Tuesday, March 09, 2010
my homecoming
almost 5 years ago, i joined the ateneo human rights center's summer internship program and (luckily) got sent to coron to do my internship with the environmental legal assistance center (elac). for a month, i carried on my internship duties; got to meet different people; and experienced (almost) all sorts of adventures and misadventures in this quaint town and its neighboring islands. more importantly, that month sort of "sealed the deal" of my wanting to continue law school.i'd always say that my month-long stay here in the calamianes is most humbling, that i realized after having worked with some of the most selfless people i've met in my life. my experiences in the islands in northern Palawan really left a lasting impression on me. little did i know that i would actually fulfill my "promise" (to myself) that soon, i'd be engaged in alternative lawyering.
five years ago, i just finished my first year in law school and was really unsure if i wanted to continue with it. five years later, i come back to the calamianes after almost a year of being a lawyer and (almost) certain that i am in the right path.
five years ago, i remember giving a paralegal training to a fisherfolk community in coron on the fisheries code. five years later, i find myself back in the calamianes doing back-to-back fora on human rights.
five years ago, when i was set to leave the islands at the end of my internship, i said to myself that i will soon give back to this place which has given me a lot (like triggering my want to continue law school and pursuing my environmental advocacy). five years later, i am back and (would like to believe that) i am starting to fulfill that promise.
earlier today, i once again set foot inside the immaculate conception church in culion island, the same church where i fervently prayed that i pass all my first year subjects. today, i said my thanks to the Lord for bringing me again to this place, the same place which helped me decide. today, i thanked Him for bringing me to this path and asked for His continued guidance. most importantly, i whispered my thanks to Him for bringing me back to this very important place, for bringing me back home.
