Princess Diaries (Oh, not the book, Dear!)

October 17-18, 2015 was one awesome weekend for the EastB Sector of Singles For Christ (SFC). Why? Because according to Kuya Don (Sector Couple Coordinator) when they are having a meeting with the program coordinators (I did eavesdropping! Hahaha!), it was the first time that our Sector conducted the "simultaneous retreats", from Covenant Orientation to Princess Diaries [(PD) (for Sisters)] and Knight's Tale (for Brothers) to Christ Pursuit Weekend. (Oh, SFCs, alamnathis. Yan ang retreats na pwede nyong puntahan! Haha! Maexcite naaaaa! Though kulang pa ng Christian Character Weekend. Haha!)

E ayun nga. A bit background why I was in PD e nagPD na ako last 2012....

Maybe two-three weeks before the said date, Ate Malou added me in FB chatbox where she's asking who among us can be one of the Service Team in PD. The terms PRINCESS DIARIES and SERVICE TEAM excites me and I said YES. Why? 1, I can't attend the CPW since hindi pa ako nagCCW; 2, I know na not all the time e ang Cluster namin ang makakasama sa Service Team ng PD everytime magkakaroon ng Sector Retreats; 3, everything about girls/sisters excite me and lastly, why say NO to a service for HIM kung kaya naman at pwede naman, right? :)

But sometimes, an enemy will make papansin and will drag you down so you could not attend to a service for God. :D Ang tagal ng sahod ko! Haha! E ang service team should also pay for a discounted registration kasi syempre, kakain ka din at matutulog dun. :) (Service = giving your time, talent and treasure.) Pero as usual, an enemy can't win to His old Master. Ang galing lang ng timing ni Lord talaga kasi nakasingil si Ate ng pautang este ng bayad from my small business! Yiiii! Kinilig talaga ako ng bongga! Hahaha!

So much for the "brief" introduction and background, lemme share some moments from our PD retreat.

1. PD Kits. Sobrang inggit lang talaga ang naramdaman namin ni Jeka (alam naman namin na bawal mainggit! Haha!). Kaya lang di ba? Ang ganda ng kanilang kits! From PD manual/booklet to ID to rosary bracelet pati crown (may kasama pang roses nung last day!) at ung small bag na colorful na un, waaah! Toiletries and things about girls! Bakit kami noon, wala! Hahaha! (Joke lang, Lord!)

2. Venue. The venue is really a retreat house kaya sobrang damang-dama mo ang katahimikan, the "retreat ambiance" plus reflections kahit na may iba ding nag-re-retreat. :) Tas pinaganda pa namin (yabang! Haha!). Saan ka pa? Hahaha! Salamat Lord sa mga hidden talents na nailabas namin dala ng pagkakataon! Haha!

3. Lovely and generous speakers (and yes with the equally lovely service team and participants!).

 with Sis. Arlene Acosta

with Sis. Erika Enaje 

 with Sis. Aiza Garnica

with Sis. Kate Deiparine

with Sis. Raizel Danglay

4. My Favorite Part! -- it is where some Ates and fellow princesses, pray for you, for your heart's desires, your situations, etc.

How sweet it is when someone prays for you, di baaaaa? 

5. Awesome Service Team. Minsan talaga, wala sa dami ng tao ung service team e. Madalas, ung kung gaano kalaki ang puso para sa mga ginagawa at gagawin. 

Grateful and blessed working and serving our God, the King of all Kings, with these princesses. So much inspiration, so much motivation. Hindi pwedeng pwede na. Hindi pwedeng "ganito" lang ang ibibigay para sa Ama. Kailangan all in, all out, kasama lahat, pati pato.

6. What I learned. (Woo! The perks of being one of service team! You experienced how to serve and you get to pick lessons too!)

Hindi natin kailangan ng kwento nila Snow White para maniwala na prinsesa tayo. Hindi laging may witches o stepmoms and stepsisters ang buhay ng isang prinsesa, madalas ito ung mga problema, pains, rejections, heartaches, emptiness, etc. Hindi natin kailangang hintayin ang "ever after" para maging masaya tayo. Kasi pwede nama ngayon na, sa piling ng Diyos Ama, habang nasa mundo. Why wait? Haha. 

Hindi natin kailangan mainggit kay Kate Middleton o Princess Diana kasi ung totoo, prinsesa naman talaga tayo. Prinsesa tayo, hindi dahil may prinsipe tayong handang magpakamatay para sa pag-ibig naten. Prinsesa tayo dahil meron tayong Prinsepe na hindi lang hangang gawin iyon, dahil ginawa Niya na, nagpakamatay na Siya, pauit-ulit pa, para sa pag-ibig Niya sa'ten. 

Prinsesa ako. Ikaw. Sila. Tayo. 

Prinsesa tayo dahil anak tayo ng Diyos Ama, ang Hari ng lahat ng hari. Ang pinakamayaman sa lahat n hari, dahil Kanya ang mundo, ang universe at ang lahat ng meron ang mundong ito. May kakabog pa ba dun? :D

Prinsesa ka, anak ka ng Diyos kaya proclaim His greatness, spread His goodness and love and graces especially sa mga taong di Siya kilala. 

Wear your crown, Princesses. Inspire them of your story. Tell them His story. 

Note: Some photos were taken by Ates in Service Team.