AN ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURE

My cousin Omar and I had a great adventure in heading to new places that awaited us with exuberant thrilling experience. We didn’t know what’s going to happen along the way and the feeling gave us intense excitement even for long hours of wait and travel.

It was already noontime of May 26, 2009 when we reached Camp Sabros in Kapatagan, Digos City for the first time where the longest zipline course in Asia is installed. The view was exhilarating and the cool breeze gave us comforting atmosphere. The place was undeniably fascinating and there were plenty of tourists around. We were happy to find new friends who were visiting from Cagayan de Oro and just like us, were strangers to the wonders of our native land. Thanks to them, they took some of our pictures together.

After lunch, we immediately engaged in the zipline that was set very high. We could barely see inches of trees from above. The first pass is a tandem so my fear was lessened because Omar and I will be going together. My heart beat faster than ever as we rushed along the zipline cable; more so when we had to sit on the steel case in the second pass of the course. All we could see is an awesome miniature view of the plains and mountains where myriad of plants and trees flourish. When we started moving along the cable, all our fears vanished that we could not help but shout “Yahooooo!!!” at the top of our lungs like Tarzan shouts “Aooooooooh!!!” We were like Supermen for some minutes of experience that seemed like flying over the grandiose creatures of the land.

On the following day, we traveled towards Cagayan de Oro City from Davao City for another adventure – whitewater rafting along Cagayan River. It was a long 7-hour bus ride passing different cities and municipalities, plains, valleys and mountains. It was also a travel passing through different bridges and seeing liver-stretching cliffs and ravines. Thrilled by just seeing these wonderful sights, all the pains and exhaustion were meaningless.

Cagayan de Oro is also known as the “Golden City of Friendship”. The city is developed in its commerce, rich in history and blessed with various natural resources and wonders. There are many tourist destinations in Cagayan de Oro. One of which is the Cagayan River where you can get a whole lot of fun and excitement from whitewater rafting.

I haven’t known of this until I saw one of my friends’ pictures. My friend Pong was one good reason too of visiting the place. I haven’t seen him for more than four years. He is one good friend I could count on. He is a kidney transplant survivor and seeing him alive and kicking is truly amazing. We were buddies then in Gen. Santos City way back 1998 during a Banker’s December Presentation. Busy as he is with his work, He gave us some information and that led us to another unforgettable experience.

We got to Cagayan past 3 o’clock P.M. on May 27, 2009. We checked-in to a chic hotel then trying to contact somebody who could guide us along the river on the following day. We were informed that a minimum of 6 participants is needed to go for the activity. It felt sorry until we got a message later that a booking was made by some group who could accommodate us. We gained life after that information. Pong accompanied us in the evening during dinner and acquainted us with some of CDO’s night life and places. We went to a bar where we enjoyed drinks and music played by a local band. He introduced us to some of his friends and the chat went lively.
After the night was over, Omar and I got back with our pleasure hunt. Whitewater rafting was new to us. We never knew what to expect. Come what may, we just prepared ourselves for the escapade.

Before the 12:30 P.M. pickup time, we visited the Museum de Cagayan in Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan). We got to know the history of the place, its people and beliefs and how our great national hero had influenced the lives of its populace during the heyday of his writing revolution. “La Solidaridad”, a famous newspaper he created together with great heroes Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena circulated in the area. We seemed to get back to the past. It felt great that after the war was over and the place had propelled to where it stands now, we were there to appreciate the bounty of the place.

Time to meet our guides and raftmates, a jeepney picked us up. We were then headed off to the rafting site, the Cagayan River. This body of water separates Bukidnon to one side and Cagayan de Oro on the other side. Before the engagement, we were briefed with some important information about rafting safety and preparedness. One good point is to always follow what the guide will instruct. Do not throw garbage in the river. Instruction was given on how the rescue operation would progress at times when the raft would capsize.

Due to the rainy season, the waters were quite silted unlike during summers when the waters are clear; beautiful, whitish splashes are created. Nevertheless, it did not affect the action we derived from the rapids that gave us a splendid adrenalin rush. We followed what the guide would instruct us and we played so much with the current that goes along with the water. Rowing was difficult at first but as we went along the long kilometer stretch of the river, rowing just came easy. We passed by some still waters but during we approached the rapids, we do keep watch of the instruction of our guide. These were situations that we got a lot of water pressure at the same time managing to stabilize our raft. The toss and turn of the waters never fail us to give a great “Whoa!” from our lips. We also came to know rowing the forward stroke and back stroke, some terms like rapids, “kiss the wall”, whirlwind rapids, surprise rapids and some rapids named after certain events that occurred in the past like the “Kris drop rapids” where a participant named Kris was dropped when passing particular rapids. Along the river path we experienced swimming in still waters. Our guide may allow us to get off the raft and feel the waters with just a life jacket and a helmet on.

