When you feel like browsing anything on Google and later on you decided to check the things that you might want to do on the weekend to find inspiration, keep track, and voila! This happens to me all the time especially when I am stressed out and want to kick someone else’s ass. I browse everything that comes to my mind.
On Saturday, I went to Subic not to have some beachy vacation, but to experience again the life in the jungle and learn more about how to survive. The Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) was the one I found on Google. I read their website https://www.jestcamp.com/ and it caught my attention. Their website site says that the JEST is the first and only survival school in the Philippines since 1963.
This time, I want to experience different, not just trekking, hiking, or climbing. The website looks promising as I’ve read the details of the website about their activities and what they can offer. I asked my friends if they are free and want to go with me and try the Survival Training course. Unfortunately, none of them were available. But I am so excited to try and experience how to be living in a jungle with only ”bolo” to survive. I called the JEST’s phone number and start asking about the details for a joiner.
I arrived at around 8:00 AM before the call time (the training starts at 10:00 AM). I had time to look around the place and took some photos while waiting for the group of students I will be joining later. I’ve also chatted with the facilitator, Ms. Viesa- who is very charming and accommodating, about the students. She shyly informed me that the students’ ages range from 10-15 years old. At first, I was shocked because I assumed that they are college students.
They arrived at JEST at around 9:00 AM. I was again shocked when I finally saw a group of students. There were cute, smart, and jolly students who were laughing and teasing around while of course, being excited about their first jungle survival training. We were gathered in one place while the facilitators were discussing what to expect about the training and the rules. I was seated near the students and listening, while also looking at their facial expressions. From the look of their faces, I could tell that they were all excited and curious. After that, I’ve realized one thing that instead of joining them, I volunteered to assist these students and help the facilitators to have a very exciting program for all of them.
We arrived first in the jungle campsite to finish the preparations for the games (Jungle Trap, Jungle Slave, Jungle Ring, Anito Stick). I was teamed up with the three friendly facilitators. The students were divided into four groups. Ms. Angel was assigned to facilitate the team Earth, Ms. Dara for the team Wind, Ms. Loren for the team Water, and me for the team Fire.
The Myth of A Wanderer 