|
|
|
|
A Summer Camp Like No Other
Text by: Elirozz Carlie D. Labaria
Photos by: Raymund Buslon, Paul Joseph J. Vistal
I was invited by the GSP Council to join the Heritage Immersion Camp in Bilar. I was imagining a cool forest clearing, surrounded by nothing but trees, mountains, and an interrupted view of the majestic sky. Iwas hoping it would be somewhere far from civilization, where only the sounds of the animals in the wild can disturb the silence. And BIBO Bohol brought us to the perfect place - the Magsaysay Park within the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bilar.
Everyone was looking for familiar faces, checking out new ones, and hoping that the camp would turn out great. BIBO BOHOL was about discovering our ecological and cultural heritage. And boy, we did just that - and more! We were divided into four sub-camps (Sikatuna, Dagohoy, Tamblot, and Garcia), and further separated into five troops with respective youth facilitators in each sub-camp. I belonged to Sub-camp Garcia, Troop Councilors, with my fellow Girl Scout Justine. It was exciting to be with our friends, but it turned out more fascinating to be with new acquaintances from all over the Philippines.
The campfire on our first night was impressive. There were presentations from each sub-camp showcasing the importance of discovering, protecting and preserving our heritage. Everyone danced to the tune of the native instruments played by a local cultural band. There started the bibo for BIBO BOHOL.
The next thing I remembered after that festive evening was waking up at the stroke of four (dawn!) to find out that the shower was freezing cold.After all, the water sources was fresh from the mountains surrounding the camp site. But it was worth it. Later, the morning exercise warmed us all up. After the "power breakfast," we were off to the Sub-tera Eco-challenge.
I was expecting a simple trail hike up the mountains but it was not. It was a race against time and against other teams. A mystery animal was assigned to our troop, and we had to figure out what it was through the trail clues in order to trace our way back to camp. With all hands into the challenge, we were able to enjoy the daring game and at the same time marvel at the bounty of nature endowed to Bohol. But to get us out of the kalasangan, it was up to me to emerge from the woods dressed up as a King Fisher. Oh, boy! I had to perform that in front of the presidential daughter, Ms. Luli Arroyo.
Although the afternoon that followed was rainy, there was no stopping to our next challenge, which is cave mapping. It was my first time into a mountain cave, and we had to complete a Grade 2 survey of the place. The company of cave experts made the exploration more exciting. After a brief interview with our biodiversity guide, we took off to another festive evening in Loboc.
Dinner was at its best at the floating resto where we gathered to share our day's experience. We were then entertained by local and foreign choir groups and instrumental bands at the Loboc Town Square. The thrill was at its height that night, knowing that tomorrow there's going to be more.
Although a wild cat (locally known as melo) entered our tent that night, it didn't dampen our enthusiasm the next day. We set off for another race - the Cultural Challenge. It was a local version of the Amazing Race wherein we had to race our way from town to town, completing a set of challenges at each stop. My troop had gone to the Bilar Municipal Hall to pound rice; to the Loboc Plaza to dance the Kuradang; to Albur to make puso; and to Baclayon to bake broas. The last stop was, at the Baluarte where all the troops met to share the day's discoveries and learnings. Sub-camp Garcia had a candlelit dinner at the back of the Dauis church, entertained by local talents - with acoustic renditions to liven the evening.. We went back to Bilar that night thankful that we were able to partake such rare experience and immerse ourselves with the Boholano culture and life.
I stayed up late during our last night at the camp. A few others and I went stargazing and reflecting upon the natural bounty around us. The first-timers to the province repeatedly commented on how wonderful Bohol is. It made me especially proud to be a Boholana.
The challenge the next day came in the form of workshops in visual arts, Theater, Dance, Music, Multimedia, and creative Writing. I chose the last one wherein, for the first time, I indulged in tigmo (riddles) and balak (Visayan poetry). The workshops culminated with a presentation gathering at the oval. Before we knew it, the camp was over.
The closing ceremony was held at the Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City where the multimedia outputs were presented after dinner. Winning and deserving sub-camps and troops were given awards. A rock and reggae concert concluded the evening.
Those four days had taught us all (more than any simple island tour could) what it means to be aware and be concerned for our eco-cultural heritage; to feel pride in being a Boholano and a Filipino; and to be grateful to the Almighty Creator. Indeed, thumbs up to BIBO BOHOL!
Carlie is 14 yrs. old and an incoming junior at the Bohol Wisdom School
Lifestyle Bohol, Bohol Chronicle, May 28, 2006
|
|
|
|
| |
Would you like to post any comments? Please fill-out the form below:
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
