“Si Budong nag-usbong!”
By: Sem. Jomar Andaya Garcimo
A one page essay is not enough to tell you my fruitful USBONG 2023, The Pian Intramurals
Journey. Why is it not enough? Well, I had made countless remarkable achievements, and
memorable memories with the community especially with my brothers The Cupertinos. As you
can see above the title named “Si Budong nag usbong,” it contains both happy and sad stories of
my experiences during USBONG 2023. So what are we waiting for? Let us witness the journey of
Budong during USBONG.
“USBONG?” What is “USBONG?” USBONG is the annual intramural activity of St. Pius
X Seminary where seminarians of each respective batch vie to be best in cultural, sports, and
literary categories and to be proclaimed overall champions of the competition. “USBONG” is a
Filipino word that means “to bloom or to sprout.”
“Service ace nanaman!” This is the shout of everybody every time I served during our
volleyball match against the other batch. We had a long, yet short journey in volleyball. Why?
Because we were almost there. We were almost there to be the champions. The defeat we had in
the finals was so heart-breaking. We never had at least one win. We were not strong enough to
defeat our manoys The Basilikos. Yes! We lost, but there was this one lesson we learned while
journeying. We were able to unlock our hidden potentials. We were a team where most of us does
not have any experience playing volleyball at all. But because of the word that we also learned
which is “sacrifice.” We were able to unlock the potentials we do not know we have.
“Budong” is my famous nickname in the seminary. Budong was everywhere during
USBONG. I was indeed everywhere during USBONG. During USBONG, I became an emcee, a
photographer, a dancer, also choreographer, a designer, a volleyball player, and many more. While
doing these jobs, I realized something. I realized that I can handle a responsibility.
Opportunities was everywhere during USBONG. They say “Opportunities make you
better.” It’s true! I became better because I grabbed every opportunities that was provided to us by
The USBONG. I faced so many challenges and struggles, but these challenges and struggles
brought “something” for me. And this “something” is growth and development. “Don’t wait for
the right opportunity, create it.”
New Cupertinos was formed this year’s USBONG. Last school year, we ended up fourth
in the overall standings. It was a good start we had last year. We were new in the seminary, yet we
ended up fourth being the 2nd overall champion in the Junior High School Department next to our
manoys once again The Basilikos. But this school year, new Cupertinos was indeed formed. We
were placed 3rd in the overall rankings. Teamwork was the key. “Coming together is beginning,
keeping together is progress, and working together is success.” Through this principle we
achieved remarkable achievements.
“God” was the last point of Fr. Egbert’s opening remarks during the opening of the
USBONG. “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” We
must offer everything to God as he offers us everything.
“Si Budong nag-usbong!” I indeed usbong. I grew and developed in different aspects of
my life. All of the pillars of my formation was shaped very well by the USBONG. So to conclude
this I would like to leave the greatest value I learned during The USBONG. The greatest value I
learned was that throughout the USBONG, God was with us. How do I tell that God was with us?
Well, this year’s USBONG ended fruitful and successful. No one was hurt, and everyone
performed well. It was God. It was God who helped us make this year’s USBONG fruitful and
successful. Thanks be to God.