About the Holy Land

 

Last Saturday, May 17, Giam Umil gave a short get-together on the Holy Land. Using pictures of her family’s Holy Week pilgrimage to Jordan, Jerusalem, and Egypt, she painted us a picture of the Way of the Cross. She shared a lot of stories about the different places she visited, and many of the insights she gained along the way. Since you don’t hear about the Holy Land every day, many of us in the audience were surprised to know how well these places were preserved, and how many devotees flock there each year. We were very much struck by all her pictures, because they helped us imagine more vividly the scenes of the Passion, and helped us understand the circumstances of Gospel more deeply. For example, it was interesting to know how far Jesus had to walk to Calvary, all the way outside the walls of the city. Giam showed us a picture she took outside the city, where her tour guide showed them the route from Gethsemane to Calvary, all through the winding streets and alleyways of Jerusalem. Jesus’ walk to Caiphas’ house must have been difficult, especially after praying for a whole night in agony – Giam showed us pictures of the stairs and the rough terrain leading there.

 

Giam’s stories and the sharing of her experiences helped us to be somewhat closer to the Holy Land, though not many of us may get the chance to really go there. It’s good that the get-together helped us keep the Holy Land in mind, as well as Saxum, which is still being constructed.

 

At the end of her get-together, she showed a short video on the life of soon-to-be Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, one of the inspirations behind Saxum. Her get-together was a mini-Saxum, in that it helped us (as the description of the Saxum Conference Center reads) “enter into the life of Christ so that ‘we can close our eyes and contemplate His life, watching it like a movie.’”

 

 

Bianca Maranon

An incoming Freshman at the University of Asia & the Pacific who attends and helps organize activities at Narra Nueva Study Center.

 

#HackingLife

Less is Less

A few weeks ago, I attended a talk about “life hacks” or tips that we incoming college freshman could use in order to aid in our adjustment to the new chapter of our academic life. The speaker, Celine Miranda, talked about the different aspects in college survival so as to help us maintain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Using videos, pictures, and a power point presentation, she explained how despite having heavy workload, it’s possible to squeeze in time for exercise or social activities. I learned that college is not only just about focusing on your education to aim for Latin honors, but also experiencing new things that high school never taught me. I say Celine would be a reliable source for this information because being a WR alumna too, she can relate to us more than anyone else. Her tips have been a great help and will be applicable once I start school in June. Hope to hear more from her and hope the younger batches will be helped by these life hacks too.

 

Monica Belen

Monica Belen is a College Freshman who regularly attends the College Activities of C.S.I.

for more information regarding the speaker, check out her blog at http://themakedoer.wordpress.com/

Post-Valentine’s Celebration

 

Last February 22, C.S.I. along with The Coffee Break Club celebrated Valentine’s Day with what we called,  Post-Valentine’s Day. We invited 3 speakers to talk about Love and Relationships from their points of view.

 

Newly married Clarisse Tiu was the first speaker who shared with us her TOP 3 tips in a relationship:

Your number one is still yourself. You have to improve yourself and although relationships help one to be fulfilled, you have to fulfill yourself.

Choose well. They say that you can’t choose your family, but you can actually choose your spouse who will be your partner for the family that you’ll have.

There is a need for prayer. God has a plan for each one of us so draw that strength and inspiration from prayers.

Our next speaker was the mother of five children, Amy Miranda.

She told us that God really works in mysterious ways. That he always has plans for you wherever you are in life and that you will learn no matter where you are.

Our last speaker was Rosie Luistro, mother of 2 and grandmother of 2 grandchildren.

 

It’s not easy to change a man so her advice to know how to choose one’s partner based on one’s goals and lifestyle. That all of these are important for future life together. She says that women know how to love a man especially if he’s such a nice man so we should use our head and take our time.

 

Each of the speakers told the audience a little about their own experiences and their present marriage and our host, Monica Fernandez was able to sum the talk up with these last tips gathered from all speakers:

That the man MUST love you more than you do towards him.

and that God really is NUMBER ONE in any relationship.

Ciao Bella

A C.S.I Journal Entry 

 

Writer: Margaux Antonio

UA&P Humanities III

        

 

            Last July 7’s CSI activity entitled Ciao Bella (Hello Beautiful!) was reminiscent of the team’s earlier get-togethers which were centered on beauty. Fresh grad and Narra Nueva’s very own Isha de Vera shared with us her experiences in the 2011 UNIV Congress in Rome as well as her little trips to other cities in Italy. 

         Isha happily recounted to us being among countless other university students from all over the world who, despite long hours of travel, were very much eager to see the Pope and to impart their understanding of beauty and its various aspects. Gaining more than just insights, bella Isha also had the opportunity to interact with the mix of nationalities present and at the same time learning to love the Roman culture.

 

         Apart from Rome, the cities of Siena, Florence, Assisi, and Loreto were places that Isha adored because of their gorgeous structures. Some of them include the Cathedral of St. Catherine, Dante Alighieri’s house in Florence, and the holy house of Mary in Loreto. She shared with us photographs of paintings and statues of our Lady that decorated the cities. Like our speaker, we were left in awe looking at them. Her photographs coupled with detailed descriptions of her Italian food encounters certainly left our stomachs grumbling for Nutella gellato and other Italian specialties.

         With the upcoming 2013 UNIV Congress, Isha invites us all, especially the university students, to take hold of the opportunity to become more aware of many important cultural issues as perceived by our generation from different parts of the world. In interacting with other cultures, it is all the more important to keep an open mind in order to see what is truly beautiful. Beauty is everywhere but to see it, you must look at all that is around you. Culture is the best place to find it. But then again, you don’t always have to travel half-way across the world to experience these cultures. CSI is here precisely to bring these amazing little parts of the world by imparting to you our takes on major issues that affect our society today. Hoping to see everyone over the next few get-togethers so that we can discover and experience what is truly bella! 

