By Isidro Antiquiera
The author is from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, and has a brother, Jason, studying for the priesthood with the Columbans and currently working in the Misyon office in Manila.
Our Hideaway
Absence of foresight: A gift from God
By Shiela Mae G. Ticar
The author is a third year Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Social Science at the University of St La Salle, Bacolod City.
I was born an inquisitive individual. It’s very usual and natural for me to be very curious about a lot of things, even senseless ones. Since the time I learned the art of talking and inquiry, I usually would ask my family a lot of questions. I would even dare to ask neighbors and people I’d meet. I would ask about the world - its physical characteristics, wonders and so on. I would ask about people and events. I would ask why there’s a moon at night and a sun in daytime. As time passed by, my curiosity about many things was answered by books, media and experiences. Almost all was perfectly answered except the questions ‘Why God doesn’t reveal to us His magnificent plans for us?’ and ‘Why does God allow us to fail and make mistakes?’
WE ARE EACH OTHER’S INSTRUMENTS OF LOVE
By Elaine Roselle C. Aquino
The author is from Cagayan de Oro City and sent us this reflection some time ago.
Every day, I try to find myself and I try to find the meaning behind the things I see and the things that happen to me. Why? Because, like most of us, there is a struggle within me that never ceases; I am discontented, a word that can easily define us humans in the natural sense.
As I observe the people around me when I go to and from school on a jeepney, I wonder if they also make an effort at finding themselves or the meaning of things. On a daily basis, they work for a living. And during their day-to-day routine of pushing carts, selling barbecues, begging money, driving jeepneys or even doing almost nothing the whole day, I wonder if, at the end of the day, they still try to figure out why these things happen to them? When I ride the jeepney, tired yet still surprisingly energized from the activities in school, I often look at some of the passengers and wonder how it would be like to live in their shoes. It would probably be a whole new kind of life-story different from mine. We probably lead different, unique lives.
‘Flying-Tsinelas’
By Jeshiene S. Padilla
Jesh is a civil engineering student at Liceo de Cagayan University, Cagayan de Oro City.
These past few years of my 19 in this world, I’ve learned so many things that I had taken for granted. I had ignored people instead of taking good care of them; I only assumed that they already know how much I valued them. But sometimes it's not enough to keep things unsaid.
‘Girls, wear skirts tomorrow!’
Alma told her story in the September-October 2003 issue of Misyon. This article is related to what she wrote then. Alma passed the Civil Service and Teachers' Board exams in 2007.
‘S-K-I-R-T-S!!! Not again!’
Announcements like this during my college days used to make my day glum. It’s not that I hated wearing skirts, but my appearance when wearing them concerned me most and thus made me crawl from shame.
One of my downfalls was that I had no self confidence when it came to my body structures. I didn’t have that ‘Coca-cola figure’ to be proud of. I just had the typical body of an Igorot with strong, robust calves and arms due to heavy work in the fields. That’s why I didn’t have the nerve to wear mini-skirts just like everybody else did. When I tried it once, it seemed that everyone was staring at me and saying in their minds, ‘Hey! Look at that. She’s got no shame at all parading those robust, scarred calves!’ Those sarcastic glares just gave me the strength to dash to my boarding house to change my clothes. So during my high school years, I had my uniform skirts tailored three to four inches below the knee to conceal my calves.
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
The Way I Remember ‘Daday”
By Faith S. Lagos
In our lives we experience a lot of things which shape our future.
I was born into a family where everyone believes in God, that God is always the center of our lives. My 
father is the most disciplined and loving father. My mother is the light of our family. She is a teacher, a good counselor and the most caring mother in the whole world. My brother is the most handsome brother of all. He loves to play the keyboard and to drive me to school. My sisters are beautiful and charming. My sister Joy is a good singer while my sister Charie is a beauty queen in her own right. I, Faith, am the apple of their eye. I’m the youngest in the family.
We live in a small town named Dueñas. It’s a one-hour drive from the city. It’s a place where people know one other. I live in a two-hectare compound. My grandparents live with us too.
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
Retreat Retreat with God
By Athea Myrnette ‘Aia’ Orayle Caspe
The author graduated from high school this year at St Peter’s College of Ormoc.
My recent retreat was really a vacation with God. I did not expect that it would be that good and such a relief.
For the first time, I was able to talk to God wholly in an honest letter to Him. I told Him all my happiness and doubts. After that, my teacher handed each one of us a letter from God. Even though I knew it wasn’t really from God, I really felt thrilled and happy at receiving and reading the letter. What made my heart beat faster was when I started reading it!
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
I am because of her
By Jomar B. dela Cruz
On 6 June 1987, at around one o’clock in the morning, my tender-hearted mother gave birth to a very healthy little boy. I had an angelic, candid face and a lovely, soft voice. My parents truly believed that my birth was a wonderful blessing for them. With their names they named me, Jomar. They made me the heir of both their beautiful names, ‘Jo’ from my mother’s name, Jocelyn, and ‘Mar’ from my father’s name, Mario.
I grew up in an atmosphere of love. My parents unhesitatingly gave me everything I wanted. When I cried, they would panic! They loved me very much! Perhaps, I experienced the greatest love of all.
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
My Social Responsibilities
By Dennis Rolan Labandia
Dennis Rolan Labandia is a freshman at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro. Here he shares his experience of serving his community through the NSTP (National Service Training Program).
In conformity with government regulations, Xavier University requires all freshmen to register for two semesters of NSTP during the regular enrollment period. This is a way of involving them in a commitment to be men and women for others. In this sense, I feel my social responsibilities pertaining to an active social involvement in community work. This education promotes faith that is committed to the work of justice, preparing each one for an active life commitment as a person for others. It is geared to making the new generations become true catalysts of social change.
A venue for the youth to express themselves and to share with our readers their mind, their heart and their soul. We are inviting you – students and young professionals – to drop by Our Hideaway and let us know how you are doing.
IDLE THOUGHTS PAST AN ASH-HEAVEN MORNING
By Christopher Ong
Someone once told me that dreams are ad infinitum. So here I am, sixteen and surveying the vast and wide landscapes of my dreams.
One time, somebody got angry with me and told me I was a person who could never change. I agree. I never changed my dreams, my principles, my point of view. Many times I vowed to improve, but how improved can a person really be?