It was the election result that filled my cellphone the moment I woke up last Saturday March 6, 2010. I forwarded the same message to my Shepherd, for the information of my 2 other classmates (Class 242) who paid their annual dues but failed to vote.

Then our landline rang – It was Sis Susan asking if I have any plan to go to Elco or Napocor. I said, perhaps Napocor for the on-going LSS so that I would have an article for our Updates. Then Sis Susan said – we’re going too, so we’ll go to Napocor first to meet you then we’ll move on to Elco. She asked where I will have lunch. I said, I will get out before lunch because we came home 3AM from a HS classmate’s wake. I have no time to prepare any food.

Sis. Susan, said, ok we can share with you our food. Then, we will observe in the Shepherding Seminar-Bro. Ding will be one of the speakers the next day.

At Napocor, where the LSS was on-going, 8 couples had signed in. Manding Anna Leonorio were the speakers for the slot. Pris Vicky Contreras, next speakers, were having a tete-a-tete with Ding Susan Mayor. .

Sis Susan volunteered to give me food for lunch thinking I would stay on. But after gathering data for the LSS, I decided to go with them to the Shepherding Seminar for the Updates mission as well.

While on the road from Napocor to Elco, Bro. Ding’s phone rang. Somebody from the Elco workers requested the couple to bring noodles not “kakanin” to fill up the lunch table. So the couple gave in to order Pancit Malabon along the way. It was a hearty lunch with Felix Norly Lachica, Nono Cecile Delgado, Nancy Arced, Letty Gepilano, Marian Co, and Bill Zamora.

Words of Congratulations were never missed since Incoming BOTs Ding Susan Mayor and Nono Cecile Delgado were there. While the facilitators became busy attending to the participants, it was Sis Marian and I who had to quietly step out since the discussion on who will head what ministry became the concern for the new BOTs.

As Sister Marian whispered, they are starting their planning session!

The rest of the afternoon made Sis. Cecile so frantic. She learned from their children that they had concocted a surprise 60th birthday party for their Dad. The guests were starting to arrive at the venue, the Shepherding Seminar was still going on, the rest of the Mater Dei group had not thought of a strategy to pull out Bro. Nono from the seminar, while all were clueless where the venue was.

Sis Nancy and Cpls. Felix Norly Lachica together with Toto Diez volunteered to stay as “cleaners” at Elco. While Bro. Ding also volunteered to bring Cpls. Nono Cecile home for whatever alibi he too have concocted.

Bro Bill Zamora, the day’s speaker, got so carried away and could not end the session sooner than 5pm. At least, we were able to leave Elco before 6pm and our cellphones are on hotline for messages on the location of the venue.

Upon entering the Pacita Complex in San Pedro,we learned that Bro. Ding contracted a tricycle driver to bring them to a certain address. Upon reaching the gate, it was Bro. Nono who stepped out of the car to check if the address was correct. To his surprise, he saw his daughter (whom he knew, is in Iloilo) come out of the gate! That moment captured the raising of a curtain to watch the drama of the night .

We arrived at the venue 2 hours later… curious of what Bro. Nono would say to us and also curious for stories of his reaction to the events. Until, Couples Jun Adel Tambasacan arrived and heartily laughed at how the things went on.

It was a hilarious Day 1 for some newly elected Board of Trustees! May their camaraderie radiate their zest to serve as they commit their tenure to the mission of the Mater Dei Marriage Encounter Community and realize to house its growing population to a place called Mater Dei Community Center. For the Greater Glory of God.