Filipino Focolare youth to join int’l gathering in Budapest

Young members of the Focolare movement in the Philippines are set to join other youth of various nationalities in an international gathering called GenFest from August 31 to September 2 in Budapest.

The Filipino youth will join the 10th edition of GenFest, an international gathering aimed to unite Focolare youth from all over the world and from various cultures and ethnic groups to agree on the idea that a united world is an ideal worth living for.

According to Ms. Rhoda Agcalao, youth leader of Focolare (Youth for a United World) in the Philippines, close to a hundred Filipino youth are expected to attend the meeting.

“As of the moment, there are 94 youth who are listed to join the international gathering. But it still depends if our fundraising projects can suffice to send these 94 young people. We still continue to believe in divine providence,” Agcalao said.

Agcalao added that the 10th edition of GenFest titled “Let’s bridge” has a lot of first time.

“This is the first time that it took us 12 years to organize the GenFest, the last time was in 2000. This is also first time that our founder, Chiara Lubich can’t join us because she died last March 2008. But we are thankful for this is the first time that we have Chiara Luce Badano, a 19-year old gen, [who was] declared blessed last 2010. And lastly, this is the first time that the celebration is not held in Italy,” Agcalao said.

In their official website www.genfest.org, the group said that Budapest will become the “capital of the culture of unity’ with the sport arena and bridges that tower over the Danube will be the main locations where meetings, displays and shows will take place.

The group expects the presence of 12,500 young people from about 100 different nationalities to attend the international gathering which was organized by over 3,000 volunteers from all over the world who have been working for months just to bring the said event ahead.

They also emphasized that the event will be an experience of unity that is continually at the basis of every effort that leads to true dialogue and builds deeper relationships.

They said the gathering is a chance to exchange and compare ideas for those who see a background rich in challenges in today’s world, where there is opportunity for change, where the other is placed at the centre.

“Various themes will also be discussed such as economy, art, politics, social problems, dialogue among the different religions, the highest human values and even ecology and communication. All in an international context to involve everyone present to build in the first person, and also together with other through bridges of fraternity,” they said.

The Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement was founded by Chiara Lubich in Trent on 1943.

Their characteristic is universality where they come from all the 5 continents and from different ethnicities, nationalities and cultures which belong to various Christian denominations, different religions and some with no profess religious belief but they all have very high human values.

They commit their energies into building a united world, to make humankind more and more into one single family, where the personal identity of every individual is respected.

Lubich, their founder, was an Italian activist who died at the age of 88 in Rocca di papa, Italy on March 14, 2008.

GenFest started in 1973 in Loppiano, Florence. The last GenFest event was held in 2000 at the Flaminio stadium in Rome coinciding with the World Youth Day celebration. (Jandel 

Catholic school students, teachers encouraged to attend YouthPinoy’s Catholic social media summit

Using social media should be among the innovations that educators should imbibe in their teaching strategies, especially in promoting Christian Values.

This was what Fr. Gregg Bañaga, Jr., C.M. said as he encouraged students, teachers and officials of some 1,346 Catholic schools, colleges and universities under the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) to attend the 1st Catholic Social Media Summit, being organized by YouthPinoy together with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Bañaga, who is concurrently CEAP chief and president of Adamson University in Manila, said Catholic educational institutions should follow the Church’s lead in using social media to teach the youth about Christ.

“In this age of ever-changing technology, the Church, through various means, conscious of its role and presence in parishes, schools, communities, organizations and certain situations, is using social media to teach the world about Christ, especially the youth,” he said.

The priest encouraged teachers, officials and administrators of CEAP member-schools to do the same, adding that “the responsible use of social media especially in the promotion of Christian Values should be highlighted in our teaching ministries.”

Bañaga added that CEAP will be in support of YouthPinoy, a group of young Catholics promoting the use of online media to evangelize, and other organized groups of young people “striving to become communities of disciples of Jesus Christ.”

“The CEAP will always be supportive of organizations providing spiritual formation, in whatever available means with the view on producing young Christian leaders who will work for social transformation. The association has been longing to see similar groups being organized, strengthened, and recognized in our schools and is committed to give them full support,” he added.

The 1st Catholic Social Media Summit, themed “Ministering Grace to this Generation” [cf. Eph 4:29], is organized by YouthPinoy, in partnership with the CBCP Media Office, Episcopal Commission on Youth, and Episcopal Commission on Missions, and the Catholic Media Network.

It is co-organized by youth groups behind +Big, a new lay movement aiming to inspire Filipinos to live their lives like Blessed Pedro Calungsod did, and the promoters of the 2012 CBCP Year of the Mission.

The summit will be held on July 14 to 15, 2012 at the Renaissance Convention Center, Riverbanks, Marikina City.

