Subject: Update
from Arvisu
Date: Saturday,
November 6, 1999 3:00 AM
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
It's not quite Christmas yet but consider this a gift because I don't
know when I'll be able to write another update like this again until April next
year. Today is the last day of my sem break spent at home. Tomorrow I go back
to Arvisu. I was planning on doing this at the start of the break but the
computer just came back from repairs yesterday...
Below I will tell you about the past semester and the changes in
Ateneo and how studying is different now, what we do in Arvisu and what I'll be
doing the rest of my life and what's been happening in Camp Aguinaldo and the ups
and downs of the Totanes family. It's going to be a bit long so just skip to
the parts you like or save it to disk and read it offline.
ATENEO DE MANILA
It's been only (!!!) 4 years since I graduated but so much has
changed at Ateneo. There's a new set of 3 buildings called SEC (or the SECs, if
you prefer) which has an auditorium better looking than the one Matt Damon
cleaned in Good Will Hunting. Gonzaga is now a non-academic building with the
chapel and the caf on the ground, the airconditioned The Calf Upstairs (no typo
just someone trying to be witty--and separating the haves and the have-nots) on
the second with assorted offices and a DANCE studio where the auditorium used
to be. The Rizal Library Annex is now fully air conditioned, the card catalog
has been computerized totally (they don't update the paper-and-ink catalog
anymore) and library cards are unnecessary because they just "shoot"
our barcoded IDs with their "guns" if we want to borrow a book. Next year, not only will there be FOUR colleges
with separate deans (the College of Management's Dean is from UP!), a
University Church will also be built on the field in front of Pollock Center.
The most significant change in the registration process is that
corporate sponsors have invaded it, as well. And it makes sense because the
students don't really have anything better to do while waiting in line. That's
how I learned that Nissin Cup Noodle's Chicken Sopas tastes good and that
there's such a thing as Lipton Iced Tea. It's actually also the best time to do
product testing and/or consumer surveys. (Remember, this is probably one of the
few places where every other student has his own cell phone.)
On the personal side, I don't know whether I look old or young
because I am thought to be a graduate student (or even a Jesuit!) as often as I
am mistaken for an undergrad. Studying is easier than I thought it would be. I
don't know why but it's just so different this time around. I had 3 oral exams
but it wasn't the ACTUAL exam I had difficulty with but the preparation. I
never fell asleep during Fr Ferriols' class (unlike before, if you remember)
but I didn't listen either and still got a B+ just by reading his book (for the
record, I got a B in 101 and C in 102). I didn't listen either to Fr David in
Philosophy of Science but with a little help from the internet and two days of
writing a final paper with very little sleep (do you remember what it's like?),
I still managed to get an A-. And then there's Introduction to Old Testament
with Fr Salanga. I had a head start because I had 4 semesters of
no-grades-just-enjoy-Scriptures Adult Catechesis while I was still working but
it's different when you have to study for a grade. He gave me an A. Now that I
know HOW to study, maybe it will be easier this coming semester.
ARVISU HOUSE
What do we do in a Jesuit prenovitiate? We get a glimpse--I
repeat, glimpse--of what being a Jesuit is like. So when we're not studying,
we're thinking of ways to put one over other people (that's a joke but did you
know that "switik" came from "Jesuitic"?). Rise is usually
at 5:30 (yes, AM) and then morning praise, Mass and breakfast follow. We wash
the dishes (for all meals) according to our assigned schedules and then we're
off to our classes and manage our time until lunch and 6 pm when silence begins
and we're supposed to pray until supper at 7. Mondays we have community
meetings at 8, Tuesdays we have sharing at 6, Wednesdays we have Mass at 6 pm
instead of in the morning. On Saturdays we have manualia--cleaning the CR, cutting
the grass, etc.--in the morning. I did this every other Saturday because the
rest of the time I woke up at 4:00 (yes, AM) to drive to Marikina for marketing
(not the corporate type but "palengke"). I was usually at home with
the family in time for lunch but I'd be back in Arvisu after supper because I
still had to go to my apostolate area on Sunday at 7 am. In the evening, we
have chant class after supper. And every day we're supposed to do our
consciousness examen where we go over the events of the day and try to see
God's hand and hear God's voice in all that occurred.
