The National Youth Science, Technology and Environment Summer Camp 2011... My Last PSYSC Summer Camp

by Carl Patrick S. Tadeo

‘Once a PSYSC, always a PSYSC.’

It’s my second experience at the National Youth Science, Technology and Environment Summer Camp. From the Camp 2010 at Alfonso, Cavite and this year at Iloilo City. These are the biggest camps that I am having during my vacation days. It teaches me a lot about Science and teaches me how to make friends with those people that I don’t usually mingle with. The year’s theme is “Under CHEMstruction: Restore the Environment’s Equilibrium, Provide a Greener Solution.”

Let us have a talk about this year’s summer camp.

Well, I’m with 5 other smart and kind humans. The first one was Ma’am Myrna Lumague, one of the most beautiful Science teachers in town, and the other 4 was Ate Jillian, Ate Micah, Ate Joy, and Kuya Johnlee. We are the Science Wizards of Olongapo City National High School if you don’t mind. It’s a great opportunity, for we all feel that we are all Science geniuses for we are with the smartest in the Science thingy at that camp. It’s a great experience with a great story...

The story starts here. The 5 of us were there at the Victory Terminal of Olongapo City for we will have a ride to go to Manila. So we must go on the way at 4 because our flight is 10:00 yet we need to get there 2 hours before the flight, so we must get there at 8:00. But we have 4 hours drive from Olongapo to Manila, so, we need to less 4 and that’s the reason why 4:00 must be our departure at the bus terminal.

Well, have you not asking why we are only 5? We must be 6. But the other one was late. We waited until past 4 but she did not arrive yet. So the hero was Jillian. She went to Micah’s home, and found out that Micah had just awake. So, they made it quick. And when they arrived at the bus terminal we rode the bus going to Pasay.

When we arrived at Pasay we rode a taxi and have journeyed our way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). I feel like I’m going abroad. Well, I got ready for this. I told my grandma that I will be back soon. For as I get there I will work and will give them dollars, and I will send them chocolates... It’s Filipino’s tradition you know... That every time they hear about airplanes, they always imagine of how cold it will be at that place. We will only go at ILOILO, so don’t expect too much...

We first took a slight snack at the Jollibee stall at the 2nd Floor of the NAIA. We had just ordered burgers and hot chocolates. But I also bought a donut at Mister Donut. I find it beautiful... But the thing that I love about the NAIA was the escalator thingy? Well, that’s not eecalator at all. What do you call that escalator that only run at a flat floor?... Ah! Just forget it...

We’re on the plane now... It’s good... Yeah, it’s good... I love the air-condition... I love the sit and also the seat-belt. It’s hard to figure out how to use the plane’s seat-belt ey. We figured it out about 5 minutes.

Well, the attendants are good. I thought all of flight attendants must be good-looking, but now I knew the truth! Not all. But... Some do have.

Oh. I really hate planes! Why? The foods are very expensive... They think they can outsmart us. Never! But, we bought a snack...

The take off was good. It is not as bad as of riding a coaster. The pilot was gentle. In the first place I’m a little bit nervous. But for heaven’s sake God will never leave me. But all of it was over, when the plane got down. The touch was gentle... and we had never felt that we are in land.

When it’s my turn to get down on the stair I shouted aloud “, Hello! Iloilo!” Well it’s a great experience. It’s a dream come true. I’m rich! Having the truth that it’s my first time to ride a plane.

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We took a taxi, with other schools that will also go at the Premiere Hotel Destination at Iloilo City-The Sarabia Manor & Convention Center. Well, Iloilo was good. It looks like a sleeping paradise... It’s as tranquil as the soft waters along a modest river. But, I don’t want the silence. For sometimes silence brings craziness. .. Agree?

The first stop -- the Registration...

I hate this part. It always takes a month to finish. We waited and got starved so we took our lunch at an adjacent store-Ocean City. The food was good but gold...

And after several years of waiting the Kuya’s directed us on our room. And tried to have a rest. We are with the students of Agusan City National High School. We are so curious about what they say. They mostly talk Bisaya dialect. So, we mostly don’t understand what they say. But they are not that hard to get along with.