Registration fee, including summit kit, meals and certificate, costs P1,000 per participant. Interested parties can register at the YouthPinoy office, 3rd Floor CBCP Building, 470 Gen. Luna St. in Intramuros, Manila, or contact Ms. Nirva Delacruz through mobile: +639321469436/ +639164831443; landline:  +6327096486; and email: ypopportunities@gmail.com.

Registration is due on Friday, June 30. Details of the summit, such as the program, registration guidelines, and summit files, are available for online viewing at www.youthpinoy.com. (YouthPinoy)

Catholic writers to launch 1st archdiocesan youth news bulletin

Almost 40 young writers from different parishes in the Archdiocese of Davao gathered at the Our Lady of Mt. Apo Parish Formation Center in Davao del Sur for a two-day planning and conceptualization of ‘Kalakbay Youth Newsletter,’ the official youth bulletin of the archdiocese of Davao.

“These young Catholic journalists will serve as a new generation of evangelizers using print media as a platform,” organizers said.

To come out monthly, the newsletter of the youth apostolate will be launched this October in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (DAYCA).

Attendees contributed ideas and suggestions for the pre-conceived newsletter which were divided into sections such as news, feature and literary. People assigned as cartoonists, lay-out artist and photo journalists during the production of the newsletter.

The young writers were guided by their editorial consultants: Ms. Cheryl Vilog (DC Herald Proofreader), Mr. John Frances Fuentes (DC Herald News Reporter), Mr. Erick Hernandez (Kalakbay Managing Editor); and DAYCA director Fr. Jemasol Ortiz, DCD.
(Jecy Opada/Jandel Posion)

Concert seeks to inspire youth to imitate Calungsod

Youth leaders from the Archdiocese of Cebu are organizing a praise and worship concert to animate young people to deepen their relationship with God in imitation of Pedro Calungsod.

The concert, themed “Break the Silence: Dreaming and Healing for the Nation through the intercession of Blessed Pedro Calungsod,” is being spearheaded by the Family of United and Empowered Leaders (FUEL), members of the Commission on Youth of Cebu’s 8th district.

Organizers said the concert is meant to galvanize the youth to build an intimate relationship with God by way of helping His people in times of need through the intercession of Pedro Calungsod.

“This also serves as a fundraising activity of FUEL’s outreach program to the poor dwellers of Barrio Maton-og, situated on the remote peaks of Minglanilla, Cebu,” they said.

In line with the preparation for Bl. Pedro Calungsod’s canonization, the concert also aims to catechize the youth on how Pedro, a Visayan lad, became a saint at a young age, the group furthered.

Bro. Obet Cabrillas from the Light of Jesus Community will share his reflection on the theme while Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma will give his inspirational message to all participants during the event.

Around 3,000 participants are expected to attend the concert slated on July 28 at the Blessed XXIII Seminary Football in Mabolo, Cebu City.

Various organizations, covenanted communities, movements and associations all over Cebu are participating in the event. (Jandel Posion)

Private, Catholic colleges bracing for enrollment drop due to K-12

Private colleges and universities will be financially challenged to maintain their operation and compensate their teaching staff with the expected decrease of enrollees starting 2017.

Administrators of private schools offering tertiary education, including those under the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), said they are bracing for the expected drop in freshman admissions as a result of the implementation of Kindergarten to 12 (K to 12) basic education program this school year.

Under the government-enforced K to 12 system, students can already forego going to college after undergoing two more years in senior high school. Technical and vocational skills will already be taught to students to help them land a job or engage in entrepreneurial endeavors after graduating high school.

Since pursuing a college degree will remain an option for selected students who still want specialized education and training, freshmen enrollment is expected to generally decrease—with the drop more felt by private schools than state universities because of the difference in tuition costs.

In fact, college enrollment in private Catholic schools is expected to decline by as much as 50 percent, according to CEAP president and Adamson University president Fr. Gregg Bañaga Jr., CM.

“All of us are threatened because for years, there will be less students to enroll in college because of the K to 12 program,” he said.

With the decrease in enrollment, Bañaga said private colleges and universities stand to lose revenue and be forced to layoff professors just to maintain their operations.

But all of CEAP’s 1,345 member-schools nationwide are still supporting the shift from the previous 10-year basic education program to the new 12-year curriculum.

“Even if it is bad for Catholic private schools like ours, we support the K to 12 because it will be good for our country in the long run,” Bañaga added.

The priest said the K to 12 program will help address the rising number of unemployed graduates since students will be equipped with basic skills that can already help them earn a living or go into business, without necessarily obtaining a college degree.

“It will also diminish the number of graduates with jobs that are not matched with their educational training,” he added.

Bañaga said private schools especially those being run by parishes and congregations still support the K to 12 basic education program despite its ill effects on their operations because it will make the quality of Filipino graduates at par with the global standards.