 

 

Photos care of

Zarina San Jose

 

 

In case any of you UNIVERSITY STUDENTS are interested in the UPCOMING UNIV FORUM, for more details please visit UNIV CONGRESS 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

The One Where the University Students Tell All

written by Gushi Montes

(4th Year UP Diliman)

On a past activity on June 16, 2012

   University life undeniably brings about many significant changes and realizations to those who decide to undertake it.  Entering the university thus remains to be a daunting prospect, even in the Philippines, where going to college is deemed a routine step after high school. For college freshmen, in particular, entering a university can become a stressful and difficult experience, as they get their first actual taste of what real life has to offer.

 Hence, to welcome the freshmen and ease their anxieties about the university, college veterans from the major universities in the Philippines were invited to speak in an open-forum discussion on issues and concerns about university life. College freshmen, high school seniors, teachers and mentors were likewise invited to participate in the discussion. The forum, which took place in the Narra Nueva living room, served as the activity hosted by the C.S.I. to hail the start of the school year.

The discussion was free-flowing and lively, with moderator Ina Capulong opening the forum by asking the speakers to give their general impressions about their respective universities. Coming from the University of the Philippines (UP), I talked about how diversity and competitiveness in University of the Philippinesbecome key concerns that UP freshmen should be prepared to deal with. Another UP student, Zarina San Jose, similarly noted that the diversity of professors in the University of the Philippines can lead to make-or-break situations in the academic life of a UP student.  For the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), moderator Ina Capulong described how UA&P effectively prepares its students for their professional careers in the workforce. Margaux Antonio, also a UA&P student, likewise listed the advantages and disadvantages of her university’s relatively small size.  Ateneo de Manila (AdMU) students Kamille Vera and Ingrid Calub debunked popular myths about attending their university, while former De La Salle University students Celine Miranda and Mia Olivares talked about the challenges of balancing academic and organization life within a trimester set-up.

As the speakers gave their impressions, the audience contributed to the animated discussion by raising intriguing questions. Chiqui Agoncillo, a freshman at the University of the Philippines, asked if freshmen were “being unnecessarily paranoid” upon entering the University, based on what several upperclassmen have told her.   I answered her question by discussing how “being paranoid” is a trait that freshmen may need sometimes, especially since freshmen have to deal with many things that upperclassmen do not need to adjust to. Carmela Vertido, a mentor of several college students, asked for more details on how students can deal with professors. Zarina San Jose then talked about how professors can come in all shapes and sizes, but they nevertheless generally treat students as equals within the university setting. Other audience members also asked how college students can handle balancing their faith and religion amidst influences in the university which may oppose them.  Kamille Vera answered the question by explaining that it is very possible for college students to be open-minded about other viewpoints and perspectives but remain firm in their own religious beliefs and convictions within the university.

 Although the discussion gravitated towards serious topics, there were many laughs and light moments as the speakers shared their own experiences as freshmen, from getting lost in their respective campuses to meeting all sorts of friends from different places. The forum also ended abruptly with the cheerful announcement of a “college-style” merienda, wherein pizza, potato chips and s’mores were served to all the forum’s participants.

As they went their separate ways, both the college veterans, refreshed by recalling their past days in the university, and the freshmen, now armed with advice and cheerful support from their ates, felt more than ready to tackle head-on the challenges that await them in their universities during this coming academic year.

Photos care of Zars San Jose

An activity of:

Beating the Heat with a Summer Treat

By Margaux Antonio

In the heat of last of April 28, the Narra Nueva college group hosted the much-awaited Summer Treats activity. This summer, the group decided to take a break from the usual intellectually stimulating Culture Stuff and Issues (CSI) activities and we tried something a little more hands-on. 

A good way to forget the Summer Heat is to watch a “Baking Master” make a chillin treat!

Baking master, Mari Barretto shared her easy Mango Cream Pie recipe and made her demo just like a cooking show right there and then with the aid of candid host, Regina Capulong. With just a pack of crushed graham crackers, a cup of butter, cartons of cream and a couple of sweet mangoes, this pie definitely gave everyone a taste of the ultimate summer chill experience. I think that those of us who went for seconds and thirds can’t deny that!

Mari lays down the prepped  ingredents for baking.	Ready for mixture!	Finally! The finished base!

Who knew that a lemon-lime  carbonated drink and grenadine mixed together would make such a refreshing and  eye catching drink!

 
 

Summer would not be complete with the occasional refreshing drink in place of our favorite mineral water. Our audience oooh-ed and aaah-ed as Celine Miranda introduced the mocktail Shirley Temple which was made with a simple glass of 7UP and a splash of Grenadine or strawberry syrup. This mocktail was invented around the 1930’s when allegedly the child actress Shirley Temple requested for a cocktail drink and the genius bartender concocted this non-alcoholic beverage for her instead.

The finishing touches of the drink is a little bit o’ grenadine	Easy for anyone to make!

 

 

 

Thanks to this activity, everyone had the chance to do some hands-on food preparation while certainly having tons of fun at the same time. With all the free time that we have this summer, finding ways to beat the heat with cool and easy desserts is without a doubt a great way to use our leisure time.

Stay tuned for the next, of many, CSI activities!

Audience toasting to the well-made Shirley Temple and cool Mango Cream Pie.

Photos care of

Monica Lee	Ina Capulong

 

A C.S.I.  Activity