As I stand along the surface of the Earth she says child to me, she says grandchild to me.
(Wyman 1970a: 123)
by: Zyn Villanueva
A two jeepney-full of beaming young ladies from Maryknoll Convent School Hong Kong together with their spirited teachers, Ms. Abby Chiang and Ms. Jocelyn de Castro, a third generation Maryknoller, graced the Maryknoll Ecological Center with their willing hands of service as part of their Revisiting Heritage Program. The program aspires to reconnect the younger generation of Maryknollers with the mission and vision of Maryknoll as pioneered by Mother Mary Joseph. They arrived last June 27, 2009. MCS HK whole-heartedly left their comfort zones to experience an immersion to the Baguio culture for five days. They left last July 1, 2009.
They jump started their activities by hearing mass at the Santa Catalina Church followed by a contemplative and scientific nature walk in Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary’s Cosmic Journey with Ms. Mary Jane Foy-os and toured the Maryknoll Sisters’ Bio Shelter care of Sr. Margarita Jamias, MM. They also got their hands busy with community work such as gardening where they weeded and planted, showcased their love and talent for art through visual aid making for Sunbeams Day Care and bookmark designing, PowerPoint presentation making and file organizing for MES.
Cherry Wong, a student at MCS, said, “It’s tiring but I was also satisfied with my work.” Some students had used their bare hands in plucking out weeds in the garden. They also planted kamote, spinach and squash seeds. Tired as they were, they surprised us by still enthusiastically finishing the tasks given.
Enlightenment on Mary and an enriching talk on Ecology, Peace and Justice were given by Sr. Catherine Encarnacion and Sr. Margarita Jamias. They also had a chance to further discover their talent in art through pottery painting with Mr. Clemente Delim and a weaving demonstration by Ms. Kathy Domigyay.
MCS HK , guided by Mr. Delim and Ms. Domigyay, also made their own rain-sticks, cutting the usual 2 days of preparation to a half day.
One of the highlights of the exchange program was a night of cultural exchange with the University of Cordillera where they experienced Cordillera’s culture of dance and music. MCS in return, shared a dance and song. Though impromptu, Daisy Wong dazzled us with a graceful rendition of a Peacock Dance.
“It’s so nice. We are like family,” Jessica Chan remarked as she described another one of the highlights of the exchange program. It was gathering around a big campfire, sharing smores and gazing at the stars, which according to Ms. De Castro, is a rare occasion in Hong Kong. Ms. Betty Tumbaga led an inspirational activity for the young ladies where they re-affirmed their relationship with nature.
A closing ritual prepared by the staff touched the hearts of many, bringing us into realization that however different we may all be, in physical distance or cultural difference, we are still connected – that we never touch each others’ lives so lightly.
(Wyman 1970a: 123)
by: Zyn Villanueva
A two jeepney-full of beaming young ladies from Maryknoll Convent School Hong Kong together with their spirited teachers, Ms. Abby Chiang and Ms. Jocelyn de Castro, a third generation Maryknoller, graced the Maryknoll Ecological Center with their willing hands of service as part of their Revisiting Heritage Program. The program aspires to reconnect the younger generation of Maryknollers with the mission and vision of Maryknoll as pioneered by Mother Mary Joseph. They arrived last June 27, 2009. MCS HK whole-heartedly left their comfort zones to experience an immersion to the Baguio culture for five days. They left last July 1, 2009.
They jump started their activities by hearing mass at the Santa Catalina Church followed by a contemplative and scientific nature walk in Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary’s Cosmic Journey with Ms. Mary Jane Foy-os and toured the Maryknoll Sisters’ Bio Shelter care of Sr. Margarita Jamias, MM. They also got their hands busy with community work such as gardening where they weeded and planted, showcased their love and talent for art through visual aid making for Sunbeams Day Care and bookmark designing, PowerPoint presentation making and file organizing for MES.
Cherry Wong, a student at MCS, said, “It’s tiring but I was also satisfied with my work.” Some students had used their bare hands in plucking out weeds in the garden. They also planted kamote, spinach and squash seeds. Tired as they were, they surprised us by still enthusiastically finishing the tasks given.
Enlightenment on Mary and an enriching talk on Ecology, Peace and Justice were given by Sr. Catherine Encarnacion and Sr. Margarita Jamias. They also had a chance to further discover their talent in art through pottery painting with Mr. Clemente Delim and a weaving demonstration by Ms. Kathy Domigyay.
MCS HK , guided by Mr. Delim and Ms. Domigyay, also made their own rain-sticks, cutting the usual 2 days of preparation to a half day.
One of the highlights of the exchange program was a night of cultural exchange with the University of Cordillera where they experienced Cordillera’s culture of dance and music. MCS in return, shared a dance and song. Though impromptu, Daisy Wong dazzled us with a graceful rendition of a Peacock Dance.
“It’s so nice. We are like family,” Jessica Chan remarked as she described another one of the highlights of the exchange program. It was gathering around a big campfire, sharing smores and gazing at the stars, which according to Ms. De Castro, is a rare occasion in Hong Kong. Ms. Betty Tumbaga led an inspirational activity for the young ladies where they re-affirmed their relationship with nature.
A closing ritual prepared by the staff touched the hearts of many, bringing us into realization that however different we may all be, in physical distance or cultural difference, we are still connected – that we never touch each others’ lives so lightly.
