Communing with 'brainiacs'...

...is a fantastic way to end the Academic Year and a reason to look forward to a more exciting one!
============================================================================
by PAM

Ah, exhilarating teamwork... like FC Barcelona playing the 'beautiful game'!

Yeah, the Caleruega Retreat Place might be one of the most serene estates you could ever find in the Philippines, but the excitement of communing with among the biggest brainiacs in my University was absolutely pandemonium!  With recipients of the Ten Outstanding Young Scientists of the Philippines Award, a Presidential adviser on Science and Technology, Fulbright Scholars, a handful of awesome DAAD Grantees, JSPS and Ronpaku Scholars, and card-carrying certified brainiacs - highly accomplished all - around you... it was basically impossible not to feel awestruck, starstruck and be-dumbed by all that positive energy that they generate relentlessly... and effortlessly!  But what 'killed' me really was how down-to-earth, humble and teeming with crazy sense of humor my colleagues are at the UST Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS).  Indeed it's true what wise people say: you see true success when you see humility and simplicity in spirit... an engaging presence that doesn't ask to be admired, and yet, you can't help but admire. 

While the energy was indeed very exciting during the RCNAS Assessment and Planning Workshop on March 25-26 at the Caleruega Retreat House in Nasugbu, Batangas, the harmony, which laced the explosive excitement, flowing generously from a team of wonderful people who think alike was very relaxing... refreshing, delightful.  It was like watching the awesomeness of FC Barcelona enjoying their tiki-taka ultimate teamwork game strategy, mentally connected on the pitch by a common mission - a goal... a win.  (Oh, Barça won their La Liga match with RCD Mallorca last Saturday, btw.) I know I am totally unworthy to be a part of that team... but, dang, I swear I'll do my very best to deserve being a part of it, even if it meant 'back-breaking hard toil' - day and night... because it's worth it!  So help me God!  Amen.

***