Basic Values Orientation and Conscientization (BVOAC) for High School Students
February 6-8, 2004
since the event was conducted by Thames International Business School, the assembly place was at their school. 7 of my batchmates, our guidance councilor, and i got in Eastwood around 8:30 am. turns out that only few school were represented...Poveda, Miriam, Ateneo, La Salle, 1 student from St. Peter, and 2 teachers from CSA. the first activity started right after registration. we were given tote bags. they weren't really small...but they weren't as big as the travel bags that we brought with us. what did we do with those bags? they asked us to fit as many things inside the tote bags, and leave our travel bags inside the room. ack. i had to leave a book, my discman, and some shirts behind.

off to Paenaan Camping Farm in Antipolo City.

DAY1
we were divided into 5 baranggays...boys and girls were equally distributed. since there were only 8 of us from MC, i had to join a group by myself. eek. my baranggay had 2 Vedans, 3 La Sallites, 1 Atenean, and 1 Knoller.

activity 1. it was a search activity in which 4 of the members were blindfolded, and the group had to find papers with clues in one whole area. not really an easy task, you know. we had to use a compass to follow the directions, and we had to hold each other's shoulders while walking.

activity 2. we had to cross the creek (20 feet below ground level) through a bridge made of bamboos that were tied together. kakatakot.

activity 3. Trust Fall. the usual thing...you let people catch you as you fall on your back. i think it was 6 feet high.

activity 4. we had to place the tire on an 8 feet hight pole without the tire touching the pole. we couldn't touch the pole as well. our baranggay had the fastest time. :)

activity 5. The Wall. all members of the baranggay had to cross over the 9-foot wall. only one group was able to finish the task. it was kinda hard especially when only to members are left on the other side. but this one was so much fun! super! *thank God the girls didn't have to do the carrying or act as "stools" :)*

activity 6. Processing. reflection, sharing...and stuff.

Day 2
activity 1: Shibashi. morning excercise for us.

activity 2: Low V. cable wires was set up in a V form, 2 feet above the ground. Melo (from La Salle) was my partner. we had to start from the vertex of the V and move to the other end while holding on each other's hands. we only finished half of the V since we were pushing on each other too much to stay balanced, but i wasn't that strong to support his weight. ack. but it was fun!

activity 3: Multi-Line. same partner. starting from opposite ends, we had to cross a cable wire to get to the other end. there were ropes hanging, but they were kind far from each other...and it was kinda hard to cross over your partner when you meet in the middle...but we got to finish the activity. :)

activity 4: Catwalk. this one was the first pool activity. a pole was placed on the side of the pool, half of which is exposed on the water area. the goal of the group was to have a member place the red cloth at the end of the pole and another member to take it back. twas hard! we didn't make it...in short, all of us were wet after the activity. we didn't bring swimsuits, you know. ack.

activity 5: Beam. pool activity again. this one's hard to explain. three long pieces of wood...one placed on one side, facing the adjacent side...another one placed on that adjacent side, facing the other wood...and another one placed on top of both. all the members had to cross...but only us girls made it. heee...that's like third-year p.e. for me...balance beam.

activity 5. Raft. last pool activity. we had to make a raft out of the materials provided (rope, bamboo & floaters) and then cross the pool. when we reach the other end, we had to dismantle everything. we had the fastest time again! :)

activity 6. Caterpillar. back with the 20 feet high bridge. they placed cable wire on opposite ends. one by one, we had to cross the wire by pulling ourselves to the other end and back. with harness, of course. kakatakot at first. it was painful "down there"...and it was kinda hard pulling ourselves especially at the end part.

activity 7. Coat of Arms Making by baranggay.

activity 8. Bonfire.

Day 3
activity 1. obstacle course. i think this was the most tiring part. had to walk on a rope, crawl on a rope by hanging on it with my legs and hands, cross a rope bridge, cross 5 tires hanging on ropes, walk on a log that is held by ropes on opposite ends, and finally walk on a reclined log. had little wounds from the ropes. super tiring! but fun!

activity 2. Slide of Life. 40 feet above the ground and a "lake". we had to slide down to the other end. scared the hell out of me...but i had to do it. asked the harness guy to just push me so i'd easily reach the other side without having to push myself towards the end..and cos for sure i'd be afraid to jump off. scary...but super fun!

activity 3. Awarding, Presentation of Each Baranggay, and Farewell.



room assignments were by school...so i got to share a room with Didang (Sena) Dollosa, Tin Lagasca, and Pauline Diaz. since they were all singers, i got to lull myself to sleep. heeheee...they were good! and they were great roommates as well!

oh!!! i left my toothbrush at home. sheeeesh. i had to ask the Thames people to buy me one last Friday. heeheee ;p

i left my Off Lotion as well. ack. got mosquito bites on my feet. ack ack.

last year's BVOAC was held in Pagsanjan. i think that one was a resort...way better than Antipolo, i guess.

signal was bad in that place. we had to find the right spot. if we're lucky, we get one bar. globe people could get as much as 3 bars on lucky spots. we almost looked stupid looking for signal...kinda like that Smart commercial where the guy was up on a tree. ack.

Thames people were really nice to us. students, together with few administrators, facilitated the activities.

nice part was it was for free! heehee ;p

last thursday, i was asking my classmates if they wanted to come with me since i was the only participant from the class. My had Banaag rehearsals since the play starts next week. Reg had Economics quiz bee. Tanya had birthday celebration. and...some other girls actually turned me down because of that soiree last Friday!!! eek. if they only knew that i'd be having a "three-day soiree" in Antipolo. bwhahahahaaaa!!!

so much fun!!! :D

i'm not as chicken anymore...i think. :)