Sophie’s Farm Summer Institute | Day 5

By Dr. Michael Campos, High School Religion, Theology and Spirituality Faculty

Seminar 2, Day 5: I am Blessed
Each day, we are awakened by stirrings of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” reverberating through the mountains.

Today, we awakened through a series of body prayers led by Malou Ybanez, a co-facilitator in charge of daily animations, and Gerard Acibar, staff member of Sophie’s Farm and resident liturgist. It was invigorating to enter the day by stretching underused muscles, reorienting our focus from the head to the flesh (an aspect of our “blessedness” so often overlooked). Appropriately sweating from gentle exertions, we feasted on a breakfast of rice and dried fish, coffee and organic teas. 

Sam and I expounded on the concept of a “blessing” — rooted in the Latin phrase, bene (good, well, or truthful) + dicere (to speak). I suggested that in Jewish rabbinical prayer forms, each utterance begins with a blessing for God (baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu). Taking account of one’s “blessedness” requires first a recognition of our worth and agency. We can only be blessed if we are first able to bless an-Other, to bless God.

Photos by Dr. Michael Campos, Religion, Theology & Spirituality, Faculty

Mel echoed these reflections in her presentation on the youth and the psychological effects of social norms to personal flourishing. She presented her research on the role of material poverty in the formation of youth values and mature agency. A rich discussion followed that named differences in the ways youth development takes place between urban contexts like Manila, and rural contexts like Samar. Participants also took account of the ways social media shapes a sense of self, cultivating forms of agency that could be falsely aspirational rather than grounded in the material concerns of one’s geographical location.

Concluding conversations shifted to the topic of LGBTQ concerns among Filipino youths. Two participants, in particular, challenged the collective to consider how prevailing cultural norms —implicitly patriarchal and heteronormative — may perpetuate exclusionary behaviors. Given the seminar’s diverse participation, opinions on the status of LGBTQ folks ranged from a call to full inclusion, to a cautious consideration of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. There prevailed a clear commitment, however, to the need to offer spaces of welcome to all.

We concluded the day with a viewing of “Little Boy,” a film of a young boy whose steadfast faith ensured others, in turn, to reconsider their sense of agency and trust, accountability to the greater good.