The Director’s Notebook - BBTF 9 brevcHacHi

 Uh…huh?  Did I hear you right? What??? Director???!!! Oh no, no, no, no!  I can’t.  Not me!

The greatest challenge as a Brev for me since I came back after my five years stay in Cebu was being appointed suddenly as director for Brevstock 8 and 9^th Breviarian Big Tent Festival to replace Brev Ricardo who got a job outside the country.  As much as I tried to make an objection against this crazy appointment, in the end, I lost my case due to a simple order of…OBEDIENCE.

After series of struggles and endless nightly tears begging the Lord for the grace to accept the so called “Director” title, I was pierced by the thought that the Lord was actually giving me a chance to serve Him during these last days of my life here on earth.  After having felt His mercy and love, how can I refuse to serve?  So I finally asked the Lord to forgive me and told Him to take control…that I may be His puppet.  I was clueless on what I was supposed to do.  All I had were my ideals and my hopes for the two major activities.

Anyways, to cut the dramatic story short and fast forward it to BBTF 9, you would have heard Brev Buttercup asking me a few days before the Big Tent Festival, “how could you be so calm about everything when the Big Tent is fast approaching?”  I told him, “It is not my project, it is the Lord’s.  Kaya bahala na Siya.”  Yeap!  I simply gave the Lord the authority to manage everything. And it worked!

Come to think of it…how could we have pushed through with this project when we only had 5 Easter Carols that year?  Out of 60 plus Adopt-a-Brev solicitation letters, only 4 were returned?  How much would we have to raise just to finance the whole 5 days with all those expenses?  Well that is financially speaking.  We have the source of all the riches in the universe – God. So how could we possibly fail?  “Be not afraid,”  He said.  We did survive the Big Tent with our stomachs full and without any payables.  Thanks to so many generous hearts.  Praise God!

I was away for almost 5 years and organizing such a big event was just a memory for me.  I had to recall everything but my small mind can not just recover all at the same time what I have stored in my recycle bin.  I would need a dream team to work according to what I would have wanted it to be.  “O Lord, give me the perfect staff who would have the knowledge to things the way I wanted it done…er…I mean…the way YOU wanted it done.” J  Besides, I don’t think I was born a leader!  I’m more of an effective and efficient follower.  Yeah…a follower – someone who simply obeys and carry out orders.  (hey, cHacHi, is it not that a leader is a follower of Christ?)

Hmm…Oh well, that was not really much of a problem because lo and behold!  I actually had the best team a director could ever wish for.  I had a team of experienced Camp Directors who knew what they had to do.  So I was just a parrot reminding them of their duties (actually just trying to act like a real director. hehe!.)  Whew!  That was a big baggage off my back. J  Thank you, fellow Brev Shepherds!  You really did a great job.  Love you always!

“Oh, and Lord, what about my leave?  I filed those weeks ago even before any other colleagues could get my slot yet they only approved theirs?   The speakers, Lord, are they the right people?  The schedule, Lord.  I hate it when it is not followed.  And about the *many other little details*…what am I going to do with them?”  These were just some of my many anxieties that I lifted up to the Lord every time I would feel that something was about to go wrong, that is, in my own perspective.  Nevertheless, the Most Holy Adoration Tent was my only refuge.  After I had pleaded all, my last words would always be, “Your will be done, not mine.  You allowed it and so be it.”  And I would come out ready to stand up and face everything bravely for I knew  mine.  You allowed it adn  my s not followed.  and ues it not that a leader is a followerHe was with me.  He really fixed them all.

To sum it all up, it was not so bad to be a director after all.  Ahem!  After all, we did have a successful camp.  More young people, including us, were inspired and are now on fire.  We even had CBCP affirm it as a prelude to World Youth Day. (thanks again Fr. Mickey).  But of course, more than the success, the overwhelming love of God manifested during the preparations and staging of this camp is the greatest treasure I would carry in my BBTF 9 memory.  Through this camp, I learned that to be a leader simply means being a puppet of God and making Him do the decision making and for us not exhausting all human efforts ending up in stress.  It is a matter of TOTAL SURRENDER AND OBEDIENCE.  Our only extra effort is to motivate others to move out of love by being a person of love.

So if asked to be a head/director/leader of another Brev Activity, of course my answer will definitely still be a NO!  But then again, HIS WILL BE DONE…NOT MINE. 

Forever praise and glory to our Lord Jesus.  Thanks and honor be to our dear Mama Mary.

   

My Big Tent Experience - brev Angel

be yourself

Big Tent 13 has been fun for me.  I’ve learned so many things:

1.        Wake up early – waking up each day and thanking God for giving me a new day and a chance to make things better than yesterday.

2.       I discovered my capabilities and what I can do.  I learned I can do much as God is with me every step of the way...guiding me on the right track.

3.       One word is ENOUGH.

4.       I came to realize how important my parents are to me.  I also realized how lucky I am to have everything I need through the kindness of my aunt.  God gave me a good family and I am grateful for it.

5.       When you have faith in God, you will be wealthy and will be successful in life.  We just have to believe in Him.

6.       I learned to discover God’s purpose in my life.

7.       I learned to FORGIVE.

8.       Be yourself (bro. Joshue talk)

9.       I’m ready for something more challenging,  because I think there are so many more important things to do in life.

