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The Ten Sundays of PK Training

On the first Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

- New group mates, to be known later on as the Blue Snickers

- Introduction to people behind Pedya Kamp and God’s Special Children, Inc. (GODSPEN)

            - The first ever seminar regarding Mental Retardation

On the second Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

                - Fascinating knowledge about the Five Love Languages

                - Facts involving Early Detection of Disability

On the third Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

- Seminars on Management of Difficult Behavior; on Disability Etiquette; and on Handling Pressure, Depression and Setbacks [I was unable to attend to this one, however]

On the fourth Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

                - Unlimited laughter during the Laughter Yoga session

                - Innovative ideas, thanks to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

On the fifth Sunday of training, PK brought me to Stella Maris College of Quezon City, with:

                - My (our) first kamper to look after

                - Story-telling activities for the Operation Makibata (OM)

                - Another helpful lecture emphasizing Time Management

On the sixth Sunday of training, PK brought me to Assumption College of Makati, with:

                - My second kamper to handle during the Pedyalympics

                - An afternoon filled with team-building activities

On the seventh Sunday of training, PK brought me back to MMC with:

                - A talk about First Aid

                - Another afternoon for activities on team building and on drama

On the eighth Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

                - The details of Multipliers and Diminishers (Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset!)

                - Learning experience on Play therapy (How to enjoy doing any spontaneous activity)

                - New and final group mates for PK Isabela: the Yellow Ferrero!

On the ninth Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

                - The list of things to pack up for the 10-day kamp

                - Eat’s Showtime! 2012

On the tenth Sunday of training, PK brought to me:

                - Last-minute briefing for the next day’s departure for Ilagan, Isabela

***

All in all, these were what I and my fellow volunteers have undergone during the training for Pedya Kamp.

Attending each and every PK Sunday wasn’t any piece of cake. It definitely took a certain amount of eagerness as well as determination to keep up with the seminars, especially while having a hectic week of scheduled tasks behind you. For us, new volunteers, to be able to join in the PK in Ilagan, Isabela, we had to have an attendance of at least 8 out of the 10 Sundays. Fortunately, I was able to attend 9 out of 10.

Not only was the attendance a must, but also the punctuality of arrival the venue of the training. I was also very much thankful that our new home was a couple of minutes away from Makati Med, so travelling wasn’t much of haste (unless I have woken up a bit late, haha).

Aside from the attendance, the panel interview was another basis for the qualification of volunteers to make it to the kamp. My interview took place on the fifth Sunday, while we were at SMC, and with Kuya U as my interviewer. One of his questions that vividly remained in my mind was: “Desidido ka na bang sumama sa Isabela?” (Are you really decided to go to Isabela?”) And my response to him was: “Desididong-desidido na po.” (“Very much decided.”)

Like what I have mentioned in the previous post, being able to attend the seminars and training was a fulfilment in itself. During the earlier parts of the 10 Sundays, I have learned a huge lot already. What’s more astounding with it was I have been able to see how I can I use these in my everyday life. The efforts in fulfilling each Sunday were very much worth it, because I know that I have benefited from it tremendously.

Ten whole Sundays. Two and a half busy months. Undefined number of new things to learn. Indeterminate count of worthwhile experiences. This is how I would put the training for PK in summary.

Indeed, now that we have gone through all the preparations, we were all-set to depart for Pedya Kamp 2012―Ilagan, Isabela!

***

Post script. Segue. Whatever. I just can’t help but share this particular scenario that took place during the lunch break of our first Sunday in training. It’s something I find quite funny, even until now that we’re all done with this year’s kamp. I hope you find it the same way, too.

I was eating out at a convenience store together with Leslie (a classmate and a close friend), and Iver (Leslie’s cousin and one new-made friend in PK training). We were there, along with two fellow but unknown volunteers-in-training, as well.

The three of us were conversing, incidentally making a mention about something related to my and Leslie’s major, which is Mathematics. At the falling action of our chitchat, I overheard one of our fellow but unknown volunteers, saying in their own conversation: “BS Math? Anong ginagawa nila dito?!” (“BS Math students? What could they be doing here?!”) Perhaps it would be helpful to add up that she actually sounded as if being a Math major for a PK volunteer is synonymous to committing a notorious violation of school rules. Seriously, no exaggeration included.

