IPIS-graceful exit

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” –Yoda, Star Wars

Letting go of something you love has never been easy. Leaving the community that has been with you practically all your life is painful. Parting with the group that has taught you what it really means to serve and to love is heartbreaking…

I never thought that I could be this sad. (Who said goodbyes are blissful, anyway?) 2006 has been the most challenging year YFC Batangas has ever experienced (yet). With the leaving of some of the province’s strongest leaders for a higher form of service, and with the sudden “eviction” of our dearly loved Provincial Couple Coordinators, PCG Batangas was left on its own. Pretty ironic, for these happened before the province’s major activities took place. There was actually not enough time for mourning, because, as cliché as this may sound, the show must go on. With the upcoming BAYCON and RYC, PCG Batangas has to stand up on its own two feet this time and finish what has been started. The group has to be strong for the people that God has entrusted to its care. And with God’s grace, YFC Batangas was able to surpass all the trials that came its way, emerging victorious, undeterred, and with greater faith than ever.

Now that 2007 is here, YFC Batangas is yet facing another challenge: it is starting all over. From the full time pastoral worker to the provincial youth heads, from the provincial core group to the couple coordinators, everything (or everyone) is new. And now that we, the former Provincial Core Group of Batangas (now popularly known as the IPIS), have stepped down from service, we are filled with ambivalent emotions: relieved because the pressure of leading the whole YFC Batangas to victory is now off our shoulders, but poignant because we are leaving the service that we have loved so much. I’m gonna miss the ear-piercing laughters, the tear-jerking sharings, the annoying trippings, the humiliating hiritans, the love teams and the love triangles, the arguments over silly things, the sleepless nights, the nerve-racking plannings, the extremely stressful activities and the fellowships after, the walkathon from the Lipa City Youth and Cultural Center to the bus stop in the middle of the night, the SHOUTs, our coordinators and their kakulitans, the recollections, the piktyur-piktyurans, the pag-iisaw, the okrayans, the “terms of endearment,” the worships, and of course, the moments in conferences wherein we can’t do anything but to cry so as to ease our frustrations.

I just can’t believe that the moment we’ve been dreading has finally arrived: it’s now time to leave. It’s funny how we used to talk about this before, yet not really able to picture ourselves leaving. We would always say to each other, “Di ko ma-imagine ang sarili ko na wala sa YFC.” I can’t imagine leaving the community (and the group) that has made such a great impact on my life. My world practically revolved around it. If only I could turn back time, I would. But then, I can’t.
It’s now time for the IPIS to step down in order to give way for other leaders. To the new Provincial Core Group of Batangas, I salute you all, for having the courage to accept God’s calling to serve our province. Life as a PCG member has never been, and never will be, easy — and I’m talking from experience here. There would be a lot of struggles, for being part of the core group entails a lot of sacrifices and decisions that can, sometimes, even break your hearts. But I can assure you that you’ve made the right choice. For my being a PCG member has become the highlight of my YFC life. Everything that I have learned from being a YFC/PCG, I’m gonna bring with me for the rest of my life. I’m wishing all of you luck. Make the most of the time that God has given you to glorify Him through this service. As for us, the IPISes, it’s time to move on, because God has set out a new course for us to take on… May God be praised! c:

*Thanks Maanne Miranda for this one