Being an Alchemist over the weekend.

I am an Alchemist. Well, at least for the past 2 days, I was.

My phone rings at around 2 pm, friday. It was my former professor and friend, Jv Ignacio. He asked me if i could help him out by being a staff for the Alchemists Inc (a company which he co-founded, along with my other former professor - Mr. Rene Tadle) for the weekend. Without any hesitation, i told him to count me in. After all, my surfing weekend has gone up in smokes, and i've got nothing else to do. A brief meeting to orient me about the details followed, and everything was set. The seminar will be a 2-day event, with a combination of talks and activities which are all geared towards personality development, goal setting and foster "Passion for their own Mission and Vision through a continuous Life of Learning and Caring."

We had 100+ participants for the seminar, all boys - as ICSB was an exclusive boys' school. We did the set up like men (and women) possessed - everything was done in less than 30 minutes! When the hall was filled with the participants, i could not help but see myself in them when i was in high school. Ah, just like me, the typical high school-er - i told myself. But I thought wrong. yes, in a way, they were just like any other senior highschool batch - if we're talking about how boys will be boys. But unlike most of boys their age, these guys were far more advanced in thinking and skills wise. As soon as the first session started, it was noticeable that we had an excellent and driven group - and they were consistent til the very end. Session after session, activity after activity, they did not fail to impress me and the other facilitators and staff. The things they said, wrote and done made our jaws drop, so to speak. Personally, it was a humbling experience, as i could NEVER have thought the way they did back when i was a teenager. I think we learned as much from them as they did from us.



For me, the highlight of the 2 day activity was the presentation of the boy's life maps. We asked them to do a life map, which as planned, is the final product of every classroom activity we gave them. They would have to connect every output they produced to finish their life map. In a nutshell, a lifemap consists of your own mission and vision as well as your goals in life. It didn't surprise me at all that they were able to make all of their maps, what struck me was what they put in it.. Every map was well presented and well thought of. The mission and vision was excellently delivered and the goals were precise and praiseworthy. Each had different goals, but you can really feel the passion in their works. Words can't really say enough of how proud i am to be part of this endeavor with them.

One participant who really made a strong impact on us facilitators, was a boy who had one of his legs amputated because of a certain sickness. He went to us after the last session and thanked us for the event. He said that he looked up to us and admired our work. What he didn't know was that, we are the ones who are honored by his presence. Jv wisely said that, that kid has accomplished more in his young life than we'll ever do. He is a survivor and did not let his condition get in the way of reaching his goals. And I'm sure he will. As a matter of fact, he will be attending one of the best universities here in the country next school year.



We may not be alchemists who can turn lead into gold, but we ARE proud to be alchemists who helped boys become men of vision.