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We didn’t talk about the hotel yet... The hotel was good... Almost the whole hallways are filled with carpets. The rooms are fully air-conditioned. There’s a hot shower. And I love the key. The key was just a card. The room was good. There are cabinets that could be filled with clothes. But we didn’t put our clothes there for we are 14 people and may have misunderstandings. There is a cable on the television. Yah, it’s good, but not that good. For there is a battle on the channels that each of us wants... And finally an elevator...

The Camp itself...

ViLLAGERS PRiDELECTiON. The salvation of Chemopolis starts here. Listen to how it all started and what you can do to help. Get acquainted with the people who’ll be vital in this entire training.

I learned all here. I met my Villagers-campers. And I knew that I belong to Satrape #27 – The Young Avatars. I enjoyed it, but not that much for we are just adapting and knowing each other.

RoCHEMroLLiN’: A night of stress relieves and Pasafest: PatiCHEM Please! Rock and Rolling the Chemopolis way. A night off from all the pressure of saving Chemopolis. Bond with other villagers. Enjoy the dun and games in-stored for you. Indulge your taste buds with free food from every Village.

I love this night. We had a great bonding through cute games like the Stop Dance thing that the whole group is needed and the Limbo-Rock. After the that we went to the parking lot of the hotel and a pasafest indulge our tongues. The different tastes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao showed to everyone that they unite for a common thing. We got so many pasalubongs like: piyaya, biscocho, veggie chips and tahong chips. All of the foods are delicious...

MasCHEMrade. A night of purely pleasure in disguise. Strictly no mask no entry. A sophisticated night that brought out the etiquette with us. We sat back and relaxed while we watched the performances from our fellow villagers, and many more.

The Final Onus. Fearlessly face this final challenge. All your training will now come down to this. Finish this, and Chemopolis is saved.

This is our Over-all Workshop along with our own Satrapes. This is the most tiring one. But one of the most memorable.

Renaissance. Enjoy the beauty of the rebirth of Chemopolis. Altogether, let us kindle the flame and pledge our support to maintain the beauty of this Metropolis.

Altogether we ignited the flame of a magnificent future that Chemopolis will now have. At that pledge night, I pledged for our Satrape. And pledge for the same and common goal...

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And its the end of our camp...

When we are in the Iloilo Airport we are very happy for we are going back to Olongapo. And because we are so bored we danced the Dalandan Shake inside the plane. And I requested to Kuya Lee to take us a video. Even if it is not allowed at the airport.

When we got it to NAIA we tried to have vids again. For we want to make a video on how to dance the Dalandan Shake for us to present during our encampment for Division wide.

Well, let us see the vid when the Camp here in Olongapo starts. And finally a home sweet home...

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SATRAPE #27 - THE YOUNG AVATARS

This is where I belong... At this group I felt complete. When I went to Iloilo I felt that something is missing on me but when I am with my Satrape mates and when I went home I felt so complete. Even though we are from different part of our nation we united and we fought for the challenges that had given to us by our lovable Guardians. In this case we met each other, sometimes we fight for there are some decisions that are not approved by some and some are just fooling around. But the truth was that our Satrape is a silent yet competitive group.

For be yourself, be myself, and be ourselves.

As the camp end, I had never been sad. For I know that we must say goodbye but it will never be the end for it is just the start of a long friendship that we will all have.

I will miss the Go Mart Convenience Store that is near the hotel. We always buy our personal things there. I will miss Room 310. I will miss the elevator. I will miss the hotel’s hot water for our cup noodles during the late hours that we are bored at our room. I will miss the time that we argue about whose going next on having a bath. I will miss the food that doesn’t bring me to life, for it is not as good as my mom’s cooking. I will miss the subcamp lunch and dinner. I will miss the juice wherein the sweet part settled down at the bottom. I will miss the Dalandan Shake that we always dance every time that we are having our session assembly. I will miss all... And lastly I will miss PSYSC as I have my last PSYSC Summer Camp.

But I know that wherever we are and whenever will it be. The friendship, the memories and the laughter that we had will never be erased by anyone for as we live we will still reminisce the true meaning of the PSYSC-Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs.

Yes, we are one family. One community. One PSYSC.

Carl Patrick S. Tadeo
Participant, CAMP 2011