Every February, me and my boys look forward to one event the school undertakes. The reason it's just me and the boys who are excited over this event is because it's an exclusively "men only" activity. It's an activity that is full of games, adventure, endurance and survival tests, explorations, skills and team building and, most importantly, lots of fun! Yes, this is the activity we call "Father and Son Camp."
The activity is anchored on scouting principles and so is replete with knot tying, water and land games, nature tripping (sometimes having to take a bath in improvised toilets and yes, that also may include "kybo", the scout's term for egesting body wastes), and many more that can be participated in by both the father and the son. Understandably, the biggest benefit of all is the bonding that happens between father and son/s and the camaraderie that is built between the campers. You see, we always divide the participants into different patrols. The patrols are very impressive this year. They now have incorporated galleries showcasing trophies and medals garnered from past years, tools, a segregated waste disposal, an altar, and a clinic.
This year, we went to Blueroze Farms and wildlife in Lodlod, Lipa City. It's a big coconut plantation with lots of space, a swimming pool, a maze and assorted animals like ostriches, wild boars, different species of fowls, turtles, an eagle, and a tweny or thirty foot python. We thought we would be in for a spectacle when the caretaker threw a live chicken on the python but the python didn't eat the whole time we watching. I swear I must've waited for hours with my heart pounding like crazy everytime the snake moved but it didn't happen. I even went back in the middle of the night but prey and hunter were both sleeping. The following day, I came back but the chicken was already gone.
This camping was a revelation to me. The good news is that I get to bond with my children for free because I am a member of the staff who assists the legendary founder of the FS camp, Mr. Moses Lozada, the thing is we couldn't join any of the games. The revelation is that I got to see how close the brothers are. While I can see that my two girls are very very close, I haven't the idea that these two would be just as close. Whereever Mickey went, Coby would tag behind. I even caught up with them where Coby sat silently alongside his brother who was drawing a composition in his sketch pad, making suggestions here and there. That made me borrow another sketchpad (he brought two) and sit down with them and practice sketching, too.
Another revelation is how Mickey is turning out to be responsible. He took the lead in putting up and striking down the igloo tent (thanks to my compare, Redjie Jimenez who owns it) and fixing our things inside. As always, lessons in life is learned in all the experiences we encounter and I'm glad I had done this again with my two boys.
24 comments:
ang swerte ng mga anak mo bossing. they get to spend quality time with their dad. what i would give just to spend one afternoon with my father. kaso patay na siya, matagal na. di ko na esperience ang mga ginagawa ninyo. i'm sure your kids are thrilled as they should be. anga galing talaga.
like what batjay said, you're very lucky to have that opportunity to bond with your kids. i didn't have that kind of activity with my dad but I was close to him inspite of it. In the future, you'll think back to that camping trip and give yourself a pat in the back for giving your kids good memories of you guys bonding each other. as they say, experience is the best teacher after all. am I still making sense? :)
batjay: i share the same sentiments with you, i'd give anything to have that bonding time with my dad too kaso God called him back.
It's nice to hear about you building a tight bond with your sons, I can't say that was the case with my dad growing up. But Mr. Mom managed to raise me well anyway.
Tito Rolly, i think that was a great idea. Although I've heard of the same thing before (mostly in passing), it is only now that I ruminated and realized its significance. I may do the same thing, but with my family (parents & siblings). It'll be a family trip with activities.
siyempre tuwang-tuwa ang dad ko at first place sila :) last na niya to as an official member of the F&S team kasi senior na si melo. pero i doubt that that will stop him from joining again next year :)
Batjay i wished we did spend some quality time but you see, I was working, too. Pa assist-assist sa mga records. Ang talagang nag-bonding yung magkapatid.
Julsitos I was lucky with my father. We did get to go to different places together. He was teaching me how to swim and one of his motivations was to take me to a lot of pools all around the country. We did "shooting the rapisds" at Pagsanjan together. Ang saya.
Brett FLX Thanks for coming over and leaving a comment. Your mother must've been strong-willed and good for having raised you properly. There are many who just surrendered. Come back again, okay?
J i was looking at one of the tents at camp. It was a huge one and I think the family can fit comfortably in that. I'm thinking if I can get the girls come with us on a camping trip one day. Well, it might be difficult now since my eldest is already in college. I don't even know if she'd enjoy sleeping in a tent and taking a bath in a toilet and bath that is not what she's been accustomed to.
Jillsabs Your father has been and always will be a part of the Father and Son activity. Just like Mr. Lozada, he is one of the pillars of the activity. Never a dull moment when he's around. One of my worries is when he and Mr. Lozada retires. Nobody could do he things they're doing. I certainly wouldn't want to follow Mr. Lozada for I'm sure I will fail by comparison.