So what did I do with my free time? Twice a week, I went to the
gym in Galleria (with special permission) and swam in the Cervini pool. I
worked on the things I liked doing--which were really what I used to enjoy at
work in BPI--namely, designing a survey to be conducted in my apostolate area
and redesigning the layout of the Jesuits'-eyes-only newsletter. I've seen a
total of three movies: Notting Hill, Runaway Bride (guess who my favorite
actress is?) and The Sixth Sense (which I saw during the sem break). TV? We're
allowed to watch from 8-9 pm but what's there to see? Besides we don't have
channel 2. Free time? What free time?
Special events included the visit of Father General Kolvenbach--the
Jesuits' big boss worldwide--and how I sat across him during lunch and made
small talk. Last August 20, all 11 prenovices (including 2 Chinese from Red
China) were in Makati for the anti-chacha rally but while they were wearing
sutanas (with special permission) and guarding Cardinal Sin and Cory Aquino in
the rain, I was with former officemates enjoying the airconditioning and view
from BPI. I also helped batchmate Lenryl find 4 priests to bless the new
Citibank building in Libis. What was significant was that I got to wear my tie
again--and confirmed that it's really just a costume for me. I'm really a
shirt-maong-and-sandals kind of guy.
Finally, there was the discernment retreat in Tagaytay. It's a
5-day retreat for those trying to decide whether they will apply for the
Society of Jesus in December. I've always known that I would be applying since
I thought of entering Arvisu last March but the retreat further confirmed that
my heart feels at home with the Jesuits. Peace is what it's all about for me. I
was happy with the money and the car and the work in the corporate world but I
was never really at ease. I know I will not always be happy if I am accepted
but at least I will be at peace (and if the peace is shattered? I'll cross the
bridge...). If I am NOT accepted, I'll probably teach in Ateneo or work with
the Jesuits. My heart belongs there NOT in Makati.
CAMP AGUINALDO
Another Father General came to Camp Aguinaldo not just to visit
but to STAY. Daddy was assigned to J2 2 months ago and all of our lives have
changed. You see, it's the first time Daddy is actually home everyday and NOT
just visiting from wherever he's currently assigned. Mommy's social life has
also become rather crowded because of all the lunches and dinners she has to
attend with Daddy (yesterday she was at Malacanang with the First Lady, last
month she was in Singapore and Jakarta being driven around in a limo with
Daddy)--but she's not complaining. She's still teaching but with Daddy around,
she's not so harassed anymore. Ate continues to get richer approving cell phone
applications at Globe--just today she took over paying Verchie's tuition (which
I used to do when I still had a job). Sorry guys, no wedding bells have been
heard and no engagement rings have been seen. Verchie is now in 2nd year at
Ateneo but the sad news is he's been diagnosed with keratoconus. It's a disease
that's said to be curable only through an eye operation involving a cornea
transplant. He's still under observation to see if he responds to medication.
Please pray for him.
CONCLUSION
If you've gotten this far, thank you for your patience. I hope it
wasn't boring.
Please pray for the Philippines: that the current signs of
cronyism do not degenerate into a repeat performance with a different cast; for
the Church, especially the Church in the Philippines: that more men and women
may be attracted to live their celibate and married lives FOR and WITH Christ
and the people of God; and for the sick, especially Verchie: that their lives
be comfortable and that they (and their loved ones) may be able to accept
however their sickness is or is not resolved.
Thank you very much.
Von
PS If you are feeling charitable, you may make your checks payable
to "Arvisu Jesuit Prenovitiate." Email or call me so I can pick up
the check. Cash is also acceptable but make sure you tell me it's for Arvisu
House.