To Lead is To Serve

by: Iya Oracion

 

Last Saturday, I attended a college preparatory talk on the connection of leadership and service. The talk was entitled, “To Lead is to Serve”; being a Woodrose girl, I immediately recognized the phrase as it was part of the school’s vision mission. I knew that Margaux Antonio, the speaker, was also a Woodrose alumna so I was quite interested to see how she would use the phrase during her talk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaux Antonio starting her presentation with a catchy line

 

Listening with much concentration

 

One of the more striking photos that displayed the difference between being a boss and a leader

 

She talked of her own experience in the student government of UA&P, and encouraged us to be leaders in college. But then she began to talk about the difference between a leader and a boss. She said that a leader knew his people and motivated them to do their tasks while he did his, but a boss merely told others what to do. This struck me because I’d never really separated the words “leader” and “boss” before. I realized that leaders are not just those with high positions. Leaders are found everywhere. The separation of the two made the phrase clear: to lead really is to serve. The talk ultimately made clear what Woodrose had been teaching me about leadership, and I’m glad I was able to attend this CSI session.

 

All of us take a picture after the talk

 

About the Writer

Iya Oracion is a College Freshman at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is taking up BS Community Nutrition and attended activities at Narra since she was in High School.

Recap of 2013: Tea for Teachers

This 2013, we had a new addition to our activities under the group, “Tea for Teachers” . Composed of mainly Teachers, this group had such successful activities. Just to show you all some of them, here are some invite posters and photos from their activities last 2013.

 

1. Flower Arrangement

If you ever wondered how to beautify your house or your room, try flowers! Fixed up with the best arrangements, they’ll always manage to brighten up the air.

Some well done flower arranging!

 

2. Home Remedies

Teaching a bunch of children is already something that needs to be well thought of and studied, but what about the things at home? Ever wondered about the different Home Remedies there are out there?

Natalie Basquez gives the ladies a run down of the tips and tricks there are to do to solve problems and get this, at the convenience of your own home.

 

3. Rurals and Outreaches

Of course, we would never forget to give back to society and help out in the different schools nearby!

Some of us in action. Teaching beyond the schools that you’re already teaching in helps us to give back and also to gain a lot more.

Art Class with the kids. Time to be creative!

 

4. Overnights

Let’s not forget about bonding time and team building – which we did right here in our Overnight

 

5. Quality Time with the Family?

 

It gets difficult to spend time with the family, the more involved you get in work, are we right, ladies? We had a wonderful speaker who is both a mother and a teacher and loves being so! Talk about handling so much children

 

6. Ms. Right?

For Valentine’s Month, we found out what it is to be Ms. Right and that it’s not JUST about finding that Mr. Right.

 

7. Cultural Trip

Hablas español? Well, neither do we so we had this cultural experience, todo Español!

 

Basking in the sun and having some Spanish food created that perfect Spanish aura that we were all talking about.

 

The activities were all fun-filled, exciting, and a great tea-time break for everyone in the business of the last school year. We were able to stay in the comfort of Narra, and some rest houses nearby. Surely the next school year will be a greater one and if you join us, it might just leave you asking stressed colleagues of yours – “Tea, anyone?”

 

 

Tea for Teachers Group

 

 

 

Some announcements

Summer is finally here, for those who are still studying and that means that we all have that well-deserved vacation! For those who are working, summer means hotter days but lesser traffic.

These coming days, Narra will be launching their calendar of activities for High School to Yuppie girls. Stay tuned for these on the website!

The Bulletin Board at Narra

We will also be posting some  entries about the different activities by participants along with their photos so that you will be able to see what has been transpiring these past days.

Easter is fast approaching and the Lenten Season is reaching it’s peak. Have a blessed Lenten Season and an even greater summer ahead!

 

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.

DIY Gift Wrapping

Come and take a break! Prepare for the Christmas Season and learn how to personalize your gifts with a little bit of wrapping paper!

Brought to you by The Coffee Break Club

Wardrobe Essentials

Got problems shopping? You think you need to revamp your closet again? Join us for this talk on Tips of Wardrobe Essentials. On what to purge and splurge on.

A Sip in the Land of the Rising Sun

   by Kitin Miranda

Last Saturday gave us the rare opportunity to taste a sip from the Land of the Rising Sun without having to leave the Philippines or the comfortable confines of Narra Nueva. For one whole hour, we were transported to Japan as we were able to witness an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstrated by one of our resident experts on all things Japanese- Margaux Antonio! 











The living room was prepared well by the college girls who organized the event. Instead of chairs and tables, we were encouraged to sit around a mat with a small kettle, Japanese tea cups, green tea leaves, and plates with various chocolates.

