By Br. Jess Lumibao, SDB

       Postnovitiate Community, Canlubang, Laguna, the Philippines, 9 December 2021 -- In honor of the Blessed Mother's Immaculate Conception, the Postnovitiate has staged an Academy.

       The academy's main goal is to prepare everyone for the solemnity, to highlight the various faces of Mary in our lives, and to show that despite the pandemic, Mary will always be our sure guide, help, and hope.

       December 8, 2021, the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception. In keeping with this, the Don Bosco Postnovitiate community and some young people involved in the creation produced an academy in celebration of the Immaculate Conception.

       Academies are typically recognized for staging a stage play. However, in the light of the current scenario and after considerable thought, the Brothers from the Postnovitiate Community have decided to attempt something different.

       They created a trilogy of short video presentations, each lasting less than ten minutes, to prepare the faithful, particularly young people, for the Immaculate Conception solemnity. From December 6 to 8, 2021, at 5 p.m., the episodes will be debuted on the official Don Bosco Postnov Facebook page, as well as cross-posted on other Facebook pages such as Voctok, Kabrads, D'Word, DBYC Canlubang, Majada In Youth Center, and MHCC Pastoral.

       This year's Academy is entitled "Sandalan, Nandito lang ako," (Brace, I am just here) which is divided into three parts: Pag-ibig (love), Pagtulong (aid), and Pagtulad (imitate).

       Sandalan, a song by the Filipino rock band 6CycleMind, served as inspiration for the concept. Although the song was released in 2005, the message it conveys is still relevant in our present situation. "Sige lang, sandal ka na at 'wag mong pipigilan, Iiyak mo na ang lahat sa langit, iiyak mo lang ang lahat sa akin," says the speaker. As a result, the project's creators chose this song as the first chapter in the trilogy.

       Pag-ibig is the first chapter. It is inspired by Mama Mary's love and is dedicated to all mothers. They performed the song 'Sandalan,' which was covered by Br. Jose Miguel Rodriguez, SDB, and Mrs. Cory Villafania, who testified on her experiences as a mother to her family.

       Meanwhile, Pagtulong speaks about God's powerful help through Mama Mary while also being dedicated to all frontline workers. They presented a performance of a song written by Novice Benjo Ian Mangila and Cl. Cyrill Jess Lumibao, SDB, and interpreted by Cyrill Jess Lumibao, SDB and Vanjo Gils, SDB. Mrs. Leonora Alvarez, a frontliner, gave testimony about her experiences as a frontline worker.

       The third chapter, Patulad, is about how we can pattern our life after our Mother Mary's example. The song that was performed was Cl. Antonio Josef Rodriguez, SDB cover of 'Inay’ (Mother) by Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ, and testimony by Sr. Clare, MQHM who shared her life and mission for young girls being forced into the sex trafficking trade due to poverty.

       What made the academy unique was that each of the Postnov brothers was asked to personally contact their friends by sending the trilogy to them via chat app, Instagram, Gmail, and other means, as well as to ask about their responses and reflections after seeing the trilogy.

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