Traveler Story 101: When Keeping your COOL is the name of the game Indeed, traveling is about people - learning from their ways the dos and donts. Yesterday was a typical example that nearly spoiled our teambuilding activity. CASE: Just as when we finished the KAYAK race, each was back on its usual in denial moment with all the alibis on why we didnt make it. I was telling them how Myls Magondacan and I were so fast (i did not realize that i am good at KAPAMORA. Bena-benar den a taga Masiu..hehe) until Nurbani Cayongcat Macaraya and Mz MzTamel Guros kayak accidentally bumped on us. Then i was interrupted by North South as he said, Bail a Labi... then pointing his gaze at my back as if telling me, you are needed there. When i turned around, i saw a bit of a commotion. I saw my Insan Cocoy, Cocoy Goldie Ringia s hubby and my pamangkin Nor Salem in a heated discussion with a couple. When i came closer, i realized that they were clarifying statements earlier made by the couple against us, and explaining our side. Miyakamong Board Alilit, my pakiwataan Kim and I intervened and tried to pacify. Then Insan Cocoy explained to me what happened as Kim took the role of mediating. Then i noticed the couple toned down a little bit with a change in language, terms and gestures. It was not the same situation that i saw when i first came, nor was it the same language and words that Cocoy told me that was corroborated by other witnesses. Accordingly, here are some of the words that came from them: Heto na naman kayo Nakakaistorbo kayo Sumusobra na kayo ..and some other words that is not worth posting. Then i realized that the moment has come to say my piece to stop verbal aggression and prejudice, while keeping my cool - especially that i am wearing my veil. I took a deep breath and seek guidance from ALLAH SWT... ME: We would like to apologize po for whatever inconvenience that we may have caused you. COUPLE: Ang sinasabi lang namin mag-iingat sana tayo ME: Its okey po. we understand. But as I apologize, I will not take all the blame and please let me explain again what are the reasons given to you by my friends: 1) that we are on a teambuilding activity as evidenced by our clothes; 2)that we are given a designated area where to play 3) and that even if there is no management that are physically manning the boundaries, the flaglets and other facilities provided by the management (not to mention the whistles and pre-announcement of the facilitators provided by the resort) should be enough warning to tell others that you will be putting yourselves at risk, if you stay on those areas (same as standing in a middle of a non-pedestrian road while the official car race is ongoing). At the end, we all learned from this situation. For me, my best learning po is that, “I understand that we all have a right to enjoy the resort, but it will be “more right” to talk to the management rather than verbally confront others who are enjoying their right over the resort”. Because at times, it is not only the enjoyment of your right that matters – but respecting others’ rights. Thank you po. (I am attaching some photos to explain my point)
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:28:05 +0000