This Big Tent, I realized that it’s not about the fun, the workshops, and the activities but it’s more about the people you are spending those memorable times with. They are those who are ready to listen to you and those whom you know will be there every step of the way.  These people are those who are closest to my heart at times of need and who are willing to be a shoulder to lean on.  They are the BREVIARIANS and I am proud to be one.

Brevs is my second family...I love them so much.

Thank you, Big Tent 13 for making me realize love and for making me realize so many important things in life.

Angel V. Trinidad

My Big Tent Experience - brev Dianne

Well, I am very grateful for being BREVIARIAN because I can feel God’s presence by attending gatherings like M.O.B Rules, BREVSTOCK, Vespers, and our latest event, Big Tent Festival.

Reflection and Lesson
- As a child of God, I learned that in anything we do, He’s there to guide us all the way for He loves us.  In every talk I heard, there’s a lesson I gained and that helped me to deepen my faith in God.

We can deepen our faith by serving, worshiping and praising him.  In Sir Michael Del Rosario’s talk, I realized that we don’t need to be in a hurry in getting a relationship because we will meet the right person at the right time. We need to be in love with God before falling in love with others.  And always remind ourselves that God is Love.

- In our life there are ups and downs. We just need to put our trust in Him in order to have a happy life. He has given us unique talents and gifts; so we need to take care of these.  What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God that is why we always say “To God Be the Glory!”

- In our family, there are problems that we can’t solve alone. It is always with the help of God.  Let us talk to Him as our brother,  our father,  and our Savior.  Deep within our heart, HE will plant His law, not on stone but in our hearts.  Follow Him, He will bring us back.  We will be His own and He will be our God.  We should have child-like trust in God.

- We must love our neighbor as we love our selves. Do unto others what you want to be done unto you. It is good to have friends rather to be hated by everyone. Just pray and He will show us the right friends. Let’s live our life to the fullest because life is the greatest gift He gave us, AMEN!

- I enjoyed this year’s Big Tent Festival but I’d rather be sleeping in tents and doing hard duties every day. Let’s always pick the harder way to live with God.

Dianne Kaye V. Trinidad

My Big Tent Experience - brev Aimee

As a Breviarian, we should attend gatherings such as the M.O.B rules, Brevstock, choir schedules at different churches, Vespers and Big Tent Festival. The latest gathering I attended was the Breviarian Big Tent Festival 13.

Reflection and Lesson:

As a teenager, a daughter, and a sister I learned that we as children of our parents should respect them in return of their love and care to us.  As sir Lito Pangilinan was having his talk, and as I was listening, I found myself so lucky that I have my dad who works for us and who gives us what we wanted.  We are so lucky that when we go to school we wear neat, new and comfortable uniforms.  He even helped his siblings to finish their schooling.  And most of all he loved his parents so much.   While on my part, I sometimes shout at my parents, and quarrel with my siblings.  But when I heard sir Pangilinan’s story, I realized a lot of things like how bad my behavior as a daughter and a sister is.  I should always remind myself how blessed I am compared to other children who has no home…who has no parents… who has no food to eat (while I waste it at times)… who needs money (while I waste it buying things I do not need)… and who wants to have all of these (when I already do).

God has been very gracious to me since we still have our parents on our side who help us, support us and love us. So when the time comes that they are the ones who need these,  we should repay them with the same support and love, or if possible, to do even more.  I focused on the topic of sir Lito, because even though I already heard his story, it made me reflect on so many things.

Other Insights:
I like it better when we would have the Big Tent Festival at San Pablo Seminary.  It is more fun and we would learn so many things like being independent, waking up early, leadership and many more.

by Aimee Melissa V. Trinidad

My Big Tent Experience - Brev Tien

As I entered the retreat house I reminded myself to share and to apply all I will learn to my family and friends. I was very eager to listen to the speakers.   But one that touched me most was the life story of Mr. Pangilinan.   I realized how lucky I am that I am well provided by my family compared to him. Respect and appreciation are what our parents need from us.  In times of problems in the family we need to work hand in hand to solve what problems we have.  Now I value my family. 

I learned to be a good leader.  As a leader I should be an example to them. 

I also learned to introduce a guest speaker which I’ve never done before.  At first I was nervous but I just closed my eyes and prayed to Jesus to give me the courage.

by:  Christian Anne V. Trinidad

My Big Tent Experience - brev Christie

Breviarian Big Tent Festival 13 was a new awesome experience for me. It was like a huge wave which came to carry me away - away from my worldly matters.

Big Tent 13, it was about CHOICE. Choosing between good and bad, right and wrong, left and right. Choosing your spouse?! Hmmmm….

It was a fun filled event. I made new friends and they made new memories. And, well, words are just words and they weigh lighter than experiences. I guess what I’m really trying to say is that words are not enough to help me express my very first Big Tent experience.

By: Brev Christie

My Big Tent Experience - brev Airiz

During the Big Tent Festival 13, I experienced teamwork, gratitude, helpfulness, kindness, care, love, and of course, happiness.

When it was my first time to attend Big Tent, I was happy and sad at the same time because I missed my family…because it was my first time to be away from my family.

By Brev Airiz