GREAT EXPERiENCE

this entry is a week late and this was supposed to be made and posted last week. however, due to unnecessary circumstances, today has only been my time to post this.

it's been a week since my experience with AYLC 2011 Interview happened. it was so great knowing that for the 700+ applicants, from Luzon to Mindanao, I, Miralyn Madel Inso Abapo, was able to get into the top 153 and was able to meet some Ayala Corp. Executives. so you see, it was indeed a great experience. just being there, just knowing i was one of the top 153, is already a big honor. :)

it was Tuesday, November 23, 2010, that i was scheduled to fly for Makati City. it was my very first time to travel, in an airplane, ALONE. of course it was a heart pounding experience! im not used to travelling alone and honestly, im a big ignorant when it comes to airport, airplanes... and the like. :)

but since i have no choice but to travel alone, of course, i was able to get into the plane, safely. HAHA. and oh! by the way. there was some kind of change in Davao International Airport. according to my sources, i should go upstairs and always turn RiGHT. however though, the area changed and that time, i was supposed to turn LEFT. mabuti din naman ano at hindi ako ganun ka bobo para di magbasa. HAHA.

well, anyway, i was there. waiting. and it seems like an endless wait. at around 6:00 pm, we already boarded and presto! i was seated at 32B, in between two gentlemen. and of course, while i was there, i did not forget to pray. it was one thing i needed the most that time :).

after almost 2hours, or maybe 2hours, i arrived at Manila International Airport (MIA), Bay 9. i was really like wondering now how different Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from MIA.. (??)

well, anyway, while there, waiting for our sundo, i saw these 4 people, of my same age. i was like thinking maybe they were interviewees also. i saw one of them wagging the ayala logo. upon seeing it, i went straight to them, asked them if they were also interviewees and in just a snap! we're friends! these people had been my company from that moment, during the interview and until we went home.

Richelle, Doanie, Dominic and Jay-Are

after our dinner at the penthouse of BSA hotel, of which you could oversee Makati from up there, we decided to have a little walk around Greenbelt, which is, actually, just in front of BSA hotel. we were with Ate Lis and Kuya Yani. the two AYLAlumni gave us tips for the interview. and it really did help. it really did. :)

by 11pm, we went back to the hotel, had our own stuff done and slept.

by 4:30 am, my dear brother called me just to wake me up. darn! i was so sleepy. my head was like floating. i dont really know how i felt that time. but it's time to wake up and prepare for the day's interview!

yes, yes. on November 25, 2010 was the schedule of my interview at Tower 1. ooh. i was quite nervous. well, actually, to tell you honestly, i was not that nervouse. i mean, i could feel the pressure, but not as intense as how i used to feel whenever i have interviews. :) maybe, just maybe, im confident enough and i trust myself more. :)

we had breakfast with Kuya Darren and Kuya Mark. :) they really were like big brothers who cared a lot for their younger siblings. :)

Kuya Darren in the middle

by 7:00 am, we were already at the lobby, waiting for the others, with the other AYLAlumni also. the AYLAlumni were with us in going to Tower 1.

we were at 25th floor. we stayed there for the orientation. we wrote an essay about "how we were about to bring forth change in our community/organization".

after which, we were like waiting for yeaaarss for our turn. haha. but i actually had fun chit-chatting with Yanglee, a good friend of Christian Alagon. at talagang si Christian lang ang pinag-usapan namin. :)

and oh! it was my turn already. lab-dub. lab-dub. my heart said. my heartbeat's like racing. haha :)

but upon entering the interview area.. upon seeing the panelists.. OH! presto! :) there's this big smile :) on their faces, warming and calming my system. and like.. they really did stand to meet and shake hands with me.

and i really had fun "having a good conversation" with the panel. yes. yes, indeed it was sort of a "casual conversation". the panel was so great. they made me feel so comfortable. they did not intimidate me and that's one thing all of us (interviewees) were thankful for. the warmth and welcoming presence of the panel calmed us and made us more confident of ourselves. and i bet ALL OF US ENJOYED the interview. well, actually, it should be termed as interview, but rather a conversation with some good friends.

and if you'll ask me what was the conversation all about..? um.. um.. lemme think first. HAHA. actually i really forgot what were the questions.. i dunno.. haha. it seems like it just passes by, in one sweep. haha. but generally, they did ask me about MYSELF, being a student, a daughter and a leader. but the specific questions? wag niyo nalang kasi itanong. nakalimutan nga eh. haha :))

and of course, it felt so great to have met KUYA CLOYD. he was a uic alumni, an AYLAlumni and at the same time, a worker of Manila Water (part of Ayala Company). so you see, i got the chance to meet this great person. and guess what... he used to be my teacher before, back in second year [he was just an intern by that time, of course].

Kuya Cloyd

this whole experience is indeed GREAT. as i always say, just being there is already a great honor. meeting different faces from the Ayala... being at Makati Tower 1.. seeing the welcoming faces... seeing Zobel de Ayala people... and of course, making new friends.

of all the things that i experienced, having new acquaintances is what i enjoyed the most. biruin nyo, magkakaiba kami, may bisaya, tagalog, muslim, christian, ilonggo at kahit ano pa, yet we all meet at the center, sharing our sweetest smiles, taking pictures together, sleeping together, laughing our hearts out, exchanging mobile digits and facebook accounts, ans sharing sweet moments.. dun lang kami nagkakakilala, but it's like we've already had this thread of bond connected in our hearts.

it's just normal to say "hello! taga-san ka? from what school? taga-davao ako.. ano name mo?" ang sama siguro tingnan kung kapwa leader mo, di mo pinapansin.

as what kuya darren always say, walang leader na mahiyain. lahat tayo makakapal ang mukha :)

it feels great knowing that a number of people have been added to my lists of friends :) of course, let me name a few.

Nimay, Rid and the other three mentioned above

Shayne and Chinni

ii so hope to see these great people again.. if not in Cavite this February, at least, at some point of our lives :) i did not only have and make fun with them, i've also gained something. :) indeed, it's a worthwhile experience.

aside from my ever dearest family, ooops. of course, let me not forget this one person who's there with me from the beginning until the end. the person who supported, and is still supporting me, all the way. the person who believes in me and gives me hope and courage. :)

Kuya Niño Renz Santos

this guy had also been a part of the AYLC 2010. although he's just been an interviewee, and he was not able to participate in the congress, still you can really say he's a great leader :) thankyou kuya nin for the support. :)

thankyou also for everyone who gives his/her support. there are too many of you to mention here. and you always know that iiLOVEyou. <3

it's been a week now since the interview. and all of us are patiently, and partly impatiently, waiting of the results. many are praying for it. some are expecting and others are just... um.. how do i say this.. oh right! HOPiNG (and i'm one).

if it's God's will, let it be. if it's not, be it :) after all, we've already been given an experience that is ABOVE and OVER the experiences of other people. isn't it?

so.. let's keep our fingers crossing. :)