SERENDIPITY... NOEL

Narrative Report of Noel S. Ortega for the 2008 Immersion and Exchange Program of the District ALS Coordinators Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte November 24-29, 2008 “City of Smiles”, it is my first impression of the word Davao. But I didn’t just smile because inside my heart I shouted for joy and asked if it was really true when I was chosen as one of the delegates from Cavite Province who joined in the flock of CALABARZON’s District ALS Coordinators or known as DALSC’s for this year’s Immersion and Exchange Program held at the panoramic paradise and naturally gifted tourist destination Island Garden City of Samal, a component city of Davao del Norte. It was my second visit to Davao and I know that this one is different from the first. At the outset, I assumed that going there was really a laborious task since for me, the word ‘immersion’ connotes engaging a life of people in a certain place- it is more on empathizing rather than sympathizing. It is

“I would like to be an architect, a planner, a builder of buildings, highways and bridges.” Never during my childhood life did I dream of becoming a teacher. I don’t have the blood of an educator either. Yet, I can still recall my childhood days in our remote barrio in Pinagbadilan, Libon, Albay when my playmates and I played “titser-titseran” in variation to the usual “bahay-bahayan” and hide-and-seek. I used to play the role of a teacher since I was the most “knowledgeable” of them all. And as the most intelligent among my playmates and cousins, I often said, “I would like to be an architect someday, so I can build my family a beautiful house.” I was born from a poor farmer’s family, the youngest in the brood of 14. My father’s enthusiasm for sending his children to school diminished when my oldest sister eloped with her boyfriend right after her high school graduation. Life in our barrio was a hand-to-mouth existence then; so out of depression, my father did not allow my remainin

I found this day important one because at last I have now my own blogspot here. This is what I call, "my Valentines Day gift to my self" (personally, socially, professionally and even spiritually). To all my friends who know me for real and reel, I welcome you all... Feel free to be a part of this simple spot about simple "me" in this little corner of world wide web. It is my delight that you find time browsing my blogs here. Just smile when you're on it coz your smile brightens my day. To all those who just coincidentally walk-by and just find this spot somehow related to who you are, I dearly welcome you too... It's my pleasure to be a part of your great and wonderful life. Whatever you are feeling right now: happy, bored, lonesome, guilty or ecstatic, let that feeling pass and go. Good day and Happy Hearts Month! Hope that your heart radiates love, beauty and compassion to those who need it...