Making A Difference

This article was published in Fr. Johnny Go's Term Report which was distributed to all High School students during the distribution of Report Cards. 

I can briefly recall how the Nursery me looked forward to going to Xavier for first day of classes some thirteen years ago. Ecstatic and upbeat, I was literally peeing in my pants in excitement. School to me then was a large playground where I could enjoy myself and meet new friends. Looking back, it’s something more than that.  

I was once the type of person who resented change and preferred things done in a smooth, efficient, and routinely manner. I also, and at times still do, believe in the saying, “Why fix it if it’ ain’t broke?”. Xavier has taught me to go away from my comfort zone and to continue to try and experience new things because that is the only way I can improve. It has developed a certain sense of openness in me. Openness to new ideas and to see things in the bigger picture. 

Xavier taught me to dream big. It doesn’t matter how funny, bizarre, or crazy it sounds. As long as you believe that it can make an infallible change to society, why not. Along the way, there will be roadblocks, challenges, and hindrances between you and achieving your goal. They are there to test you and motivate you on how badly you want it and not there to dampen your spirits. 

Sadly, everything doesn’t necessarily go your way. At times, you are a victim of this and the next time that but that doesn’t stop you. Xavier has instilled in me the relentlessness of a champion. It has encouraged me to always find a way no matter how challenging the situation. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Impossible is nothing until it is done.” 

Xavier represents how far I’ve grown as a person, rather it is greatly responsible for the man I am today. The school has always strived for excellence as it constantly undergoes changes and face lifts for the betterment of the Xavier community in the long run. I was fortunate enough to be presented with a lot of opportunities. Opportunities for me to learn on my own and to figure out things instead of being spoon fed. Learning has also been heightened with the use of technology. Technology is more of a responsibility that it is a gift. The way we use or handle it determines the course of our future. It can be the source of so much information though it can be used for the wrong reasons. Our dependence and exposure to technology has taught us that our small actions, collectively, can make a big difference.   

In life, you’ll be lucky if you get to find something worth doing while at the same time enjoy doing it. At times, your passion supersedes laziness and your lack of motivation but oftentimes, one struggles at the height of the job. The pressure and the responsibility is something larger than life. As one overcomes everything and is at the pinnacle of success, he wants to step down as number one. Sadly, when we know we don’t have it anymore, we clamor for one last chance to end it right. Even if we don’t enjoy it anymore, we still do it because we know that we can make a positive impact in the lives of others. And when it’s time to leave, do so with your head held high knowing that you’ve made a difference. 

That is the way I choose to leave Xavier School. It is knowing that I’ve given my all in everything that I do. Challenges were there to test and bring out the best in me. It has taught me that there are things worth fighting for and that I can be a difference in the lives of others. 

Farewell Fr. Guy

Things aren’t going to be the same. 

There is something missing that can’t be replaced. 

A prominent fixture gone and out of place. 

Not an adjective to describe his presence. 

I cannot recall the first time I met Fr. Guy but all I can remember was that he greeted me with that smile of his. A smile which conveyed genuine happiness and wit. If I remember correctly, that was the 7th grade and I asked myself, “Did he do that because he was being polite or was he just a happy person?”. 

I will never know the reason why Father approached me on that fateful day. The same goes for why I will never know the reason why he keeps calling me Manong Gian. 

A regular fixture in the Xavier canteen during lunch time, standing tall either in front of the shake stall or the rails of the canteen, Fr. Guy is always there to accommodate anyone one of his legion of followers. You can talk to him about everything from sports, to academics, and sometimes even about chicks! He’ll be happy to attend to every one of your pressing problems and seemingly find the solution to each and every one of them.

Your gym sessions aren’t going to be the same as well. Gone is the most BATAK priest who has ever lived; a regular fixture in the gym with his tight fit shirt, short shorts, and running shoes. His dedication towards his ministry is the same to that inside the weight room where you can see him lift weights with the greatest of ease. 

In intense championship matches, gone is the booming voice which echoes throughout the entire arena. A voice which can be heard and felt inside the court despite the roar of the crowd. A voice which challenges us to fight and lay everything on the court. 

Fr. Guy has been a big part of my life in Xavier. He was always someone who believed in me when I doubted myself. A friend who was always willing to lend a hand. Someone who was always there to bring me back up when I was down. 

I will never forget the time when I took up his elective Drafting for Beginners. At first, I thought it was an easy elective as the name of the class suggested but it was more than that. There, Father displayed his artistic side in drawing with perfectly drawn straight lines and three-dimensional objects. He had us do five plates; each with something new in store for us. Initially I was frustrated, I thought he would let this slide and accept the fact that I couldn’t draw as good as him but he didn’t. Fr. Guy is person who refused to make excuses. He believes that by continuously practicing and honing your craft, you will one day be good at it.

