Returning to the source: a formator’s journey of healing in Cabangan

Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) faculty and staff were invited to an overnight immersion at Alon and Araw Club in Cabangan, Zambales, on 26-27 May 2025. A non-profit organization dedicated to combating plastic pollution and uplifting coastal communities, Alon and Araw also empowers children in the fishing community through education, with a strong emphasis on digital literacy. 

What follows is a socio-ecological-spiritual reflection of the experience by Mr Jhun Itoralba, former AJHS Coordinator for Guidance and Counseling. 

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Stepping away from the routines of my structured and often noisy life, my time at Alon and Araw gave me more than rest—it offered healing. In the silence, the sea, the stories of the community, and the sweeping simplicity of Cabangan, I rediscovered what it means to feel truly alive, connected, and responsible—not only for the world around me, but also to the one within.

The invitation to “breathe, pray, and be one with nature and community” struck a deep chord. In the stillness of the sunset and the rhythm of the waves, I found myself reconnecting—not only with nature and with God, but also with parts of myself I had long neglected. I began to listen again—not just outwardly, but inwardly. Every tree, every grain of sand, every child’s smile reminded me that creation is sacred—and so am I, and so are we.

As the Guidance Coordinator and a counselor at Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS), I have poured much of myself into my students, my team, and the wider school community. I am entrusted with the silent burdens of others, even as I carry my own. I juggle multiple roles, navigate unrelenting pressures, and work to meet the daily demands of leadership, formation, and care. Through it all, I strive to keep my mental health intact—to stay grounded, calm, and fully present for those who need me most.

My core purpose remains the same: to help our students grow, heal, and flourish. But in recent months, I have felt like a warrior—tired, worn, and wounded from the fight. The weight became too heavy, and I knew I needed to pause. Not to give up, but to return to the Source. To rest. To pray. To heal.

My daily salvation has been the Eucharist, formation sessions for formators, Ignatian retreats and recollections, and the steady anchor of Ignatian spirituality. These practices remind me that I am not alone, that I am loved, and that I can always find my way back home to God. At Alon and Araw, that return became tangible.

Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’, to be stewards of creation came alive before my eyes. The beach clean-up, the community’s mindful waste segregation, and our own intentional actions became symbols of collective healing. It wasn’t just about caring for the Earth—it was about renewing our shared commitment to live with greater awareness and compassion. I was especially moved by Gabi Del Rosario and Donn, the stewards behind Alon and Araw. Through their simplicity and sincerity, I saw how a deep love for people and the planet can quietly, yet powerfully, bring about transformation.

The children of Cabangan left a lasting imprint on my heart. Their joy was pure, their laughter, healing. In their games and simplicity, I saw what many of us have forgotten: that we don’t need much to feel whole. Their presence reminded me why we are called to protect our common home—not only for the Earth itself, but for the generations who will live, play, and grow on it.

As a formator, I came to realize during this immersion that I, too, am part of the very creation I seek to nurture. Before arriving in Cabangan, I had already made the painful but necessary decision to step back from some of my responsibilities—to care for my mental and emotional well-being. In this space, surrounded by nature and community, I was reminded that healing is not selfish—it is sacred. And through healing, I can return stronger, with a fuller heart, a clearer purpose, and a deeper capacity to walk with others.

This immersion reminded me that the answer has always been the same: to love and to serve—amare et servire. Not from a place of exhaustion, but from wholeness. Not for recognition and applause, but out of deep reverence—for God, for creation, and for one another.

I carry with me a deeper sense of gratitude—not only for the Earth, but for the people who walked with me on this sacred journey. To my fellow immersees, thank you for your presence, your quiet solidarity, your laughter, and your shared silence. To the Ateneo Office of Campus Ministry, thank you for creating this sacred space for rest and renewal. You have reminded me that rest, too, is an act of love.

I leave Cabangan transformed—not by a grand revelation, but through a quiet unfolding. I pray to be a bearer of this peace and healing, wherever I am called next.

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Community Prayer for Healing and Hope

Loving and Creator God,
You are the source of life, peace, and renewal.

Thank You for calling us to this shared journey of healing—
as individuals, and as one community.
In the stillness of nature and the warmth of each other’s presence,
You have reminded us that we are not alone.

Together, we pause.
Together, we breathe.
Together, we listen—to Your voice in the waves,
in the wind, in the laughter of children, and in the quiet spaces within us.

Help us care for our common home with gentleness and conviction.
Help us care for one another with compassion and grace.
And help us care for ourselves,
trusting that rest is not weakness but wisdom,

and healing is not selfishness but service in its truest form.

May the love we have received flow outward—
into our communities, our daily actions, and our Earth.
Make us instruments of Your renewal.
Make us builders of peace.
Make us companions of hope.

As one family under one sky,
may we rise—restored, united, and ready to love again.

Amen.