LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

I WOKE up like a zombie and started to prep up my things to bring for our leadership training. Nakulangan pa nga ako sa tulog kasi nag-binge watch pa ako ng ilang episodes ng Doctor Stone, kaya late na akong nakatulog kagabi. For some unknown reasons, maaga rin akong nagising ngayong araw. Baka kasi excited ako, ganoon? Maybe it's because of the reflux of my adrenaline.

After taking a bath, I ensured that all my things are packed up. Mukhang maglalayas ako sa lagay na ito. I also brought my swimming trunks kasi may swimming pool sa pupuntahan namin, in case na-trip-an kong lumangoy. Kaunti na lang ay magdala ako ng mahabang stick na may nakataling bag ng tela sa dulo.

I've also brought some snacks which are put into a separate bag to munch down along the way while at the road. Then, there are also some essentials like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrush. We are not advised to bring other stuff like pillows and blankets dahil may naka-provide na raw.

I carried Mr. Ginger and rubbed his head kasi kanina pa ito libot nang libot sa aking mga paa. Ngayon lang ito ganito sa akin. But I'm sure, he's missing me every time I was gone.

I'd be gone for two days in our house, so here's Mom that keeps on reminding me. As if parang adventure ang pupuntahan namin. I heaved a sigh every time I hear those sermons from her. Siya na rin ang tumulong sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko.

I settled with my usual attire--white t-shirt which was covered with my favorite black hoodie jacket, plus orange khaki shorts and sandals.

"Susuutin mo talaga iyan?" my mom commented while wearing my Mimikyu hat after I gone downstairs at nagpunta sa sala. Hindi na rin ako mag-breakfast kahit mukhang masarap ang inilutong breakfast ni Ate Gigi. With that remark from my mother, I simply rolled my eyes; It maybe a bit childish, pero ito talaga ang gusto kong isuot.

Hindi na lang ako sumagot habang kinukuha ko ang mga gamit ko pababa ng kuwarto. I started to carry my backpack and I get moving.

"Okay ka lang, a? Ikaw nang bahala sa sarili mo. Don't forget to text every time." Kahit paalis na ako ay never pa ring nawala ang paalala sa akin ni Mom. Well, ganito ba talaga sila ka-concern sa atin?

"Yes, okay lang po ako," I answered before leaving our doorstep. She even insisted na ihatid ako sa school, but I declined her offer.

And as I walk through our subdivision, I imagine the background music of Route 3 from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow versions playing. I started to imagine that with the things I'm carrying, I'm embarking myself to a Pokémon adventure.

It was exactly 6 PM when I reached our school. Banda sa may Greenfields Square ang meeting place namin kung saan ako ibinaba ng jeep, and I already saw some of my clubmates who are standing while waiting for our transportation to come. The one I first spotted was Onemig together with other of my clubmates.

Nagmukha tuloy akong patatas pagkakita sa kaniya. His attire may be a bit simple--leopard print loose polo shirt and orange Ralph Lauren shorts--but I admit that he looks a bit dashing with his appearance. Isama pa 'yong dark sunglasses niyang nakasabit sa collar niyang naka-unbutton.

"Uy, ready na ready!" he greeted while I awkwardly go near at him while fixing the strap of my backpack.

"Saan punta natin, Africa?" I teased him with his attire. It seems he's ready to go jammin' with lions, rhinos, and cheetahs.

"Grabe ka naman sa suot ko," Onemig responded back while having his duck-like face. I can imagine The Circle of Life playing with his attire.

"Ano ikaw, si Lawliet na may Mimikyu hat?" patuloy pa niya habang pinipisil ang tainga ng hat ko. "Cute!" Pero kung iko-compare naman sa akin, mas maayos naman siyang manamit.

"Groufie naman tayo." Onemig then let out his cellphone and started to take pictures of us. I begin to look awkward while he pointed his camera while surrounded by different trees around the area.

"Hey, sali naman kami!" Malcolm and Cheena came along amd joined with our groufies. Cheena wears her denim vest and gray bucket hat while Malcolm is in his striped polo and pants.

