last night, i got an email from bel (current SOA EO), asking how i dealt with non-performing EB members. while answering his question, a lot of things came rushing back, mostly about my 7 co-officers. how all of us were actually performers most of the time. how passionate we all were about what we were doing. how hard we tried to fulfill our responsibilities and help each other out, despite our heavy academic load (7 of us were seniors). how much fun we had, and how they serve as an inspiration to me, even now.
we haven't seen each other for some time now. i think the last time we saw each other was during may, as we helped the new EB in their formation seminar. that's why i miss all of them so much. i sometimes wonder if during our one year stint as SOA EB, i was able to let them know how much they meant to me, not just as workmates, but as friends too. sometimes, i don't think so. but they do mean a lot to me, and they do serve as an inspiration to me now. worthy of special mention are de-anne, mana, trina & ginger.
why? because i feel that they are truly living out the SOA and the ateneo vision. they are being persons for others in what they are doing now. both de-anne & mana are working in malacanang. ginger is a jesuit volunteer in samar, while trina is working for philippine business for social progress, an NGO. i often find myself wishing that i am with them too, or if not, i'm in the line of work that they are.
this is not to demean myself, nina and fred, because we are in the corporate world. nina is in glaxosmithkline, while fred is in sony life. i honestly believe that we can live out the SOA vision anywhere, even in the corporate world. in a way, it's actually more of a challenge for us to continue being SOA, as we are in institutions where the bottom line is profit. still, despite the happiness i feel right now, i can sense that something is missing.
i never imagined that a year of being part of the SOA EB could make such an impact on my life. in just a year, i met people whose passion in what they were doing made me feel ashamed of myself, and made me realize that contrary to my previous beliefs, i've got so much more to give. in just a year, a lot of the plans that i have made for myself are being replaced by plans that i'm weaving right now - plans that go beyond me, my family, and my future family in scope, but i believe are attainable nevertheless.
i miss SOA. in my mind and heart, i have resolved that i will never forget where i came from. i really pray that whatever happens, i would never doubt that i can do something to change the world.
The SOA EB after last year's SOA Awareness Day, with Sir Redg Plopinio of the Office of Student Activities. Clockwise from top right: Trina Yabut (Finance Officer), Sir Redg, Ginger Ramirez (President), Mana Domingo (Secretary-General), me, Fred Yang (External Affairs Pillar Coordinator), De-Anne Palapal (Community Building Pillar Coordinator), Janina Millan (Education Formation Pillar Coordinator), and Nats Llorente (former Organization Development Pillar Coordinator, current SOA President).
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