Bakit walang mother and daughter camping?
hello tito rolly: napakasaya naman nyan, bonding ng mga mag-aama. noong bata, scout ako until high school kaya marami akong camping experiences at talagang masarap ang mag-camp. unlike with you, walang kasamang tatay, di ako nakaranas ng ganun. sana meron kami ng anak ko balang araw.
bo
bondings are always great kahit na ang tandem e father and son, mother and daughter, father and daughter, mother and son... great palagi.
my bonding with my daughter had helped her loosened up. medyo open na ngayon. ang hirap din minsan i-invade ang territory ng mga teenagers - me natatandaan nga akong quote dyan e - something like "our sons and daughters are not ours..."
you should make a pact with your sons tito rolly, a yearly camping trip for the three of you...for life :)
by the way Tito Rolly, campling is one ofmy passion and thing to do when feeling uhmmm lost? :) I always camp by the water so I can spend the day fishing while reading...soooo relaxing!
quality time with your family. always the best.
G's suggestion is a good one... make a pact with them next Feb that you guys are going to do it for life... :)
MY Dad used to go swimming w/ my bro every weekend before, my sis would tag along... that's the only time they never fought... that's the only love they really share (swimming)
Jojo's bro commented that sayang, hindi sya nag-camping, hindi naman pala natuloy pamamanhikan... then he was reminded that their father was brought to the hospital... i guess, in a way, buti na din they missed this one kasi baka lalao na-stress Dad nila... or something :)
SASSY
i think walang mother-daughter camping kasi mot mothers and daughters shop together naman...
and i guess andun pa din yung gendering process that conditions girls to prefer being clean over roughing it...
sa future 7 kids ko, nde ganun... iiwan namin Dad nila, we'd go camping!!! :D
come visit my blog.I have something for you.
Greetings From Mars Tito Rolly...At most times, the lessons we learned comes when we go out there ourselves far into the woods and the forest and appreciate that man and nature are both a teacher to each other. More Power.
Sassy Sinubukan din naming mag launch ng mother and daughter pero hindi nag-click. Ewan ko kung ano nangyari kasi wala naman ako dun e.
metal Boy scout din ako nung bata pa ko. Umabot ako hanggang Maginoo rank. Rizal na yata susunod dun.
Bat hindi mo umpisahan? Bili ka o humiram ka ng tent tapos mag camping kayong mag-aama. Enjoy yun.
juliet mas tama yata yung "They're no longer ours once they reach puberty!" Fortunately, nasa akin pa rin naman yung mga anak kong teen ager. Yung panganay kong college, wala yatang hilig sa boyfriend at puro aral lang at radio inaatupag.
Cerridwen That's a very good suggestion. I wonder what my children will say about it.
transience Yes, definitely. Time when there are no pressures and just let everybody be themselves.
Mec That's what my dad did before. Take me swimming to different places and I still remember eery experience we had to this day.
Sassy, Mec might be correct in her analysis.
Bayi Careful my friend... You might be bordering on something that is anti feminist. hehehe
AnP Thanks for the kind words and that very flattering post of yours. Can't wait to see you again this December.
Major Tom Mature has always been a very good companion and teacher to me.
Lt. Dick Hmmm what is this? First i was visited by someone from Mars, now you're from Neptune! My but my blog is sure getting to different places! hahaha
Thanks for the well wishes.
Good morning to Rolly and family. Happy weekend.
They already wrote all I have to say. You are a good person. at i noticed year of the rooster ka pala.
luchie yes, year of the rooster ako. San mo nakita? year ko ngayn ana swerte tong year na to sakin. Tumama sana ko sa lotto!
this is what i meant when i said 'our sons and daughters are not ours..', a quote from Kahlil Gibran - "Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow which you can’t visit even in your dreams." I don't think i can argue with what he said...
hey sir d!... i usually just lurk around your blog but when your post touched on the subject of kybo , it touched a nerve and sure brought back some great memories... I used to be a Zenior Zcout (hahaha that was how we pronounced it, out of affection for the old man) and Father and Son was one of the activities I looked forward to... because the scouts were usually tasked to aid in the activities... not to mention police the kiddies so that nothing bad would happen to them... I've been gone for about 10+ years from our school so it's nice to know that this tradition is still going on... I remember also one instance of the mother and daughter camping, it was held at the gym and not somewhere remote...I have no idea why it didn't take off that well though?... it could be because we had sir moi' to run the whole thing... he sure made FS what it was...
Juliet that's very profound but indeed very true.
Anonymous hey, you graduated in 1995 and yhou've been lurking quietly here? Hmmm that's interesting. Boy, am I glad to know that there's someone who has graduated a long time ago who visits me. Sana you left your name. I'm sure you had been my student before That is kung dun ka rin nag elementary ha. Kasi if I'm not mistaken either wala pa ko sa high school during that time or art coordinator na ko nung mga panahon na yun at hindi na nagtuturo. At any rate, thanks for visiting and making your presence felt.
hey sir d, thanks for the kind words and for increasing my graduation date by +N years, but alas it doesn't make me any younger... hehehe... I usually lurk because I have nothing to say and therefore acquiesce to all that has been said.. I chanced upon your blog when I randomly clicked on the Sassy Lawyer's blog's links...I can't count the number of times that I have been under you because I think it was almost every year, definitely it was enjoyable as well as educational... I have to express my profound thanks to all of you at the school for that... one musn't fail to give thanks to those who helped them climb up the ladder... reading from this blog I've surmised that you're no longer into teaching and already hold an administrative position... I hope though that doesn't mean na naging masungit ka na sa mga bata because you're already part of management... hehehe
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