Sabbatical Leave

From Maasin
Leyte Island
Saint Joseph
Catechists' gathering
Bishop Precioso
Cathedral, Assumption
Pagatpat, seafoods
Hilongos, aboard
Gibisan ship
To Cebu
Island queen
Southern Philippines
Mission
Service
Commitment

From Maasin
Southern Leyte
Overnight roro
Warm winds
To dawn
Morning rains
Cebu hospitality
MCST, LGC 
Manila return
Fulfilling
Mission
Sweetness.
*MCST - Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
*LGC - Living the Gospel Community

From condo
Rest time
UST documents
Accounts, visa
Passport, conference
Travel plans -
To Bayombong
Nueva Vizcaya
Thru Malico
Winding road
Mountain waterfalls
Bishop Elmer
Father Rom
Winny drivers
Warm welcome 
Sumptous dinner
Sweet dalandan
Catechetical
Mission
Commitment.

Diocese, Bayombong
Nueva Vizcaya
With bishop
Priests, catechists
Book caravan
NCS books
Food varieties
From breakfast
Until dinner
Gelato, machiatto
Joyful catechists
"Gifted to
Give"
Sharing
Shared
Sharers.

Still at
Mountainous Bayombong
With Catholic
School educators
Sharing books
For catechesis
Lovely view
Fresh air
Buko pie
Halo-halo
Chill
Comfort
Charm.

After a
Spicy breakfast
Travel back
To Manila
With "pabaon"
Kind gestures -
Fresh vegetables
Perante oranges
Kalinga coffee
Locally-made
Special "tambo"
Seven hours
Of mountains, 
Rice fields
Zigzag roads -
Catechetical
Mission
Accomplished.

At last
Home sweet
"Batong bahay"
Pasalubong galore
With fieldwork
Sorties and stories
One Sunday
Full day
With Mama
And Daddy's
New project
Condo cabinets
Family
Care
Comfort.

​B

Back to
Jaro, Iloilo
For another
Book caravan
Servant catechists
Western Visayas
Little missionaries
Prince Baker
Red jeep
Santo Niño
de Arevalo
Catechetical Mass
Welcome dinner
Night walk
Of substance
Faith
Renewal
Sustenance.

BLANK

Keywords and concepts
Temporary goodbye
Shared prayers
Book sharing
To meet 
Again, soon.
Then, batchoy
Coffee drinks
Seafoods, pizza
Plazuela, Muelle
To reconnect
Dalhousie friend
Of lofty
Memories
Studies
Accomplishments.

Nothing but
Gratitude today
Pancit molo
Fiesta shirts
Native polos
Biscocho, butterscoth
Unliwings, nachos
Napoleones, tea
Project assessment
Of meaningful
Conversations
Reflections
Decisions.

Such doubt
Lingers as
Tired body
Seeks rest
From fieldwork.
Chill morning
A bit
Of shop
"Scorched" dinner
Quiapo view
Myriad 
Mindful
Mindset.

Calm morning
Santo Domingo
Church mass
Re-read, review
Directory, Katekista
Findings, insights
Morning "pares"
At Jonas
Plant trimmings
Cool lunch
Monkey Tea
Pandesal dinner
Café mode
Novel ideas
Directions
Designs
Discoveries.

Back to
UST Manila
Prayers, thanksgiving
Mary's Assumption
Book caravan
Over Zoom
Cebu catechists
Visa requirements
Prayers, travel
Preparations
Conference
Congress

Anxious morning
Miscommunicated ride
Grab to
Makati Allegro
Via Italia.
Lost keys
Returned by
Conscientious driver,
Faith restored
Negotiated passport
Secured biometrics 
Grab back
To Sun
Work
Creativity
Focus.

Morning breeze
Of lovely
Conversations with
Cousin Iris,
Half day
With committed
Research assistants
As books
For caravans
Packed, sealed
To freely
Share
Gifts
Blessings

Extraordinary talent 
Carpentry works
New cabinets
Of Daddy's
Mastered craft.
Delivered from
Home to
Sun condo
While work
Continues, ensues
To make 
Good memories
Remember talents
Hardwork
Gratitude
Legacy.

Ordinary day
A day 
of preparations
of coffee
of haircut
of spa
of barbeques
of rest -
Savoring
Sleep
Silence

There is
Something about
Time that
Made me
Realize life's
Start and
End; its
Power to
Hold and
Let gone
Those lofty
Memories
Histories
Sociologies.

Ordinary day
A day 
of preparations
of coffee
of haircut
of spa
of barbeques
of rest -
Savoring
Sleep
Silence

BLANK

Ordinary day
A day 
of preparations
of coffee
of haircut
of spaAmidst rainy
Typhoon Florita
Processing ideas
Cross-checking contents
Selecting quotes
In-text citations
Bibliographic references
Presentation about
Collective memories
Shared identities
Contexts
Cultures
Creativity.

First international
Travel amidst
The pandemic
Made special
From Manila
To Bangkok
Final destination
Phnom Penh
At Dara
Airport Hotel
ASEACCU conference
UST represent
What a
Fulfilling sense
Camaraderie
Cultures
Memories.

Phnom Penh
Travel to
Young Saint 
Paul Institute
Catholic education
Memory, identity
Discourse sharing
Khmer food
Culture, Buddhism
Interfaith dialogue
Collective remembering, 
Traumatic pain, 
Nostalgic amnesia
Histories
Learnings
Sociologies

First international
Plenary talk
On collective
Memories and 
Shared identities
With ASEACCU
Multicultural delegates
Huge ballroom
At Dara 
Airport Hotel
Asian experience
Memories of
Remembering, forgetting
Catholic universities
UST's leadership
Educational legacy
Contexts
Cultures
Catholicity.

Of gratitude
In experiencing
Amazing Cambodia
In meeting
New friends
In flying
Across SEA
In celebrating
Fruits of
Hard-earned work
To enjoy
Alone time
Stress free
Finding
Meaning
Rediscovering.

There is
Something about
The clouds,
Rain, lightning
That calms
And frightens - 
Like gentle 
Sunday mass
Comfort food
In contrast
To suspended
Excitement awaiting 
Visa approval.
Prayers
Blessings
Travels.

Today, I
Return to
The hometown
Of my
Real heroes,
Lovely chats
Homemade food
Bills payment
Dental visit
Restful afternoon
Brief work
Mama
Dada
Home.

Another memorable
Day spent
With my
Masterful father
Sharing skill
Art, talent - 
Kind guide
In installing
Fabricated cabinets
And door
Red, black
Combination of
Nothingness
Courage
Love.
*Thanks Jay - Cristhine Alburo and team of Quennie Modular Cabinet and Wood Works for a job well-done.

August 2022 Synthesis
For my
First month 
August 2022
Sabbatical leave
Some chosen 
Keywords, concepts
Emerging from
My narratives
Discovering, engaging
My Filipino
Social self…
1. Service
2. Mission
3. Commitment
4. Sharing
5. Charm
6. Catechetical
7. Family
8. Preaching
9. Faith
10. Voices
11. Studies
12. Conversations
13. Mindful
14. Directions
15. Preparations
16. Creativity
17. Gifts
18. Gratitude
19. Silence
20. Memories
21. Identities
22. Sumptuous
23. Contexts
24. Cultures
25. Sociologies
26. Catholicity
27. Rediscovering
28. Prayers
29. Home
30. Love
31. 30 Keywords and Concepts
What an
Interesting way
Of seeing,
Reflecting, rediscovering
My social,
Sociological world!