Sunday, November 12, 2006
Estremera: NYD stories and a girl named Ana
By Stella A. Estremera
Spider's web
THE National Youth Day, it has come and gone so fast as the delegates were kept busy all throughout the longest ever NYD celebration. But their individual stories are worth listening to: their enthusiasm for their being part of the celebration, their observations about the city, and their various stories that brought them here.
With some 8,000 young people coming over to participate in the celebration, a surprising number of homes opened their doors to them, welcoming the youths, and giving them a glimpse of what Dabawenyo hospitality is all about.
Granted that some were luckier than the others, having been hosted by better-off families who could motor them around and give them a bigger taste of Davao during their stay here, foster parents who have less were equally enthusiastic, cooking for their guests and ensuring that they have the best that their homes could offer. It was an inspiring show of kindness and cooperation.
In fact, the long line of foster parents was an interesting sight, because contrary to expectations that those who will dare host will be the better-off ones, the hundreds of middle income families who likewise shared what they have was an inspiring sight. They came in all sizes and shapes, in chinelas and shoes, in pambahay and panlakad, all waiting for their guests.
"Nakakaawa rin yung ibang foster parents kasi maaga pa andoon na sila naghihintay eh late na pala ang dating nung mga naka-assign sa kanila. Pero naghintay pa rin sila," a delegate who arrived on the afternoon flight the day before NYD started said.
Jose Marie Orduna, 22, a parish worker of Novaliches, chuckled as he recalled the welcome he had upon his arrival to Davao -- the first time he has ever been here. It was also his first NYD participation.
"Pagdating from Manila, inikot kami nung friend namin. Halos lahat ng oras kumakain kami tapos nagpaplano pa ng nightlife," he said.
The nightlife, however, had to wait as the NYD activities took up most of their time, waking up and getting ready as early as 6 a.m. and staying on in their assigned venue until way after dinner.
Jose Marie, with Ferdinand Felicio, 31, also of Novaliches, were code Blue. Thus, they were assigned at the St. Paul's Parish Church where they joined thousands of others there before walking to the Ateneo de Davao University Matina campus where the main activities for the celebration were held for code Blues. (According to them, the delegates were divided into three groups -- blue, yellow, and red). Their color assignments bannered by the color of their bags.
Like the normal youths that they are, they admit to having to suffer through some boring speeches, but were quite impressed with one particular speaker, Roberto Quitain, a lawyer whom they said spoke of the five darkness in his life.
"Ibang klase talaga siya kasi biruin mo tumayo pa talaga ang mga participants para pumalakpak pagkatapos ng speech niya," Ferdinand said.
That crucial issues affecting the people were tackled in the NYD, amid catechism impressed them too. After all, they said, the Church has to remain relevant to the pressing concerns of our times. They shared banters over the shared inability of some priests to impart inspirational words during homilies, apparently, this lack of skill is not only apparent among local priests since they also had their stories to share from their diocese.
And then the reglamentary ghost stories... Apparently, some of their friend arrived earlier than expected and thus were shuttled to temporarily stay at the Benedictine Abbey.
One of those who stayed there said he was listening to his radio, which was turned up quite loudly, and he was told to lower down the volume by one of the nuns. He did, and listened on to the muted music only to jump out of where he was resting when another voice whispered into his ear to turn the volume down some more.
The same group claim to have seen ghostly images. Their experiences has become among the conversation pieces among the youths as they were shuttled off to their foster parents.
There were glitches in the preparations too, they said, at one time, food for the delegates were not quite filling for one day. But this has been resolved the following day. The hot El Nino sun was also bothering them, although they pitied the nuns most because of their layers of clothes.
"Nung pag-break, ang mga madre and naunang nagsilabasan, sumakay agad sa kanilang mga sasakyan, nagpa-aircon," Jose Marie said.
A poignant story of a childhood spent in Davao, however, was what brought Ferdinand over.
His family hails from here, he said. They lived in Piapi and he went to school at the Sta. Ana Elementary School from Grade 1 to 3.
It was 1983, when Davao was at its worst, and killings by the so-called Sparrows of the New People's Army peaked, that his parents decided to move to Metro Manila. He was Grade 3 then.
From first to third grade, he said, he was in competition with this girl-classmate, Ann.
"Parati talaga kami nagko-compete nun, kahit na sa flag ceremony, siya yung magba-Bayang Magiliw, ako naman ang magpapanatang makabayan," he said.
This competition, however, brought them close to each other and they nurtured their friendship until Ferdinand had to leave.
"Meron pa kaming parang sumpaan noon, inukit pa namin yung name namin sa puno," he said, promising never to forget each other and to see each other later on in their lives.
Ferdinand, as he promised, did not forget. Going back to Davao has become a dream of sorts, and the NYD made this possible now that he is a full-time catechist in Novaliches. But he has one big problem, he couldn't recall Ana's surname. He couldn't even recall where the tree was. All he remembers is that it was inside the campus.
Would Ferdinand ever find his Ana again? We don't know. What we know is for the duration of the NYD, he was here, participating in all activities and learning from the other delegates while nurturing that wish to be able to fulfill his promise... if only he can recall Ana's surname... saestremera@yahoo.comFor more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (November 12, 2006 issue)
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