A Blessed Experience

"The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name" - Luke 1:49

This is my battle cry during my stay in Zamboanga and also is the theme for the National Youth Day 2017 for five days, starting November 6-10, 2017. For your information, this trip had faced many obstacles for it to push through. Muntik na akong hindi matuloy dahil balak i-schedule ng thesis adviser ko ang final defense namin the same day as the NYD. What will I choose? God and academics, these two are both important, and so I really prayed hard like I've never prayed before, I had put every inch of my faith and trust to God and to Mother Mary and hoped that this NYD journey will start and end smoothly without the fears of the final thesis defense. By the grace of our Lord, my thesis adviser will not be around to conduct defenses and is busy for academic preparations, and this was a GO signal for me to fly and join the delegates of the Diocese of Cubao.

Excited for my first out of Luzon flight. Yey!

Thanks for the safe flight Cebu Pac!

Touchdown, Asia's Latin City, ZAMBOANGA!

The NYD Delegates of the Diocese of Cubao

This has been a defining moment for me, that when you put your faith first and prioritize God above all things, the devil will make a way to distract and unmotivate you, but the Lord will not fail His faithful servant, just like our dearest Mary.

Some of the local delicacies of Zamboanga

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Archdiocese of Zamboanga

The NYD experience for me have been a faith-maturing and an opportunity for personal growth. NYD Zambo 2017 comprised of an opening mass at their cathedral on the first day, followed by a grand parade, where we get to shout the diocese's cheer "C---UB---AO!!! Cubao 3x!!!", then a cultural and a hospitable welcome during the grand opening night. After that is we get the chance to be with our foster family. Here I met the Herbano family.

Then on the second day morning prayers, animations and plenary talks titled "We Are Flawed" are conducted on the different festival sites, where the talk is about accepting who we are as a person, that we are sinful and we need God to save us, followed by the "NYD Run", their term for breakout sessions, where the jovenes peregrinos (youth pilgrims) are divided into smaller groups and go to different places in Zamboanga city to have seminars and workshops. The run that I have attended for this day is a talk about the millenials. But theres just one problem we have encountered during the run, it was lack of transportation.

With our very "special" friend from Cebu, Jenny!

Thanks to our soldiers who protected us during our stay

Our festival site, Nazareth

Meet Group #32 - (from right to left) Fr. Mandi of Daet, Jong Jong of Cotabato, Ate Mhemhe of Marbel, Jenny of Paadian, Ate Jen of Davao and Paeng of Zamboanga. Insert Dawn of Cebu.

Then after is the Grand Marian procession heading towards Fort Pilar Shrine, where the Lady of the Pillars are venerated and is seating on this semi-Islamic city, ans where we also had mass after the procession. Its a wonderful place, its near the seas, and its an open church, and did I forget that while we are having the procession, it is raining? It brought me back to that time where Pope Francis recently visited the Philippines and it rained heavily. After the mass at the shrine we had a family night where I got to know them even more.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pillars

Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian of CBCP ECY and Diocese of Bangued

Meet mi Familia et mi Casa, Herbano Family!

Now for the third day, the program is just the same as the second day, theres the morning prayer, animations, where we could dance our favorite animation "La Copa", because it has a Latin beat with engaging steps, perfect to set the energetic mood right, then the second plenary talk titled "We are Good and Gifted" which talks about aside from accepting our flaws, let us also accept our fullness, then the run again, fhis time I attended a workshop about using games as an effective tool in teaching catechesis, then followed by the parish night, or what they call a barrio fiesta.

Our host parish, the oldest church in Mindanao, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Parish

Barrio Fiesta

On our fourth day, the same program was followed, with the third talk titled "We are called to make a difference", wherein we are told that whatever weakness or strength we have, the Lord wants us to make a difference, to become His helpers in changing the world.

The only difference is that on this day, there is no run, but it is followed by a Eucharistic celebration by the boulevard, while the sun is setting and the vintas are displayed (yey for vintas! I dream of seeing one ever since I was little). After is the grand festival night, sort of a culmination for the NYD, because here we will know the next NYD host for 2019, "Muchisimas gracias Zamboanga, bienvenidos Cebu!"

The Youth Cross

Talking about the trip, just a fast fun trivia, ever since I was still a member of the Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir, which we all know performs and competes internationally, I've been praying to board a local flight out of Luzon, and 5 years later (I'm 20 years old now) this dream came true, also coming to reality is for me to witness the colorful Vintas (but I only saw its color patterns and a small replica vinta, because according to the locals the "real" vinta sails only come out during the Hermosa Festival). I've experienced many firsts, including the event itself and the food and places, plus the hospitable people and their Chavacano language, and so it is truly one thing I will never ever forget as a young servant of God and as a young Filipino citizen.

My last picture of mi familia. Adios and muchisimas gracias!

A selfie with the father of all the Filipino youths, Bishop Jaucian

This National Youth Day taught me many things, let me experience many firsts, and gave me the opportunity to grow more in faith and as a person. In the end, all I can say is, "Muchissimas gracias, Zamboanga!" and, "We are truly blessed, jovenes!"

We are blessed, young people!