DILAAB UNITY RETREAT

To say that the preceding week was great” or tremendous seems an understatement.

The retreat at CBCP/NASSA (National Secretariat for Social Action) retreat house in Tagaytay was certainly the highlight of the week. There were about 45 participants, 24 of these coming from Cebu coming mostly from the corporate world, business, two rock musicians, and Dilaab staff. The retreat house at Brgy. Asisan afforded a very green alternative to the pollution of urban living. We were only the retreatants and the facility is quite affordable. Food was good. Bishop Tagle came around 10:30 am. He shared on the kingdom of God as synonymous with fullness of life. The good bishop's humility, sharp intellect, quick and comic wit, coupled with true to life stories, brought the house down and our spirits soaring, so to speak. Bishop Tagle ended his talk by connecting the Kingdom of God with human development; to accept the kingdom is to become more human. This was an affirmation of what Dilaab stands for. A good Christian must also strive to be a good citizen.Cesar Binag, his wife, Agnes, and their four boys performed a song for us " What a friend we have in Jesus" as we heard a testimony from him and Samson Tucay of how the spirit is changing lives among policemen. After supper, Nasud Ko" ("My Nation") was performed by Alaine Agadier who composed the music. To wrapped up the whole day since it connected love of God and country another dimension of the Kingdom of God. As we watched the sun rise, our spirits were likewise raised in prayer. An idea to pray a common prayer at 9 am daily (the time of Pentecost) came to fore. Had a prayer mountain experience Sunday at 5:30 am. The spiritual exercise would have been more meaningful had we walked some distance from the retreat house. After lunch, an impromptu poetry (tula) reading session was led by Heidi Mendoza. The remnant, mostly from Cebu, decided to go around Tagaytay on a jeep. Bad choice for a vehicle which turned out to be a smoke belcher. Visited Peoples Park in the sky. Fog envelope the place including the statue of the Mother of Fair Love, a rather apropos patroness in a rather romantic place. Words fall short of the spiritual reality we experienced, a veritable Pentecost. Some words to describe the event as shared by some participants include:"connecting, restoring, rejuvenating a heart to heart experience with our Lord through his fascinating children gathered around proclaiming His word now, i know why we were sent here, I have reawakening of my senses and to act upon its sense of responsibility to support good governance promote peace and bring hope what a journey it has been humbling, Spirit filled communing, inspiring, challenging, solidifying, uniting, a dawning, enlightening, illuminating, revealing, willing, learning, laughing, crying, and loving four day journey experience; Thanks and Praise to God. The experience gave us a glimpses of a nation being built through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is as if one was meeting long lost friends whom one meets for the very first time.

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There is hope.