By Deacon Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB 
with additional reports from Ms Maria Junifer Maliglig

Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City, Philippines, 11 July 2015 — The Salesian Formation Day was held in DBTI-Joy Center, Makati City on 11 July 2015 and was attended by 370 Salesian Family members (ASC, ADMA, SDB, FMA, SCG, DB Alumni, FADS, VDB) from the districts of Pampanga, Tarlac, Tondo, Laguna, Paranaque, Makati, Pasay and Mandaluyong.

Not even the threat of a bad weather brought about by the typhoon “Falcon” (international name: Chan-Hom) which just left the Philippines the night before could prevent the members of the Salesian Family in coming together to show their affinity to their father, St. John Bosco.

Fr. Bobby Roxas, SDB, was quite pleased with the turnout of the attendees. Especially since no less than three provincials came to celebrate the Mass, Fr. Mario Yamanouchi, SDB (Japan), Fr. Stephen Yang, SDB (Korea) and Fr. Paul Bicomong, SDB (Philippines-North) as the main presider. A handful of Salesian priests came to concelebrate.

After the Mass, the guest speaker, Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB took off with a lectio divina on the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). He then gave a brief yet sweeping review of the 2015 Strenna: "Like Don Bosco, with the Young, for the Young." After which, he proceeded to his main talk which focused on “Milestones that Matter in Don Bosco's Life."

Fr. Joel highlighted five turning points in the life of DB: (1) Dream at Nine (2) Losing his father (Francis) and his spiritual father (Don Calosso) at a young age and his good friend Luigi Comollo (3) Encounter with Garelli (4) Lowest Point in Don Bosco Life (April 5, 1846 Palm Sunday) since there would be no more place for his youngsters and (5) Mass celebration at the side altar of the Mary Help of Christians Basilica, stopping for 15 times upon realizing the purpose of his life.

Towards the end of his talk, Fr. Joel’s sharing became more ersonal when he touched on two books on Don Bosco’s life which he read when he was very young. These have been a source of inspiration for him to follow Don Bosco’s steps more closely—as a Salesian of Don Bosco!

He challenged the members of the Salesian Family that in order for us to truly “like” Don Bosco, we must know him first.