"Wow, safari ba pupuntahan natin, Onemig?" pang-aasar pa sa kaniya ni Cheena.

"Aray, nakakadalawa na kayo ni Lorenzo," Onemig pleaded. "Ang ganda kaya nito, exotic ang dating. Wild, parang ako." He then chuckled. Hinayaan na lang namin siyang magwala at mag-react.

Sir Nonoy is the one who guided us dahil nasa venue na sina Denise. And by exactly 6:30 PM, the two vans that will bring us to the resort came and we started to load our things.

Sa may bandang middle row kami naupo nina Malcolm at Onemig. I was sandwiched by the two who are constantly being noisy. I pumped up the volume of my headphones and started to play some music as we hit the road. Para tuloy kaming nagfi-field trip sa lagay na ito. And I suddenly felt the nostalgia while we hit the road.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang dalawang nagkukulitan na nakikisabay rin sa mga kasama namin sa loob. I grabbed a pack of potato chips and started to munch it while we're along Dolores area in San Fernando.

Iyon nga lang ay habang nasa bandang Mexico na kami, mukhang na-lowbatt na si Malcolm na nasa kaliwa ko. And I internally freaked out when he leaned himself on my shoulder. Habang nakikisabay rin si Onemig ng pagkuha ng chips, nakita kong tumutulo ang laway ni Malcolm kaya dali-dali kong iniwas ang nakabukas na pack ng chips ko sa kaniya.

In a jiffy, nagising na lang siya at imbes na mag-react ay tumabingi na lang siya sa may bintana at doon natulog.

Onemig then grabbed my chips at saka inabutan si Cheena sa harap namin na busy sa kase-cellphone.

For almost an hour in the road, na-realize kong wala na kami sa residential area at narating na namin ang lugar na puro mga malalawak na pananim ang naroroon. As in, there's a massive amount of crops in that area. Usually, mga mais ang nakikita sa buong paligid. It's like I'm seeing an actual Harvest Moon scenario in real life.

Isama pa ang breathtaking view ng Mt. Arayat. I just usually saw this from afar, pero ngayon, mas malapit-lapit na ito. Mas kita na ang mga punong nakatanim sa may dalisdis. From the far view, they looked like bunches of broccoli. Onemig can't help himself but to take more pictures of this scenic landscape.

The clear morning skies also make this more majestic.

Ilang minutes pa ang nakararaan nang makarating na kami sa medyo liblib na part ng Magalang. It's not that secluded, but all I've seen are just houses and trees. It's quite refreshing to see this part na hindi ko usually nakikita. May nadaraanan din kaming rice fields kung saan may hinahatak din na kalabaw ng isang magsasaka roon. 

Gustuhin ko mang sumilip pa sa view, pero todo picture naman itong si Onemig gamit ang kaniyang cellphone.

Nakarating din kami sa venue and we started to unpack our things pagka-park ng van. Then, we marched through the entrance. Napalilibutan ng mararaming puno at halaman ang buong area na sumalubong sa amin. Sa bungad ay mayroon ding fountain na may statue ng isda sa tuktok. It's not actually working and it's covered with dirt and the water, too is filled with murk and dried leaves.

"Welcome, leaders!" Denise greeted us with enthusiasm as we walked through. Then, he also guided us through the villas where we will going to stay.

Condominium-type ang villa na mayroong two floors with several rooms. Adjacent to the villa is the shaded function area which is also near to the swimming pool. Sa gilid ay naroon din ang iba pang separate rooms.

"Leaders, naka-designate na sa inyo ang inyong kuwarto. Kindly check na lang ang mga pangalan n'yo sa bawat pinto para makita kung saan kayo naka-assign. Kung may kailangan pa kayo, just simply approach me."

"And after an hour, mag-ready na kayo for the start of our orientation and first topic. Copy?" he followed then.

"Copy po," we all answered in unison before going upstairs to go to our respective rooms.