The priest claimed that the previous 10-year basic education program downgrades Filipino graduates when compared to graduates of other countries.

“Filipino graduates may get employed overseas but they are given lower compensation compared to others who underwent 12 years of basic education. With K to 12, our graduates will be at par with global educational standards,” he added.

To counter the effects of K to 12 in the enrollment, officials of private schools, particularly those offering tertiary education only, will be asking government to allow them to offer Grades 11 to 12. Bañaga said the proposal would be formally made to the Department of Education soon. (YouthPinoy)

Youth: ‘Ban God Bill’ represses religious freedom

Youth groups are already reacting strongly against House Bill 6330 or the proposed “Religious Freedom in Government Offices Act”, which Rep. Raymond Palatino filed last week.

According to several youth groups, the bill, which proposes to ban religious rites and symbols in government offices, including publicly-owned areas, will, in fact, repress religious freedom.

For others like Joy Candelario, HB 6330 is asking Catholics who work in government to refrain from personal religious expression, something highly unnatural for a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines.

“It is like asking someone to take off his clothes,” she added.

Candelario, former head of the Youth Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences – Office of Laity and Family, said that she would more readily support a bill promoting equality among different religions.

The solon is also drawing flak from young U.P. Diliman alumni who do not think Palatino is truly championing “religious freedom” by authoring the bill.

Mylene Kaye Dones, a fresh art studies graduate from U.P. Diliman, said in an interview, “You don't create an environment for religious freedom by doing away with what seems to [be] the dominant religion.”

Dina Ileto, a U.P. Diliman graduate student who serves in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice youth ministry in the Diliman campus, said that a true example of “religious freedom” is U.P. Diliman itself where a Catholic church is just a few feet away from a Protestant church, the Church of the Risen Lord.

Other young people went so far as to say that Palatino never represented the interests of young Filipinos to begin with.

Guilian Geronimo from De La Salle explained that Palatino’s party Kabataan party list only represents the aspirations of young Filipinos who embrace “Socialist-Communist ideals” and who consequently do not believe in God, a small percentage in contrast with the majority of young Filipinos who are Catholic.

Esteve Medina Mata of the Columbian Squires challenged Palatino to come up instead with legislation that would help the youth find jobs. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]

Youth movement to hold purity and chastity conference

The Live Pure Movement, a youth movement which advocates chastity and purity, will conduct a live pure conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on July 1.

The group believes that young people everywhere need to hear the good news on purity and chastity as virtues necessary for every young people to live life to the fullest.

Organizers said the conference aims to engage the youth from different walks of life in appreciating the gifts of chastity, love, sexuality, relationships, and their manhood and womanhood.

“It will also have different sessions that will provide them with the truth they need to know during this time of relative secularism,” they said.

The Live Pure conference is the 1st conference that will be conducted by the movement, according to EJ Aguila, one of the organizers.

Around 3,000 youth from different high schools, colleges, parishes, young adults and young professionals are being targeted to attend the event.

Live Pure movement is a movement of young Catholics that promotes and defends the culture of life and advocates a life of purity.

Among its objectives are to promote live pure lifestyle among the youth day; to bring the cause of live pure to parishes, high schools, colleges and universities through life pure formation sessions, workshops and events; and to start a worldwide movement enjoining young men and women to stand and live up the cause of chastity and purity.

Interested youth are encouraged to become part of the Live Pure Movement and share its cause of bringing the good news of chastity to young people. Those interested may get in touch with Raine Eguico at (02) 718-2213 or 0927-8395445 or email atlpconference2012@gmail.com and other organizers at 0922-8395445 or email atiwanttolivepure@gmail.com. (Jandel Posion)

Federation of youth organizations elects new council

The Federation of National Youth Organizations (FNYO) has elected a new council last June 17, which will assume office in October this year until 2015.

Five member-organizations got the vote from 14 out of 21-member participating organizations present during the election at the SYCAmore office in Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati.

Newly elected member-organizations are the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP), Chiro Pilipinas, CFC-Youth for Christ (CFC-YFC), and CFC-Youth for Family and Life (CFC-YFL).

According to Maria Lea Dasigan, FNYO representative of the Salesian Youth Movement-FMA, the elected council members were active in programs initiated by the federation and by the youth ministry.

In an interview, Fr. Conegundo Garganta CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Youth Executive Secretary and Director of the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA) said the new council will help the Church in its role of evangelization.

Garganta also said the new council will work closely with the Church in confronting current issues that directly affect or influence the young such as the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

He is hoping the group will intensify its efforts to trash the said bill.

