GSP Showdown Encampment 2014

Awards given during the awarding ceremony

It's that much celebrated year-ender for the Girl Scouts of USJ-R, Showdown Encampment. It's been a Girl Scout tradition to hold this event year after year with various themes and motifs, each representing one identity: Scouting. Seeing the girls in action, with tents pitched, banner flowing with the wind, awards awaiting, skills showcased, and talents unsurpassed reminds me of the greatest four years of my life. 

CW: Me, Jhanica, Kim, Joann

So much has happened in the past 10 months, and it just feels great to be with the people I've missed once again. Even if it was just for a day, it was one great reunion.

Front lobby of St. Ezekiel Moreno Building

It was a job well done by this year's Senior Planning Board and Company. After the many months of tedious planning, of paperworks and letters being signed by the school board, the never-forgotten financial problems, discipline issues and quarrels, it's all gone and passed now. Overcome and let gone.

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Groupie, candidly shot. Wondered where my phone went when I woke up.

Just simple conversations, little tidbits. Like the 'ol times, with the same girls in green. Guess nothing else changed, it's still the same 'yagit' faces, only now a li'l bit older and a lot wiser, as responsible as can ever be and as green as the leaves on the trees beyond the field.

Wishing two more people could've been there with us, but, there's always summer. A week more, and it's freeeedom!

Yours,

Angel

What It Means to be a Girl in Green

USJ-R GSP Batch 2013-2014

 Being a Girl Scout is not just about girls in green wearing scarves and camp outs, the name itself is the purest form of one global organization aiming to be the change this world wants to see.

Independence Day 2011

It is a community of girls making a radical movement in their own little ways, and I am proud to be part of this community--the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. I've been with the Girl Scouts for four years (and counting), and in that four years, I've witnessed how life-changing being a Girl Scout is. 

Two-years-and-a-half ago

Being a freshman in the University of San Jose-Recoletos sans a knowledge of the school's organizations, I was recruited into the world of scouting. The moment I passed through the series of Oral Defenses and skills training prepared by senior Girl Scout Leaders is the moment I became the girl who does things extraordinarily well.

Ground-To-Air

Tree planting in Guiwanon, Argao

More than the summer trainings, the sun-kissed skin of summer extending for 4 consecutive years,  the outdoor cooking with matching Nagaraya-stylized rice, the visit to the student disciplinarian resulting either from Friday formation escape-ades or  in campus stays beyond curfew, the uncleared clearance in GSP triggering a game of  hide-and-seek looking for Mrs. Mauring-Recto's or the resident Finance Officer's (S4's) signature, the Saturday nights spent encoding and revising letters signed by the Principal and Father Director themselves, the cancelling of month-planned activities, the academic pressure steaming from an overload of extra-curricular activities, is a passion so strong that no matter what obstacles are thrown your way, you will always find another way.

Tatak Josenian GSP ka if you can read this

The many roles Girl Scout has given me: friend, sister, confidant, truth-seeker, role-model, and inspiration made me experience so much in High School that made me mature and live in reality. It gave me the confidence that gave rise to the many faces I owned: campus journalist, public speaker, debater, campus ambassador, RAYer, peer facilitator, squirette, and COP volunteer.

Meeting Brgy. Capt. Lorna Damalerio

Ambitious I was, and still am, and an overachiever too, I would always challenge myself to never settle for mediocrity--this was what High School taught me, the Josenian core value of Excellence. Despite being in the graduating class, despite the hectic schedule of irregular after school extracurricular meetings, and despite the doubts of maintaining my academics, it was in challenging myself that I joined the Chief Girl Scout Medal Scheme.

Construction of my work station

Giving solicitations at City Hall

Surveying my community

It was never an easy road, honestly. From the very first step, you have to brace yourself and be prepared for anything. It was like walking on water, much like how Jesus Walks on the Water . It was a feat that could only be achieved with complete faith and trust in God. You will fall in the middle if you get frightened and hesitate, yet your strength to persevere will grow once you overcome your anxiety. With every step you take and every turn you make, there's always a choice and a decision to make. I chose the field Livelihood over Environment, Dressmaking over a Water Reservoir. I chose a community I haven't been to and people I've never met. I chose to be different, I chose to be the risk-taker, the overachiever that is me. And did I regret? No Sir, I did not, and never will.

Sunday training on dressmaking

From my experience, I learned the importance of trust. You can not accomplish anything without trusting your beneficiaries, advisers, work group, and most especially yourself. Learn to trust others if your want others to trust you. Learn to be flexible in your encounters with people (be polite when asking for something, and if rejected, remain courteous and patient) and in your management of time (do paper works little by little, not altogether, and always make a back-up plan).

Turnover Ceremony

 After a year of hard work, my efforts finally paid off. The journey finally reached its end, yet the greatest reward is not the medal, nor the title, but the smiling, happy faces of the people who benefited from the hard work and effort done to make the project a success. It is their priceless faces, their hard work of sewing clothes and rags to earn an income and sustain the project that no amount of recognition can ever compare, and the even bigger reward would be seeing the same workstation 20-30 years from now fully-operating and buzzing with people.

CGSMS Awarding Ceremony, Visayas Region

L-R: Me, Kristien, Gilian, Apple, Danielle, and Jealyn

It was an achievement of a lifetime. It was a milestone that I could not have accomplished without my solicitors and donors whose solicitations and donations were used to construct the workstation of my project and to buy the sewing machines and materials, my advisers, most especially my parents who, even with a lot of arguments and a 'little' discouragement, were the pillar of strength that pushed me one, Tita Grace who inspired me to take up the challenge and taught me the meaning of service, my work group (Jhanica, Joann, Sandra, Kim, Jeciel, Karen, Inna) who despite the busy 4th year life,  helped me in their little (turned big) ways, my beneficiaries who remained with me throughout the year, and my Josenian and Girl Scout families. Where would I be without these people? :)

I am a Girl Scout and always will be for, hopefully, for as long as the fire in me remains fueled by the desire to serve others. Medical school may grow be too toxic for me to join activities and encampments, but wait a few years at balalik rin ako! And if I can not, then I'll make sure my kids will (in 15-20 year's time or more, haha). Even if my registration expires, in my actions I will always be Girl Scout...in my thoughts, and in my heart.