This is probably the reason why he’s where he is now. It is because he understood that making excuses will take him nowhere and that was something he wanted to instill in each and every one of us. He believes that each person has something to offer and that making excuses was just another way for us not to unleash our true potential. I had no choice but to redo all my five plates and with the grace of God, I was able to pass his class---barely. 

Xavier isn’t going to be the same without its superstar. We’ve lost more than a teacher, a priest, an athletics coordinator, a gym instructor, and cheerleader. We’ve lost a friend, a motivator, a storyteller, and a brother. He has, and continues to, change our lives in his own unique way. 

There isn’t a single adjective which can encapsulate with Fr. Guy has done for our school and to each and every one of us. Although he will be greatly missed, I know that he will continue to enrich the lives of others just like what he did for each and every one of us. It is my hope that I make this man proud at everything I do. 

Daghan Salamat Fr. Guy!  

As Father will always tell me, “Manong Gian, SMILE!”. 

XCE Testimonial

This speech was delivered during the closing ceremonies of the Xavier China Experience: Beijing on December 18, 2012 at the High School MPH. 

Fun is an understatement to the entire XCE experience. Words cannot fully describe the entirety of this experience. This was a time where friendships were made, bonds were strengthened, and where character was truly tested.

Going into the XCE, I was very excited. This was an event four years in the making. The last time they offered this was when I was in the 7th grade and me and my teammates skipped the Guangzhou edition because we were focused on our campaign for the Tiong Lian season. But when opportunity knocked on the door again, it was just hard to say no. 

The program wasn’t as hard as making the decision to actually go to Bejing for six weeks. Sacrifices had to be made. For six weeks, I would be leaving my family, friends, as well as the comforts of home and home cooked meals but the hardest thing to leave was the game of basketball. Basketball was a team sport and I didn’t want to abandon my teammates and coaches especially after our disappointing campaign last season. I wanted to leave Xavier with a championship but at the same time I wanted to be apart of this great experience. After much thinking, it finally got to me that there was something to life more than the game of basketball and it would be a good time to just get away from the sport I truly love. Looking back at everything, I made the right decision. 

The XCE had a lot of firsts: the first time that I was able to touch and play with snow, the first time was able to ride a scary ride inside a theme park, the first time that  I was given this much freedom to do what I wanted to do, among many others. The XCE had it all, fun team explorations, great talks from our resource speakers, and lessons which we can apply to our daily lives. 

This program has taught me many things. Things which I believe cannot be simply learned inside the classroom. First, this program taught me how to stay disciplined. Since I had no more basketball practice, I had to watch what I ate and to find a way to stay in shape. I couldn’t just eat what I wanted and sleep in my comfortable bed after. To make up for all the Yang Rou and Jian Ping I ate, I would walk to my room seven floors up. If I had a chance and weather permitting, I would play basketball outside with either my batch mates or with the other students from Huawen. Self-discipline also meant waking up early and reporting to class on time. My parents weren’t there to nag me to do this and that---I had to rely on myself do the things I needed to do. 

Second, it has taught me to try new things. Robin Sharma once said that the fears you don’t face become your limits. There were many instances in this trip where I’ve had to go out of my comfort zone. One of which was our trip to Happy Valley. To be honest, I am petrified by scary rides in amusement parks. But when I knew that there were people like me, we decided to form the Teacup group, the name after the famous Disney ride where all you had to do was spin teacups and saucers. We all faced our fears together and did our best to try all of the rides we were afraid of. We did that---together. 

Lastly, this trip has taught me to be open to as many things as possible. China opened my eyes to a lot of new things from the way they do business to their aggressive demeanor. I was also fortunate enough to get to hear our different resource speakers passionately talk about what they love doing. This trip enriched my knowledge on things in so many different levels and for that I am truly grateful. 

I miss everything about the XCE. To be honest, I want to go back now and relive the experience. I miss waking up my roommate who in the middle of the night, while sleeping, is looking for a hamburger. I miss mispronouncing the word San Juan as SAN HWAN. I miss going on team explorations and enjoying the company of my friends and teammates while playing an assortment of games. I miss the different classes and learning from the best teachers who did their best to impart their knowledge. I miss walking in the cold and buying food such as chicken, yang rou, and my favorite jian ping. To be honest, I miss the entire thing! 

I know there won’t be anything like this for years to come. I am very happy that I got to join this life changing experience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for making this the best six weeks of my life. 

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. 

XCE Beijing Shang Hai

Shanghai 

After several weeks in Beijing, the entire XCE Beijing team took an overnight train to Shanghai where we would spend the next couple of days touring around the economic capital of China. The overnight train was a totally unique experience. It was my first time to sleep inside a train. Although quite tight and packed, it was comfortable. It was moving quickly but you can barely feel the rustle and bustle of the train. Smooth... 

