SSC – R’s Kalakbay Camp 2011
San Sebastian College- Recoletos Canlubang Campus- 17 students from SSC-R Canlubang participated in the 3rd Kalakbay Camp on October 14-16, 2011 at San Sebastian College – Recoletos Canlubang Campus. This activity aims to train students of becoming a Campus Peer Minister and to further harness their faith and belief in God.
The participants are divided into two tribes: Tribong Mave and Tribong Aurum. The Tribong Mave consists of eight participants: Gianne Torres, Anjaiunne Florendo, Christine Calderon, Ezra Glorioso, Julius Quiambao, Ralph Reuben Mallari, Vince Zoren Estanislao with their team leader Maverick Cruz and the Tribong Aurum has nine members: Mae Jeena Lumpay, Christina Joy Alcantara, Ann Bernadette Manaig, Rachel Lantin, Izza Solivet, Robert Paulo Pisigan, Vince Ardee de Martin, Jhone Keith Encinas and was leaded by Jessica Joy Usero.
Day One
The participants were oriented about the rules and regulation in the entire camp. They also made a team flag and each member of both tribes were a given an egg that they should take care of because once it was loss or broken, a punishment will be given to those who are responsible. Mr. Joshua Sanchez also had his talk about “What Faith Can Do?”
Day Two
The following fun – filled activities happened on the 2nd day:
• Human Games of the General match between the two tribes was conducted. The game has a very strict rule in which the only person who is allowed to talk during the game is the flag bearer of each tribe and any member of the tribe who violated it will get eliminated on the game.
• The participants gathered at the session hall for an inspirational talk by the School Chaplain Rev. Fr. Abraham Latoza, OAR. Fr. Abe’s speech talks about the way we communicate to God through prayers.
• Mr. Joseph Bryan Cruz, the camp master, took the floor for his prepared activities regarding self-assessment and reflection. One of the activities is sharing the most painful experiences that the participants encountered in their lives and how their faith in God helped them to recover from their downfall. In this activity, they wrote their most painful experiences in life in a paper and then gave it to the person whom they trust the most. Emotions fell down in this activity and made each participant realized that God is always there in spite of the troubles we have met in life.
• Then, lunch was served but it was done with a great twist. Everyone was paired and no one is allowed to eat as well as to drink with their own hands but with the hands of their partners. Then, the participants took their afternoon rest. They were given time to sleep, to take their bath and also to prepare themselves for the next activities.
• Next, the participants proceeded to the session hall again for a talk by Mr. John Aries Reyes. The message of his talk is about leaving a mark and having an impact. With his wonderful speech, the participants realized that it is important for a person to keep on striving hard to achieve your goals in life and no matter how many times you fall, the most important thing is you did your best to reach your dreams.
• After that, SSC – R Canlubang Campus incumbent President, Ms. Riocem Gonzales together with Mr. Raffy Arangorin gave an activity to the two tribes which they need to build a structure with the use of straws and scotch tape. The task was made even harder when they were asked to place their eggs inside this structure without the egg touching the ground or getting it broken. Both tribes were given only 45 minutes to finish their structure. Tribong Aurum placed two eggs inside their structure while the Tribung Mave put only one. Everyone was shocked because they didn’t expect that their structure will be dropped from a great height, from the ceiling to the floor. None of the tribes survived the challenge because the eggs inside their structure were broken. Fortunately, the camp master ordered that no penalty will be given to the owners of the broken eggs. Then, Ms. Rio and Mr. Raffy gave out a short history of the Campus Peer Ministry here in SSC-R Canlubang. After that, the camp master took the floor again to talk about Relationship. In his talk, Kuya Jahbee shared his own stories about relationship from his childhood up to now. The message of his talk made the participants realized that relationship is a word that should not only be associated with romantic love but also with our family, friends and most importantly, to God. Afterward, the participants took their dinner and also practiced their performance for the CPM night.
• Later, the much awaited CPM night was finally on. Everything was exhilarating and electrifying, the light, the sound, the foods, the band; it is just a night to be remembered. Party mode was in the mind of everyone that time. There are games like Actionary and Pinoy Henyo which definitely gave better delight to the whole night. During this moment, it feels like everyone is just very free to dance, to sing, to move and groove to the music and do everything that they want to do. The CPM Night was hosted by Mr. Joshua Sanchez of the Rhythmic Symphony. After the party, everyone slept and took their rest for tomorrow’s activities.
Day Three
Everyone was on the height of excitement for the highlight of the whole camp, the Amazing Race. Before starting the race, everyone prayed first to give thanks and praise to God as well as asking for strength and guidance for the Amazing Race. A Quiz bee was also conducted to ready the mind of the participants. It was a very tight competition between the two tribes but in the end, the Tribong Aurum won. Their price was a piece of “cardboard” that could definitely help them in the Amazing Race.
The race is composed of different challenges:
• First challenge – tested the strategy of both tribes where the participants were expected to count all the square tiles at the left and right wing on the first floor of the school building.
• Second challenge tested the speed and patience of the participants.
• Third challenge – Both tribes were very eager to finish the test in which they need to find four cardboards scattered in the whole field and this was done under the heat of the sun.
• Fourth challenge – “Exodus” tested both tribes’ team work and this required a lot of determination and cooperation amongst the members of each team.
• Fifth challenge was done to awake the sleeping appetite of the participants. In this challenge, each tribe member needs to eat exciting foods that was made especially for them. Nobody wants to vomit it out but they just set their mind that they should just swallow it all. The sixth challenge of the race was made to try the patience as well as persistence of all the participants. This one was a rest for the body but a hustle for the mind and definitely, it is absolutely not a joke. In this challenge, participants counted “mongo beans” and rice that was both placed in a glass.
• The next challenge was held at the basketball court. It tested both tribe’s team work and focus by putting a small container with water out of the circle with the use of a rope made of straw.
• The next one is a challenge to be remembered which tested the sense of determination of both tribes. In this challenge, both tribes should fill up a big pale of water with the use of their bare hands. The second to the last challenge made everyone stinky and dirty and tested the strength as well as the mind of the participants.
• And lastly, the challenge which is also one of the toughest and hardest in the race finally comes. It tested their perseverance, strategy, team-work and faith by shielding the light of a candle until they reach the finish line. This one was so memorable because in this challenge, it’s like you are protecting a very important thing in your life from dangers and harm. It is such a simple challenge but if we look deeper into it, it is full of meaning and significance that we can apply into our lives.
In the end, the Tribong Mave completed all the challenges first and with that, they are the winner of the Amazing Race. The end of the Amazing Race also signifies the end of whole Kalakbay Camp.
This is just the start of better friendship as well as family at CPM and with this camp, everyone surely enhanced and improved something with themselves as well as the way they perceive life. The three-day Kalakbay Camp was a very successful one and the participants of this said camp was looking forward to the next module for them become a full-pledged Campus Peer Minister.