The federation is currently being chaired by Chiro Pilipinas, represented by Badette Felix; the Assistant Chair Organization is the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, represented by Frence Boiser; the Secretariat Organization is the Salesian Youth Movement, represented by Richard Tañada; the Treasurer Organization is the IT – Youth, represented by Lar Babia and lastly, the Liaison Organization is the Franciscan Youth, represented by Larry Manongnong. (Jandel Posion)

NCR youth day highlights RH bill as lead problem among young people

Young people from the 10 ecclesiastical territories of the National Capital Region are set to gather for the 1st National Capital Region (NCR) youth day that will highlight a discussion on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill as the leading problem of today’s Filipino youth.

Slated on July 22, the youth event is dubbed “The National Capital Region Youth Day for Life! Live. Love. Learn.” The theme is taken from 1 Timothy 4:12 (“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”)

Aside from getting together the young crowd, the event also aims to gather different leaders of the parish youth ministries or commissions, the leaders of different campus ministries of parochial, private and public school in the region, as well as the leaders of the different transparochial groups or organizations to reflect on the NCR youth’s stand regarding the RH bill.

The NCR youth ministry believes the gathering will serve as a venue for the youth to discuss in depth the content of the consolidated statement of the region on the issue of RH bill and the effects of the controversial measure on the lives of the youth

Aside from that, they will also provide the youth an opportunity to share their inputs and to better understand their statement, as well as recommit themselves in the efforts of educating young people in the region regarding the issue.

According to Peter Eric Pardo, regional youth coordinator of NCR, there will be three talks and three workshops  at the event.

Pardo will be one of the speakers together with Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, country director of  Human Life International and Renelyn Tan, regional director of World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific.

For the workshops, speakers and facilitators will be Mr. Peter Capistrano, former NCR Youth Leader and Coordinator of the Diocese of Pasig Youth Ministry; Ms. Ann Rosselle Cortes, diocesan youth coordinator of Novaliches and Mr. Dani Villanueva, diocesan youth coordinator of Antipolo.

Scheduled talks are “RH bill, saan ka nanggaling?” “RH bill, ano ka ba talaga?” and “RH bill, bakit di kita ma-take?” The workshops revolve around a  “Live, Love and Learn” theme.

Pardo added that they are targeting 200 young people ages 15-39 from each ecclesiastical territory of NCR. The venue of the event shall be announced soon.

NCR is composed of the Archdiocese of Manila, Dioceses of Parañaque, Pasig, Antipolo, Novaliches, Cubao, Kalookan, Imus and Apostolic Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay in Palawan. (Jandel Posion)

NCR youth day highlights RH bill as lead problem among young people

Young people from the 10 ecclesiastical territories of the National Capital Region are set to gather for the 1st National Capital Region (NCR) youth day that will highlight a discussion on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill as the leading problem of today’s Filipino youth.

Slated on July 22, the youth event is dubbed “The National Capital Region Youth Day for Life! Live. Love. Learn.” The theme is taken from 1 Timothy 4:12 (“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”)

Aside from getting together the young crowd, the event is also aiming to gather different leaders of the parish youth ministries or commissions, the leaders of different campus ministries of parochial, private and public school in the region, as well as the leaders of the different transparochial groups or organizations to reflect on the NCR youth’s stand regarding the RH bill.

The NCR youth ministry believes the gathering will serve as a venue for the youth to discuss in depth the content of the consolidated statement of the region on the issue of RH bill and the effects of the controversial measure on the lives of the youth

Aside from that, they will also provide the youth an opportunity to share their inputs and to better understand their statement as well as recommit themselves in the efforts of educating the young people on the region regarding the issue.

According to Eric Peter Pardo, regional youth coordinator of NCR, there will be three talks and three workshops that will be scheduled during the event.

Pardo will be one of the speakers together with Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, country president of the Human Life International and Ms. Renelyn Tan, regional director for Asia of World Youth Alliance.

For the workshops, speakers and facilitators will be Mr. Peter Capistrano, former NCR Youth Leader and Coordinator of the Diocese of Pasig Youth Ministry; Ms. Ann Rosselle Cortes, diocesan youth coordinator of Novaliches and Mr. Dani Villanueva, diocesan youth coordinator of Antipolo.

Scheduled talks are “RH bill, saan ka nanggaling?,” “RH bill, ano ka ba talaga?,” and “RH bill, bakit di kita ma-take?,”. The workshops are about “Live, Love and Learn.”

Pardo added that they are targeting 200 young people ages 15-39 from each ecclesiastical territories of NCR. No venue yet has been announced by the organizers at the moment.

NCR is comprised of Archdiocese of Manila, Dioceses of Parañaque, Pasig, Antipolo, Novaliches, Cubao, Kalookan, Imus and Apostolic Vicariates of Puerto Princesa and Taytay in Palawan. (Jandel Posion)