A WEEKEND OF RETREAT / BARBECUE AND ABSEILING FOR FIL-COM IN MALTA

By Veronica Ugates
Malta
July 1, 2014



Three birds with one stone, having fun, getting food for the body and food for the mind

On the 7^th and 8^th of June 2014, FIL-COM officers and  members went to a quite spot below the Verdala Palace in Rabat overlooking Buskett Gardens to have a retreat, barbecue and abseiling experience.

Unfortunately only about 30 people got to the place as it was quite difficult to find nestled in a secluded spot that some of our Maltese friends were quite surprised how we ever found the place.

It was strenous to get to as the going was on a steep track that would probably be very slippery in the rain. In fact going up needed marvellous control and know how in driving as the tires sizzled with the grip on the terrain. However the challenge was well compensated by the enjoyment everybody got.

Arriving gave you such a sense of quiet and peace and a feeling of being away from worldly cares. The accommodation was a bit primitive but quite ample for everybody’s needs. We arrived about 11 A.M. and everybody set to establishing their own nook for the night, then preparing everything for lunch as appetites were whetted with the tension of going down such a steep incline.

After lunch was karaoke singing and  games of personality development.

It was a sort of communal living which reminded me of the early Christian way of life where everything was shared. The karaoke singing went into the early hours of the morning with nobody bothering nor being bothered.

All throughout was sharing of the chores as cleaning the fish done by Sally Miranda, Sally Delleva Montefort and Ysa de Jesus while the men, Kiko Sadiang-AbaY, Jimmy Dacayanan and  Tony Pandes did the cooking.  It made me wonder whether it is tougher to cook than scale a fish.


The following day which was very clear and sunny, the 8^th of June 2014 was abseiling day, in a place where the sea meets the sky.



Aaron Sibanayan proved his mettle and Eva Navarro Balois said it was the fulfilment of a long time wish in her bucket list.