Quezon City Influencers' International

Events: ProsTalk- February 24, 2006

Missions: Winnie on cross-cultural missions

Winnie, a QC-II pro min, left for Thailand last Jan 16, 2006 to get involved in a month-long voluntary rehabilitation project in this tsunami-ravaged country.

Winnie, who works for a telecommunications company, said she wanted to do cross-cultural missions at the same time, so she volunteered herself for this project.

"I know this is God's will for me," she wrote in her email she sent to friends before she left.

She will be back on February 8.

Fun Time: The Makulot Chronicles

May 14-15, 2005

Jojo's account:

It was a great experience to climb the mountain. This was one of my dreams since high school, kaya lang wala akong means for that. But now I thank the Lord for this chance. Masaya na nakakapagod. Nahuhuli man ako nakakaakyat pa rin :). Lalo na nung malapit na sa itaas grabeeeeeee.... di ko na nabilang ilang galong mantika yata nawala sa akin nun :))). Marami ka ring dapat na matutunan at ipagpasalamat sa Diyos. Minsan kung pagod ka na tingin ka lang sa ginawa ng Diyos tiyak na maiibsan ang pagod mo sa kagandahan ng makikita mo. Siguro mga ilang bundok pa mababawasan na ang timbang ko. Sige lang basta ang hakbang at huwag pabigla-bigla, enjoy mo lang at makakarating ka rin sigurado. That's why I'm not stopping to aim high for God!Patience is a virtue. At ang dalanging ko ay "Turuan Mo po akong maging tapat kahit na mahirap." Kailangan lang ang determinasyon upang makamit mo ang gusto mong mithiin.

Watch out, Jojo is coming!

Toto's account:

We had a blast in Mt. Makulot yesterday. We started the trek at around 11 am and after numerous stops, we reached the summit at around 3 pm. Mga wala kasi kaming practice and warm-up, kaya halos every 30 meters, pahinga kami. During breaks, we stuffed our mouths with jelly aces.

Bago kami umakyat, kumain muna kami sa Cuenca, Batangas. Bili rin kami ng mga kailangan namin. Kulang yung tubig na dala namin, kaya tipid kami. Ka-start pa lang namin, si Gerry humihingal na. May mga designated stations na pahingaan, at sa first station pa lang, medyo umaambon. Buti na lang di umulan. Ini-expect ko rin na may Jollibee sa bawat station (mga manang nagbebenta ng buko juice), kaso wala
dahil fiesta ng Cuenca kahapon at ngayon. Bawat station, pahinga kami. Si Winnie tanong ng tanong kung ilang stations bago mag-summit. Palagi kong sagot sa kanya tatlo na lang. Sabi niya, kanina mo pa sinasabing tatlo na lang ah. Masarap palang asarin etong si Winnie :)

Before the final ascent to the summit, we took a break for about an hour sa last station para di gaanong mainit. Kapag malapit na kasi sa summit, puro cogon grasses na lang kaya wala kaming masisilungan. Nung medyo natabunan ng ulap ang araw, akyat na ulit. Nauna akong dumating, tapos si Vicky, then si Gerry, Pierre, Winnie and Jojo. Pagdating namin sa tuktok, may nauna na sa amin, mga anim na tents. Pahinga muna kami bago nag pitch ng tent.

The hunchbacks of Mt. Makulot

Vicky's account:

...we reached the summit at around 3:30pm. Pagdating sa taas ay kanya kanyang hanap ng puwesto. While taking rest, Gerry went down to the other side of the mountain to take water kasi yung dala namin tig iisang liter of water only. Nagsalok uli sya ng 3 liters for cooking our dinner and for our coffee. After an hour of rest we went to the Rockies, sobrang tarik!. Nakakalula sa taas! Matarik but you can see the beautiful Taal Lake. Presko ang hangin at ang ganda ng sunset. Kuha uli ng pictures. Well, kakaibang tapang din ang meron kami that afternoon kasi matarik talaga ang Rockies.

Mga kapatid, ganda nga naman ang experience namin doon. We really enjoyed the trek. When the night came, we gazed at the stars. When Gerry was done cooking rice... well, kainan na. Ulam namin hotdogs, century tuna, chicken and noodles. Dinner was great...!

Taking time to rest. Winnie kept on asking, "malayo pa ba? ilang stops pa?"

Gerry's account:

Alam nyo mga kapatid doon ko napatunayan na tumatanda na pala tayo...pero masarap super extra challenge... sabi ni Winie babalik pa daw ulit kahit na nag-tumbling tumbling na nung pababa na kami.