The long train ride gave me the chance to hangout and interact with some of my batch mates. I also had a good conversation with Mr. Aragon. We talked about a variety of topics including college. This small conversation could ultimately be the swaying factor in choosing my future alma matter. Nothing really beats having a fruitful conversation with people I respect and admire.

Upon arriving Shanghai, we went to our hotel. We were billeted in the Greenland Jiulong Hotel. Our room was the biggest and the scariest. It had poor lighting and the window is as small as an air vent. Although the view was pretty atrocious, the small window made it seem like we were living inside a haunted mansion.  One consolation though is that the door doesn’t mysteriously open by itself like the room we have in Huawen. 

Our first stop was the Shanghai Urban Planning and Exhibition Hall.  We were given a glimpse of the different systems and plans  implemented in Shanghai and what the future lies for this city. It was an opportunity for us  to learn new and interesting things in a very interactive manner through an assortment of games and cool presentations. 

After that, we walked a couple of meters to visit Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. There, we had the opportunity to take our pictures with the live-size replicas of some of our favourite well-known celebrities.  Finally, I got to block Yao Ming! I would never have had an opportunity like that in real life.  

 Our next stop is Nanjing Lu, Shanghai’s version of Beijing’s Wangfujing. It was a very wide shopping district which houses a variety of different brands and nothing beats ending the day with a visit  to the biggest Nike Store in Asia. 

Our second day started with us headed to Zhouzhuang village or also known as the Venice of China (Though honestly speaking, I find it  very far from it). We walked around the village and saw the different small settlements. The supposed-highlight of that visit was a Gondola ride.  

After lunch, we headed to the Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower. It was indeed a sight to see. It’s tall, elegant and unique structure towered above the different skyscrapers of Shanghai. Upon reaching  the top, we had a ton of photo opportunities with the brightly-lit Shanghai scenery as our background. Several floors below the top view deck was the glass-enclosed deck where you could actually walk ‘outside’ the structure and see the Shanghai landscape below encapsulated in glass. We had  fun taking pictures and poking fun at the people who were afraid of the height. It was truly fascinating to see and experience Shanghai’s grandest buildings. 

Our third day in Shanghai started off with a visit to the Bund. We took pictures on the paved road beside Shanghai’s most essential and important river with the Shanghai skyscrapers as our background. Afterwards, we headed over to Paul XuGuangQi’s tomb and ancestral home. It was a great chance for us to visit the person to whom our school’s name was taken from. 

After hearing mass, we went to one of Shanghai’s shopping districts.  Aside from shopping, I was able to taste the Da Long Bao, a bigger Xiao Long Bao. The taste is basically the same except that there was a lot more soup. 

Our last day in Shanghai started off with a talk inside the main headquarters of Oishi. We were all looking sharp on that day as we had to wear our business attire consisting of a long-sleeved polo shirt, tie and leather shoes. Ms. Marissa Go of Oishi gave us an insightful talk on how Oishi was doing in China and why it decided to pack its bags and set up their main headquarters there. We were able to learn a lot of new insights on how business is done in Shanghai and how it is to run such a big company as Oishi. Ms. Go also answered a lot of good questions raised by the students. Our host was also very generous  and gave us a loot bag, consisting of a variety of Oishi products, as souvenir. 

Later in the afternoon, we visited one of the top high schools in Shanghai. The students from both schools shared different things about their respective countries and schools. Different games were played, different performances were presented  and what better way to end the interaction than through a basketball game. The game ended in a draw after the Xaverians caught up from a deficit in the first half. (The officiating CLEARLY favored the local Chinese. I even had to remind the referee that we too were Chinese - Overseas Chinese) 

In the evening, we embarked on our journey back home to Beijing. It was a reminder that we had three weeks left in this city. 

TALKS (Atty. Richard Alianan of Baoshutang Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. and Mr. Benjamin Lim Thomson-Reuters Reporter of the Year 2011) 

Experience is the best teacher. 

We were very privileged to be able to listen to great people talk. These people took time out of their busy schedules to accommodate us and shared their stories of success. It’s not everyday that you get to interact with people who are successful and we, the participants of Beijing XCE 2012, looked forward  and made the most out of it. 

Thursday, November 23, we visited the Baoshutang Pharmaceutical Company plant and met  2009 Xavier School Outstanding Alumni Awardee Atty. Richard Alianan. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to host the event. Atty. Alianan gave us a plant tour and briefly explained to us how their products were formulated, packaged, and sold. We also got  a free sample and some ice cream. He shared to us his story and how he decided to move to China 10+ years ago for a better life and for better opportunities. He also shared to us the different challenges of running a business in China and how he and his company tried to provide their customers with the best products at the lowest cost. 