On some occasions we would do the high five by raising and bringing our paddles together when we felt great or when we overcame aggressive rapids. When still waters are lengthy our guides would create shower using the paddle. The situation would cause us to giggle.

The river was deep. At times along the way, we tried to submerge our paddle and it would measure more that its length. Swimming in the river was dangerous but it never felt that exciting until we go deep down or away the raft.

It is so amazing how danger and excitement go together in activities like this. Such may cause one’s life. But even in still waters when you least expect and think that you feel safe the most, certain unwanted situations just occur, even when you feel there’s no danger at all, some things might happen.

Life is unfathomable, miraculous, precious, dangerous… It is lived by some in fear… while others in excitement… You choose… For us, we’re already done with the zipline… done through water rafting and… Life is a blessing!

Rapids of Our Lives

Looking back at the rafting experience we have had, it was filled with so much fun and adventure. The rapids were important factor for that feeling of excitement. Without the rapids, the voyage would turn out to be plain paddling. At first, whenever we got to approach the rapids, I was so afraid. I felt I might fall out of the raft. As we went along, I got adjusted and used to the shake. Without the rapids, the experience would not be thrilling.

The rapids are noisy, energetic and rowdy. They are shallow compared to still waters. They are created by the boulders and the volume of water that flows through it. Rapids are the difficult situations along the river. It may cause you to spill out of the raft or worse it might capsize the vessel. But rapids aren’t something to be dealt with fear rather it should be welcomed with fun and delight.

A whirlwind kind of rapids will cause the vessel to turn around. It may get you dizzy. Some rapids will give you surprise. They say passing through what they call “surprise” rapids get some vessels tossed and turned up side down spilling out those on board. It’s scary. Our experience was different. We got tossed several times and I felt there’s no end to it. My gosh! It’s really frightening. When we were tossed upward I seemed to get off balanced. But we were reminded to get our feet tucked at the beam of the raft. Fortunately, we never got overturned.

The river is a very good illustration of our lives. We move along the river path, whether we like it or not. The current will bring us somewhere. There will be moments in still waters; there will be rapids. Life isn’t always journeying in still waters. Sometimes, we pass by the rapids. Life is not always easy. At times, it may be difficult. Sometimes we feel bored along the still waters but sometimes the rapids will give way for excitement. Along the river, we seem to have no choice. But we do have choice. We can set the sail of our raft. We can paddle forward or backward. We can go along with the tide so that we can rest paddling for a while. When the rapids seem to be turbulent, hold your head up high. Never be afraid. Get excited! It may give us some setbacks but if we never stop, we will overcome the difficult situations and we will emerge stronger than before.

Let’s welcome the rapids of our lives!

Philippine National Election in 2010

May 11, 2010 is Philippines' next National Election. That's only less than 365 days off. A lot of people, most especially the younger generations are interested to join various campaign for a clean and honest election because of the past experiences that elections were stained with different forms of cheats: vote buying, flying voters, "dagdag-bawas" (subtract-add) and dead people voting, etc. Various complaints had been raised regarding these schemes and the voting population now-a-days are aware that these things are happening during election.

I am happy that many young voters are active in really watching their votes for this coming election. They have been aware too of their right of suffrage. Such right could mean another six years of agony if the wrong officials will be elected.

I love my country and I'm proud to say that I'm Filipino. I do hope that all corruption and red tape will be curbed. This could only happen if everybody will do his share; to be vigilant and vote with conscience. Philippines is a great country, I can boldly say. Let it not be ruined by people who are evil in their ways especially during election.

Experience of a stranger turned friend

I was new to Kidapawan when I came there because of my work. As a tourist-at-work, the mirth that I felt was invigorated more by knowing somebody who at first was a complete stranger. From our conversation, I have discovered that she is a believer of Christ. I felt at home talking to her. She is a widow and the feeling of being helpless was the topic of her stories. She told me of her past and of how God played a very important part in her life. God provided everything for her family, who lost the "post" of their home. She shared to me how the verses she had kept in her heart and mind made her day to day life enduring. She mused that having no husband is a difficult situation and looking for somebody to love is so crucial. I asked her why and she responded that her children would not approve of that idea. Doing so would mean losing the respect of her children. It is in Filipino culture that getting married after losing a partner is not so acceptable. What struck me much is the belief she held in her heart, that is believing in Christ, that Christ will be there in all life's adversities. This has increased my faith and I felt the lightness in my heart. I am hoping that I too could copy her strong belief and let God lead my way with complete trust. From her, I learned the 3 verses from the bible, those are Jeremiah 33:3, John 14:1 and Psalms 46:1. I will surely keep and remember these verses dearly in my life.