 

The Kettle and 2 cups, the Audience with Margaux, and the chocolate-filled platter

Margaux started of the tea ceremony by bowing to us. She then passed around a plate with various chocolates. Sweets are usually taken before drinking the tea in order to prepare our palates for the bitter taste of the green tea. She also explained that tea ceremonies are part of the Buddhist Zen religion, and that traditionally, the participants drink from one bowl. The main purpose of the tea ceremony is really for the zen of the person preparing the tea and the zen of the person who is preparing the tea gets passed on to those drinking the tea, thus making sense that everyone usually drinks from one bowl, or chawan. Most of might think that sharing from one bowl isn’t exactly a great idea, but Margaux explained that another reason why the Japanese are okay with sharing one cup is that beforehand, the Japanese wash their mouths in a stone basin, making it a little bit more hygienic.

Margaux as she explains the sophisticated start of the TRADITIONAL JAPANESE CEREMONY

She prepared the tea by placing some green tea leaves in a bowl with hot water. With a whisk, she mixed the tea leaves with a technique called “noh,” which is a Japanese character that is strategic as you can start mixing from the middle, and then go around. Other participants, such as Chiqui Agoncillo were able to try it out for themselves. After the tea was pronounced as ready, the liquid was placed in the small kettle to be heated before serving. Here, we also learned how precise the tea ceremony really is. In serving the tea, the bowl or chawan is picked up with the RIGHT HAND and placed on the LEFT HAND. The chawan is turned counter clockwise three times before handing it to the recipient who receives it with the left hand, and places it on the right hand. We were also surprised to learn that an actual ceremony takes around  3whole hours!

First step! Mixing the green tea leaves into the HOT water

She also explained that tea ceremonies are usually done for sophisticated and elegant people, and the conversation during an actual ceremony isn’t just small talk, but deeper things like politics. These tea ceremonies are also usually held in honor of someone, or usually to celebrate a new season, very apt as most students are gearing up for the new school year, and others are starting to anticipate the rainy season. Then the tea ceremony ends when the chawanreaches the host of the tea ceremony. The host then bows deeply to the participants, who also bow to the host. 

See CARMELAas she RECEIVES the cup and drinks from it the traditional JAPANESE way!

It was a fun one hour of learning, culture and tradition, eating delicious chocolates, and drinking healthy green tea. It was also a great way to say goodbyeto the SUMMER, and welcomethe new school year ahead! 

They all enjoyed the BEGINNING and OUTCOME of the activity that The Land of the Rising Sun had in store for them!

Photos

© Zars San Jose

A C.S.I. Activity

Stay tuned for the NEXT ISSUES of C.S.I.and don’t forget to take a look at the NARRA NUEVA Facebook Page!!

A new Narra is taking root…

Coming this summer 2012

There Be Dragons

The movie is about us, finding our own dragons. Where are our dragons? They reside in those parts of ourselves we are worried about voyaging into.
–Director Roland Joffe on ‘There Be Dragons’

 There Be Dragons opens today in the Philippines!

Check out this website, which has a lot of background info on the movie, interviews, and reviews.

The Feast of St. Josemaria in the Philippines

OpusDei.ph has a partial list of the Masses in the Philippines to be held in honor of St. Josemaria Escrivá. It’s great to see the feast being celebrated throughout the Philippines–Luzon, Vizayas, and Mindanao!

Here are some of those listed (more schedules in the link above):

METRO MANILA

Manila
June 25,  10:00 AM
Manila Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica Intramuros, Manila
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila 

CEBU 
June 25, 8:00 AM
Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Bishop Julito Cortes, Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu 

ILOILO 
June 27,  6:30 PM
Jaro Cathedral
Jaro, Iloilo 
Most Rev. Angel N. Lagdameo, Archbishop of Iloilo 

BATANGAS 
June 20, 5:15 PM
San Sebastian Cathedral
Lipa City 

DAVAO 
June 25, 12:00 noon
Sta. Ana Shrine Parish
Sta. Ana Street, Davao City
Msgr. Paul Cuison, Chancellor 

PAMPANGA 
June 27, 5:30 PM
Holy Rosary Parish
Angeles City
Most Rev. Roberto Mallari, Auxiliary Bishop of Pampanga 

BACOLOD (NEGROS OCCIDENTAL)
June 25, 8 AM
San Sebastian Cathedral
Bacolod City 
Most Rev. Bishop Vicente M. Navarra, Bishop of Bacolod 

BAGUIO
June 27, 1215 P.M.
Baguio Cathedral
Baguio City 
Most Rev. Carlito Cenzon, Bishop of Baguio 

BATAAN 
June 25, 6:30 AM
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Balanga
Most Rev. Ruperto Santos, Bishop of Balanga 

BOHOL 
June 25, 7:15 AM
St Joseph the Worker Cathedral
Tagbilaran City
Most Rev. Leonardo Y. Medroso, Bishop of Bohol 

CAGAYAN DE ORO 
June 27, 5:00 PM
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel
Xavier Estates