Makati City, the Philippines, 30 October 2019 --- The SYNODO 3—Youth Festival took place on 26 October 26 2019. From the different Don Bosco schools and TVET centers of the Philippines – North Province (FIN), around 1, 800 Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian lay mission partners, and Bosconians gathered in Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City.
The spirit of St. John Bosco, Father and Teacher of youth, was the inspiration for the three-phased SYNODO process which culminated with the SYNODO 3—Youth Festival. The first phase of the process called for listening together to the context, to the young, and to each other. The second phase moved to discerning together, interpreting the context, and identifying goals and objectives. The third and final phase led all those sharing in the mission and charism of St. John Bosco to commit themselves to the lines of action and activities called for by the first two phases.
SYNODO, in its three phases, was the proactive response of the SDBs to the Year of the Youth in the Philippine Church. Its fitting conclusion—the Youth Festival—brought together the youthful hearts of all, proclaiming their commitment to holiness of life, family love, and ecology.
The morning began with the youthful celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Fr. Gerardo Martin, SDB, the FIN Provincial Superior, presided over the celebration. In his homily, Fr. Eli Cruz, SDB, a former Provincial, challenged the young people to be proactive influencers of their fellow youth—influencers who persuade others to be more productive citizens and apostolic Christians by their creativity and credibility. This was an echo of Jesus, who commanded his followers to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth—influencers indeed! At the end of the Eucharist, Fr. Juvelan Samia, SDB, Salesian animator of the Salesian Youth Movement in the FIN-province, presented the ONE-SYM Primer as a concrete Year-of-the-Youth gift to the young people of the SDB and FMA provinces.
After the morning break, the participants found themselves entertained by a short theater play entitled “Memoirs.” The story revolved around a young person, Ana, and her struggles with the issues of her inner self, her family, and her schoolmates. Songs, dances, and a “sabayang-bigkas” rendition were creatively integrated into the play, thus deepening the message of the story. The show by professional magicians and the talk of Fr. Ronnie Urbano, SDB, made “Memoirs” unique yet meaningful.
The afternoon was highlighted by “Bosconvergence,” three simultaneous conference-workshops. The resource persons, Mr. Jerome Ilagan, the Climate Change Commission Policy Research and Development Division Chief, Mr. Obet Cabrillas of the FEAST Movement, and Mr. Bernard Canaberal of Radio Veritas, moved from one venue to another to interact with the participants. They facilitated discussion on three topics: “Ecology-Climate Change” (Mr. Ilagan), “Family and Love” (Mr. Cabrillas), and “Vocation to Holiness of Life” (Mr. Canaberal). Dyad-sharing enabled the participants to discuss their proactive and responsible stand on ecology and climate change in response to the questions given by Mr. Ilagan. Folding heart-shaped origami paper followed the input of Mr. Canaberal; the participants wrote their personal commitments to holiness and posted them on one big expression wall. The talk of Mr. Cabrillas on family and love was followed by yarn-knotting to form bracelet rosaries that were blessed in the evening session.
The closing activity took place in the Magone Dome. Selected Bosconians went on stage to read aloud their personal commitments. The rest read their own from their places. Then, Fr. Provincial gave the traditional Salesian “Buona note,” or “goodnight talk,” as St. John Bosco always did in his Valdocco youth center. Fr. Provincial challenged the Bosconians to love God and to belong to God; only then can they deserve their identity as “Bosconians.”
The SYNODO 2019 activities may have ended. But the Salesian spirit that brought together SDBs, lay mission partners, and young people will live on. The road stretches far and beyond, for Salesians and young people, journeying together on a common mission inspired by St. John Bosco’s “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle.”
