Guesthouse, Trappist Monastery, Jordan, Guimaras, Philippines --- December 2010

During our retreat in December of 2010, we stayed at the monastery's guesthouse. It's a newly-constructed structure good enough for me to have a comfortable stay. It has a friendly receiving area with a mini-altar, a big television set and a comfortable white sofa. It was Fr. Bruno, the guesthouse master, who welcomed us to the place.

The guesthouse has more than 10 rooms which can accommodate two occupants each. I shared room with Rene Secular, Assumption-Iloilo's Christian Living Education ( CLE ) facilitator. Our room was near the steel door towards the monastery's mini-chapel. It was a fan room with its own toilet and bathroom.

My stay in the guesthouse was generally okay. Its simplicity helped me in a way to take a few steps back from the ordinary in order to see my lifepath anew.