Turning 20

Do you remember when you were 20? Maybe you were in your last year in college and thinking of what the future holds for you. And it was during these times when you probably started to get the realization that pretty soon you would be fully responsible for how your life shapes up.

For us as a batch, how will our group's life shape up as we enter our twentieth year?

I remember an entry I made in my now-defunct blog about organizations and their survival. I was ranting about how the youth of today here in our village seems to be so apathetic with regard to our community-based youth club. It was so unlike during our time when we, both officers and members, would actively participate in projects for the betterment of our community.

My readers posted their reactions. And one comment really made me think. The reader suggested that maybe the reason why organizations like ours are bound to die a natural death is because its direction and vision aren't clear to its officers and members.

Sure, we elect new officers year in and year out. And as we say when we elect new officers, we pass on the baton. Now, passing on the baton, as I realize, isn't only about passing on the leadership. It doesn't only mean that we pass on the responsibility to lead the group. But more so deeply, it means passing on the ideals and vision that the group stands for. It is the vision which keeps any organization truly alive. It is only when we ensure the collective commitment of the individuals for what the group stands for can we not fear that the group would die a natural death.

Now, going back to our case before I digress any further. Sure, no one can question our batch's solidity. Talk about networking capability and it is actually quite impressive that we can readily call a gathering where around 30-50 people will easily show up. And that can be done even with only a few days' preparation at that.

And we have also proven that once we set our minds towards one common goal, we can defy all odds and succeed in our undertakings. Just ask the batch whom we stole the first KBBL Championship from about how potent our batch is and you will realize how powerful our group can be if we just will it to be.

But life isn't all about inuman and basketball. It goes beyond the rigmaroling and the arguments we raise in our yahoogroup. It simply doesn't start and end with the kumustahan we make when we see each other after long periods of time. Our relationships do not end with the last bottle of beer we drink everytime we celebrate. Our association do not run on the internet connection we rely on to send and receive those emails we throw back and forth. This blogsite wasn’t created just to be a glamorized bulletin board of our organization. And I certainly hate to think that our only main purpose is to stick together long enough to make it to the Centennial Celebration of PCC five years from now.

Then what?

Don’t get me wrong. I am not criticizing this group for the shallowness of its being or its members for their lack of commitment. On the contrary, to this group belongs some of the most passionately involved and visionary people I personally know and admire. I am just reminding everyone about things which can easily be lost in time and passivity. I love this group. I love this group so much that I don't want to see it die a natural death nor run aimlessly like a headless chicken. The fragility of the group lies within us - about what we expect from each other, and about what we expect our group should do as a whole. Its reason for being lies in the very core of its existence.

For some of us who have been regularly meeting up and talking about the projects that we have to focus on, we know we are in the right direction. And I am just raising this for the benefit of those who have not been fortunate enough to be with us personally during our gatherings, or those who have not been updated with the recent developments in our group’s endeavours. Or maybe you are well-informed about these things but choose to stay in the sidelines thinking that your participation isn’t that much needed. I hope each one of us realizes that we are part of a group which can be further harnessed for its full potential. And that includes the involvement of each one of us.

Involvement is the keyword. And involvement is an action word.

And so, as we enter our twentieth year, I think it is imperative for us to do some collective examination of ourselves. Here is a question which, philosophical as it may seem, we need to face more regularly if we hope to continue on moving forward for the next 20 years and more.

Kumbento88, what do we stand for?

Most likely, you would say brotherhood.

I agree.

And I say let’s prove to one another that we are brothers – in the truest sense of the word.

Brothers in Christ.

Brothers, not only during times of celebrations. But more so, brothers willing to help out each other in times of need. Brothers willing to be men for others as instilled to us by our beloved Kumbento.