S. Leadership taught me how to sore high like eagles. It taught me how to fight life’s obstacles, just as how the eagles fight and go with the wind. I’ve also learned how to care and unite with my team, just as how the eagles protect their family. I should have a goal in my life, just like the eagles’ 20-20 vision.

I should always be there to help my teammates, may it be in failures or success. Each member of our team should encourage each other to unite and have a strong foundation so that it is hard for us to fall. We should act like those flocks of geese flying in V-formation.

We should always encourage the hand behind the event. For every success that we may achieve, we should always remember that God was there who helped so that we may experience it. And for every failure, we should always put to mind that it happened on purpose and God has other plans for us.

I have learned that I should swallow my pride because it may lead me to do bad things. I should always be humble to whatever blessing He has given me.

I should be able to help other people in times of need especially at school and in YFC. If they approach me, it means that I am capable of helping them. I should use my God-given ability of peer facilitating.

I should share every lesson that I have learned in the lecture. What will be its help if I won’t share it to others?

I am God’s instrument. He gave me lots of blessings, talent and skills. I should use them for his purpose because I am an S. Leader.