Saturday, November 25, we had the rare privilege to meet and interact with Mr. Benjamin Lim, Thomson-Reuters’ 2011 Reporter of the Year. Also a Xavier alumnus, he welcomed us with open-arms in the reception area of his office and gave a very interesting talk with insightful and rich answers pertaining to Chinese history, culture, economics and politics. Opportunities like these don’t come very often. We made the most out of it by listening and asking good questions. I hope that I will be able to absorb all the things they shared and apply everything I learned. 

Notes: Hohai challenge tomorrow! Let’s go Team Ello Pakyu! 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 14: November 11, 2012 - Sunday

Day 14: November 11, 2012 - Sunday

Theme parks have never been my cup of tea. I’ve always been afraid of those loops, those fast rides and just the thought of it makes me nauseous. What I didn’t expect was that there were several people who were just like me. People who I thought were ‘man’ enough, turned out to be the same scaredy cat as I was. I was not alone. 

As a reward for our good performance throughout the first two weeks of this trip, we trooped to Beijing’s Happy Valley. The name of the place in itself suggests a sense of thrill, eagerness and fun. This is the place that a lot of my friends would look forward to. On the contrary, I had mixed feelings. I conditioned myself that I wasn’t going to ride those frightening rides. I would just enjoy the scenery and take a lot of pictures for Instagram. But when I knew that there were people who were as scared as I, or even more afraid than I was, it gave me a sense of belonging. I became a part of this group where we had something in common---fear. No one had the right to make fun of the other because we were all scared. 

We formed a group called Teacups, from the famous Disney ride where you just had to sit on spinning cups and saucers (How exciting can that get!) The name suggests our "weak"  hearts but it never undermines our spirit and enthusiasm. It was a group filled with a bunch of scared teenagers. Some were more eager  while the others continued to hold back. We had the day to ourselves to ‘conquer’ our own fears. I tried a variety of rides that I knew I wouldn't have tried alone. We encouraged each other to do it together. We had each other.

The highlight of the day would have to be the 90-degree spinning wheel ride, very similar to Anchor’s Away. I’ve rode on a bunch of tough rides but nothing compared to this. Never in a million years would I have imagined myself lining up for my death sentence. It is a ride which silences its patrons. I wanted to leave the line. I wanted to turn my back on the waiting obstacle. I just wanted to watch on the sidelines. 

No! 

I couldn’t allow myself to be a coward again. I didn’t want to turn my back on a challenge. It was time to change things! I forced myself to ride it. I had to toughen myself because this is simply just a test of how far I can push myself. How can I challenge my body and do things I only dreamt of doing? As I sat with all the buckles on, I probably did the sign of the cross multiple times. And as the ride started, everything slowed down. The ordeal was beginning---my life was hanging on the balance. 

On top of countless gagos and expletives, the ride was actually fun. It was surreal to be able to soar to those heights and fall down gracefully. It is something I will never forget but at the same time think twice on doing it again! I may still be afraid of theme parks and roller coasters but this is a monumental step. The anticipation is always the worse feeling. Fear of the unknown paralyses the body and uncertainty makes the heart beat doubly hard. But if you try to set your mind to something, your body will submissively follow. 

I am very fortunate to be able to face one of the things I’m most afraid of but what’s better is that I was able to do it with friends that had the same phobias as I did. We did it TOGETHER.

Notes: All the roller coasters and water rides in Happy Valley were closed today probably due to the strong winds. As John So would say: “The scammiest theme park in the world.” 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 8: November 5, 2012 - Monday

Day 8: November 5, 2012 - Monday

Back to reality...

Classes, here we go!

The Beijing boys went back to class today.  Vacation is up and it’s time to get back to the books.  We are really finally here is Beijing.

Our group, Team Luceat Lux, won the Group of the Week award.  We may not be the best but we make it a point to give 100% in everything we do.  Our team is composed of different personalities and each member contributes significantly. This is what sets us apart from the rest.  The group shines as one cohesive unit and we bring out the best in each other as a family.

There is still a lot of work to be done but that doesn’t stop us from reaching excellence.  There will be a lot of challenges along the way but these will strengthen our bond as a team.  Excellence and growth is what we are after.

“Ohana means family; and family means no one gets left behind.” - Lilo (Lilo & Stitch)

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 7: November 4,2012 - Sunday

Day 7: November 4,2012 - Sunday

Snow.

Words can’t describe the feeling when you’ve realized that snow fell to the ground.  The utter excitement of your childhood dreams to actually experience, see and feel snow.  It’s surreal! It is a childhood dream come true.

Snow angles, snowball fights -- just wait.