Signing off (for now),

Cadet Scout Angela Marie S. Magsucang

USJ-R: Living the High School Life

"We Bring out the Best in You" 

"I.N.S.P.I.R.E, Adelante!"

Who could ever forget these lines?  Four years, four unforgettable years in the University of San Jose - Recoletos. The mind might not remember every detail of what High School was twenty or thirty years from now, but the pictures will always serve as great mementos and everlasting memories.

One of the things I love the most about this school is how it always pushes its students to be better. Education is the reason we go to school, yet there's something broader than this big word that USJ-R (being biased, kidding) made me see, and it's the fact that education does not need and have to be limited to English, Math, Science, etc. 

We are flexible intellectuals. Who would want to study all day without play? That is why extracurricular activities exist. There are TONS of these activities the school has to offer, and I'm listing the ones I know and joined.

P.S. This will be a brief description. Do let me know if you want more info and I'll do a post. :)

1. GIRL SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (GSP)

 Yes, USJ-R is indeed known to be very active in the scouting movement of both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. GSP is a non-profit organization that engages girls in active community involvement and teaches skills in the out-of-doors. Activities are, and not limited to, encampments (Backyard and Showdown for USJ-R), conventions, trainings, sessions and conferences.

Community Outreach in Sapangdaku, Cebu City. CW: Sandra, Feresa, Lyza and Joann with twins Sam and Nicole

2. PEER FACILITATORS (PF)

The extended arms of the Student Development and Placement Center (SDPC). I've been in this org for three years and a lot of students do not really know much about it. Peer Facilitators are student counselors who, in times that the guidance counselors have their arms full, take on the job of 'little counselors'. Every year, the PF with the SDPC have a one-day training to enable incoming PF's to understand their roles as the helping hands of the school's guidance counselors.

Clay-making session during the PF Training 2012 in Mt. View Park.

  
3. JOSENIAN CAMPUS AMBASSADORS 

A branch of the Media Club, Campus Ambassadors are trained in diplomacy and press relations. Otherwise known as the 'welcoming committee', they promote the Josenian core value of service by offering help and assistance to visiting guests in school.

 Carmela (at the far left) and yours truly during the Students' Congress of Recollect Schools (SCORES)

4. RECOLLECT AUGUSTINIAN YOUTH (RAY)

As a Catholic school, USJ-R incorporates not only great mindsets in students, but also the importance of creating a deeper relationship with Christ through RAY.  Under the Campus Ministry Office, students can grab the opportunity of enlivening true Christianity. Activities this org delves in include the RAY Heartsteps, Friday Mass, Archdiocesan Campus Ministry Pakighimamat, Youth Encounter, RAY Summit, RAY Camp, animations and 4th year tribute.

Group sharing last RAY HEARTSTEPS 2012

5. JOSENIAN OAR (JOAR)

If you love writing as much as I do, then JOAR is for you. This is the school's official school paper, but before becoming a member of this org, you have to enroll in Journalism classes during summer. Like any school paper, JOAR has a pool of talented writers that write school articles, compete in press conferences and bring honor to the institution through their literary skills. Though becoming a good JOAR writer requires a lot of dedication and a couple of sleepless nights, the end point is you get to participate in local, division, city, regional, national and even international competitions. You up for it?

 

Journalism class of 2012. Taken after the session with Mr. Joshua Cabrera, editorial cartoonist of Sun.star Cebu

6. JOSENIAN PUBLIC SPEAKERS (PUBSIES)

PUBSIES is actually a summer workshop, just like Journalism, that was short lived (2 or 3 years?). Trainings included impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, oratorical speaking, declamation, choric speech, emceeing and many others. The org may have already ceased to exist, but its legacy continues through the Josenian Debatista, and I'm proud to have been one of PUBSIES' products.

Community Outreach of PUBSIES 2012 in Greenbelt, Quiot

7. JOSENIAN DEBATISTA (JD)

The newest organization of USJ-R and the official debating team. It was organized last 2012 and continues to recruit aspiring debaters from all year levels. If you love wit, words and arguments, then I highly recommend you to a be part of JD. Become a pro in the High School debating arena so that when you graduate, you'll get the chance of a lifetime to be recruited int the elite college JD.

 

Adjudication during a debate with the college Josenian Debatistas

8. COLUMBIAN SQUIRES AND SQUIRETTES OF MARY

Being a 4th year High School RAY members entitles you the privilege of becoming a squire or squirette. "Squires are the Junior Knights of Columbus and the Squirettes are the Junior Ladies Club. 10 to 18 years of age are the requirements," according to http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/9233-are-you-a-squire-or-squirettes/ . Like the RAY, Columbian Squires and Squirettes of Mary deal in parish works and works of charity, but a lot of times both orgs crossover. It's kinda hard for some to distinguish which is which, so do remember the quotation above.

Chief Squire Orland Marc and Chief Squirette Kim Blessy during the RAY Heartsteps 2012

High School is definitely fun with the right mix of academics and extracurricular activities. Now that you have an idea of what High School's really like, which will you choose?





Your city gal,

 Photo credits go to: Kim Blessy Apolinar, Zerimar Alo, Sir Philip Hope Mamugay and Annaliza Alforte