Noting at the volunteer’s college shirt, I realized that she must be a Psychology major from a certain university. I understand the prominent fact that PK volunteers are mostly students who are Psychology, Special Education (SPED) or Nursing majors. This is presumably because the children who usually participate the kamp are special children, orphans or street children. Being Math majors, my collegiate and I were―let me think of a proper description―some of the newer, if not different species of volunteers, as far as the major course is concerned. But then again, it also dawned to me: does the course matter much when all of us were still about to undergo the very same training and orientation? Just wondering.

But back to the scenario.

After overhearing what Ate Psychology major blurted out, I had to resist the strong urge to laugh. Meanwhile, at the back of the pilosopo portion of my mind, I thought, “So, bawal na nga sa PK, palibhasa mga Math majors?”  (“Does this mean we, Math majors, aren’t even allowed here in PK?”)

If only Ate Psych major knew well. :D XD


*Pictures to be added lateeeer :)

A New Beginning: How I Met Pedya Kamp

First things first: perhaps it’s but right that we start from the very beginning.

The following post is a recollection of how I have gotten to know about Pedya Kamp… (And also, how Pedya Kamp met my mother. :D)

My very first encounter with PK took place in a typical kind of a school day last January. We were about to get dismissed for our last class when Ma’am Jaja, a prof from our college department, entered the room and began discussing about God’s Special Children, Inc. (GODSPEN) and Pedya Kamp, aka PK. That’s it; in no time at all, I came to know about the different goings-on involved in the said Kamp.

To be real honest, I did listen with interest but only half-heartedly. I already had the determination to join in this kind of activity; yet at the same time I also had the reluctance whether or not should I engage in PK. The idea of going to a faraway province for 10 days to look after a kid camper came to me as an excellent new way to spend the summer days, instead of idling around the house, doing the “nganga” stuff to kill time―it appears to me that PK promises these 10 days to be filled with challenges, thrills and excitement. Oh, you can really say how willing I was, to delve in to this PK thing. However, I can’t help but have second thoughts with it, mainly because I was worried with how my mom would respond the moment she knew about PK and my interest in joining in it.

So, the next day, I got the chance to tell my mother about the details of the activities in Pedya Kamp. I also included the fact that I could have Red (my youngest brother) to join in the 10-day kamp, as well. Mind you, I just told my mom about it. I did not exactly tell her that I was, indeed, interested in joining. Imagine my subtle surprise when, after hearing out the details, she told me: “Sige, sumama ka.” (Alright, you may join.”)

Believe me; I wasn’t expecting her response to be affirmative, right then and there. I just had a sharing period with the commander, not actually asking the court justice for the custody of joining PK. Still, what else could I ask for, when I already received my mom’s blessing to go ahead and, perhaps, have fun? Now that I remember it, I realize the probability that she already sensed my desire to engage in this new-found summer activity. Presumably, her motherly telepathic senses might have already told her that I surely had wanted to go right away, hence giving me permission when I haven’t even formally asked for it, yet. (And yeah, my mom might be even reading this right now. HI MA!)

Anyway, with that, I have thankfully thrown away any other second thoughts and taken, no, GRABBED the opportunity of becoming a part of Pedya Kamp 2012. Joyfully, I told Ma’am Jaja about my decision to go for the 10 Sundays of training and hopefully, joining in the Kamp itself. The first Sunday of training for the PK came. I registered; joined in the trainings; became a new volunteer for GODSPEN. I tried my very best to attend to each of the 10 Sundays so as to be qualified to join in the Kamp itself. I built up my determination in preparation for whatever’s in store ahead for me, as a new volunteer.

Being a volunteer-in-training for PK was already a fulfilment for me. Within the first few weeks, I had already learned a huge lot, and I had met new friends, too. For once, I thought then, there was something very great for me to look forward to this summer. Even since then, I had the notion that this could be by far, my best summer, if not my best year ever.

The Pedya Kamp Diaries - An Introduction

We made it—we survived Pedya Kamp 2012!

We have already turned the moments into memories. Perhaps, at this point in time, it will be much better if these memories are might as well be preserved, even only through writing. With that, we may be able to make these memories last even longer than a lifetime.

This blog page entitled "The Pedya Kamp Diaries" is created by Ate Sam, a new face for the God's Special Children, Inc. (GODSPEN). "The Pedya Kamp Diaries" is solely dedicated for the happenings involved with this year's edition of Pedya Kamp, or also usually referred to as PK.

From her own perspective, Ate Sam will try her very best to depict some of the events that made up all of the PK 2012 moments. At the same time, it will also be unraveled how these golden moments have become priceless memories that will be forever ours to treasure within our hearts.