an excerpt from my controversial report to the PREX Secretariat
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT
The PREX Basketball Tournament was one great experience for me that I will never forget. There have been learning curves for me like the ones I have mentioned in the earlier part of this report. There might have been people I was able to hurt unintentionally due to my impulsive nature. To them, again, I sincerely apologize.
Yes, I have had my shares of hurts too but those I could ignore. The hurts, however, of the kuyas and ates who whole-heartedly understand the objective we have in conducting the tournament, are another story. It came to our knowledge that in a gathering of the PREX Secretariat officials last Sunday at the Northview I Clubhouse, Kuya Rene Vitorio asked if the Music Ministry is cooking up some special event again because quote-unquote “araw-araw may inuman sa bahay… hindi naman sa bahay kundi sa katabing bahay na ginagawa.” At this, Ate Cynthia De Vera remarked, “Hindi na. Lumipat na sa Violago.”
Kuya Rene, the Basketball Tournament took place for almost a month. I had shared bottles of beer and Gran Matador to these young kuyas, I admit. These bottles were token of my appreciation for the enthusiasm and friendship they have exerted to the PREX Activities. You mentioned araw-araw, kuya. Siguro’y naibilang mo na rito ang mga araw na overnight naming ginawa ang decorations ng Basketball Court para sa PREX Anniversary and sa turn-over ceremonies ng parish priest. Ask Ate Ging about it. Binibisita nya kami. Token of appreciation niya ay food naman. Siguro’y nabilang mo na rin dito yong mga gabing nilambing sa akin ni Ate JL na sa bahay na lang kumain ng sopas pagkatapos ng games ang mga tumulong sa committee. Kasama na rin siguro dito ang mga araw at gabi na nagkukwentuhan kami kung paano makakabawi sa PREX dahil pinagsama-sama nito kaming muli.
Ate Cynthia, there were only 2 times that these kuyas and ates visit Violago. First was in response to an invitation from Ate Nancy. Of course, at Ate Nancy’s place. The second was in response to Kuya Jojo Buhat’s invitation. Nagkataon naming sa bahay mo sya nakatira kaya siguro naging very visible kami sayo. Is it really fair for you to remark na lumipat na sa Violago?
Mga Kuya, mga Ate, the family of young PREX graduates that I was able to put up is not a family of drunkards! Anong hiya na lang nila kay Kuya Edwin na tatay kung ituring nila kung ganoon sila? Hindi po umiinom si Kuya Edwin. Yet, in the event that you will stand up and say I have harmed the lives of these young ates and kuyas and in the event that you raise your hand and tell me I have not done anything good for the seminar (since the basketball tournament awakened a lot of sleeping kuyas who all of a sudden invited that much participants you saw in Class 84), I will humbly take my hands off the CTKP-PREX.
I remember what Ate Beth Perez once advised me. Wag ko na raw i-measure and success. Ipag-pray ko na lang daw na maging masaya. I reflected on that. Oo nga, gusto ko lang namang maging masaya ang palaro. But let me get back to you, Ate Beth. You know what, in this PREX Basketball Tournament, God allowed us to hit two birds in one stone – successful and happy!
Mga Kuya, mga Ate, I am now open for your questions and feedback. Thank you.