By Jesha Marie Tan

DBYC, Cebu, the Philippines, 30 January 2025 -- To celebrate the feast day of St. John Bosco every January, the leaders of the Don Bosco Youth Center have made it a cherished annual tradition to organize a Youth Vigil. This event brings together young people from various schools and Don Bosco settings, fostering unity while providing valuable opportunities for learning and personal growth. This year’s Youth Vigil, held on January 25, 2025, was themed “Y-Storya Ta, CHUY,” with “CHUY” standing for “Come Here and Understand the Youth: A Pilgrim of Hope.” The theme was inspired by this year’s Jubilee focus on being pilgrims of hope. The event served as a meaningful platform for youth to engage with speakers, ask insightful questions, and gain valuable perspectives, ultimately promoting hope and understanding. The program ran from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Pilgrim Hall, where participants gathered and enjoyed packed dinners provided for the evening.

The program was hosted by John Lorenzo Oflas and Louella Pacada, who energized the crowd throughout the night. After settling in, the event began with a prayer led by the LOA Sodality from DBYC, followed by an opening salvo featuring the song “Kilos Kabataan.” Fr. Erwin Joey Cabilan, SDB, delivered an engaging and insightful opening message, with his lighthearted yet profound words deeply resonating with everyone present. To keep the energy high, the DBYC leaders led some fun icebreakers to encourage participation and excitement. The event gained further inspiration with a heartfelt message from Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas. Reflecting on his personal experiences, including moments with his wife, he encouraged the youth to maintain their faith in God and embrace change, failure, and the pursuit of their dreams without fear.

Following Mayor Samsam’s speech, participants moved to their respective groups for an activity inspired by the popular game show Squid Game. As music played, they searched for their groups, pausing when the music stopped. Each group was guided by a leader or seminarian who served as a facilitator. Once everyone had gathered, the talks began.

The first speaker, Ms. Arianne Diolingo, Executive Officer of CYM-FIS, addressed youth empowerment, focusing on leadership, engagement, and skill development. She was followed by Fr. Andrei Ventanilla, Chairman of the Commission on Youth for the Archdiocese of Cebu, who spoke about youth ministry, helping participants understand the purpose of the Church and the significance of the Jubilee. Afterward, both speakers took the stage for a Q&A session with the audience. A key takeaway that resonated with many was the importance of taking the first step, which often leads to everything else falling into place. They also emphasized the value of surrounding oneself with the right people and embracing constructive criticism as a path to personal and leadership growth.

The program continued with a vicinity walk through three stations, each designed to encourage reflection on participants’ lives. After completing all three stations, everyone gathered for group sharing and wrote personal manifestations, which would later be offered during adoration. After a few moments of reflection, participants prepared for adoration, led by Fr. Vince Michael Sabal, SDB. This sacred time allowed everyone to pray, reflect, and offer their hopes and insights.

Following the solemn adoration, certificates were presented to participating schools and groups as a token of appreciation for their involvement. Fr. Andy Mendoza, SDB, then delivered the goodnight talk, bringing the evening to a thoughtful conclusion. The night ended with a lively jamming session, where talented young individuals showcased their gifts and skills from God.

Youth Vigil 2025 would not have been possible without the dedication of the organizers, youth leaders from Don Bosco Youth Center-Lawaan, the youth director, the inspiring speakers, the participants, and, most importantly, our Almighty God.

---

---