Sama-sama naming hinanap nina Onemig at Malcolm ang room namin. And we were assigned at the room 105 na nasa bandang dulong right. By three ang nakasulat doon sa naka-post sa sliding door.

Pagbukas namin ng sliding door, bumungad sa amin ang kuwarto na may dalawang queen-sized bed. While unloading our things, Malcolm suddenly dive into one of the beds and laid down again. Pansin kong kanina pa ito natutulog sa biyahe.

"Ay, dalawa pala ang kama," he then said while he rose from the bed. Paano niyan? Dito na lang ako."

"Share na lang kami ni Lorenzo, right?" Onemig commented while tapping my shoulder. I suddenly felt a shiver from the words that came from him. I have nothing against it, but I guess, I should learn to adapt.

"Ah... okay lang. Go ahead." That's what I said after sitting at the bed.

"Ayown!" And Onemig then agreed.

"Gisingin n'yo na lang ako kapag start na ng orientation." Natulog na lang ulit si Malcolm at nagtalukbong ng kumot sa hinihigaan niya. He's really a bit sleepy.

"Palibhasa, nagwawawalwal kagabi kaya ngayon lang nakatulog iyan," Onemig then explained to me. Pagkatapos noon ay niyaya niya ako.

"Labas muna tayo. Gusto kong libutin ang buong area." I then nodded. Para na rin hindi namin maistorbo si Malcolm sa pagtulog niya.

---

"Hahatiin namin kayo into two teams. Bale, magpapalabunutan tayo. At kung ano ang color na nabunot n'yo, iyon ang magiging team ninyo, okay?" Josiah then explained to us while using the microphone while we were at the open clubhouse area of the resort. We were all sitting at the floor for our orientation. Pagkatapos pinatayo kami isa-isa para bumunot. What I got is a red strip of paper, which means I'll be part of the red team.

"Ano'ng team ka?" tanong ni Onemig sa akin pagkaupo ko ulit.

"Red."

"Aw, hindi tayo magka-team. Sayang naman." He then left a frown to his face.

"Iyak ka na niyan, Mr. Safari Man?" I teased him again which made him react once more.

"Gusto mo atang madurog, Lo-liet" He even emphasized the "Lo-Liet" part as if my name sounds alike with the character from Death Note.

"Guys, sino'ng blue sa inyo?" Lumapit naman si Cheena at nagtanong sa amin. Onemig suddenly grinned from ear-to-ear.

"Yes, may kasangga na ako," Onemig commented while tapping her shoulder while sticking his tongue to me. I just raised my eyebrows as if I'm threatened to this guy.

It's a good thing, I guess na kasama ko si Malcolm sa team namin. Pagkatapos magbunutan, inilagay na kami sa aming designated team para maki-get-along. Each team, we were composed of 10 members. Yeah, right. I'm forced to get along with other people. Kailangan na rin kasi naming makaisip ng para sa cheer na ipe-present mamaya. Yeah, here we go again with the cheering.

Our team decided to meet near at the pool, kung saan mayroon ding may parang playground. In fairness that this place has fresh breeze of air thanks to the trees. The sunlight that has been canopied by trees gives more of a vibrant feeling.

"Itong si Lorenzo, ilagay natin sa harap. Dancerist kaya iyan," Malcolm--who serves as our leader said in front of us. And me, who is just sitting in one corner suddenly turned sour as I gave him a what-the-heck face. Kita nilang nananahimik lang ako rito?

Pero bago pa ako nakapag-react ulit ay pinilit na ako ni Malcolm. I don't have any other options but to follow him. Isama pa ang pressure mula sa iba kong teammates sa pag-push sa akin. Gah! Puwedeng patapusin na kaya ang araw na ito?

While we're figuring out what dance routine we are going to perform, I can't help myself but to flush my face in shame. Kung puwede lang sanang magpalamon sa lupa ay ginawa ko na every time na ginagawa ang steps habang nagpa-practice sa ilalim ng mga puno.

I still have a long way to go. Masu-survive ko kaya ito?

-30-