In the light of national issues, the Catholic Educational
Association of the Philippines of the National Capital Region (CEAP-NCR) and
the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA) gathered 1221
young people, at least in third year high school, from Catholic schools (544),
parish youth ministries and non-sectarian schools (190), public high schools
(446) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (41) for a 2-day (November 14-15, 2008)
leadership camp at La Salle Green Hills.
The camp, the theme for which was Bida, Be the Change
towards a Morally Re-built Nation ??the Youth?? Response Founded on Truth,
Justice, Freedom and Love, was set to enable participants to deepen their sense
of pride in being Filipinos, establish linkages with participants from other
schools and sectors, have leveling-off of awareness of the current national
situation, and draw out the ??eeling of hunger that they can and should take
action??
Through his inspirational address, His Eminence Gaudencio
B. Cardinal Rosales, DD pointed to the importance of having a personal vision
for life?? journey, and urged the young to draw one and be guided by it.
Without one, a person may be likened to a boat with no mooring nor set
direction, driven only to wherever the winds would bring it.
At the Eucharistic Celebration which followed His Eminence
exhortation, Fr. Marty Macasaet, SDB, the main presider, during the homily
reminded each one to keep Christ in their beings as He is there as gentle fire
??o light and warm??them, sustain them especially in their moments of need for
strength and empowerment.
There were 3 input sessions: 1) on self-awareness led by
Fr. Edwin Ulanday, SDB; 2) awareness of others by Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ; and 3)
Road Map to 2010 by Gov. Teodoro Baguilat, Gov. Grace Padaca and Mme. Amb.
Henrietta de Villa. Following each input was a workshop, termed Bidahan. Thus,
there were Bidahan 1, 2 and 3 where at each the participants were divided into
120 groups. Each group was cared-for by a facilitator. The cadre of 150
facilitators at hand were college students from the Ateneo de Manila
University, St. Scholastica?? College, San Beda College and De La Salle
Bidahan 1 was a venue for expressing what the participants
observe are the talents they are endowed with. Facilitators generally found
them quick to express what they believe their capabilities are and their
realization that to whatever degree their giftedness lie, they can contribute
to effect a positive change in other individuals and in society with emphasis
that the change must first begin in themselves.
In spite of the late hour, 9:35-11:30 p.m. for Bidahan 2,
the great majority of the participants harnessed extra effort and shared their
observations and experiences related to corruptive behavior which was the focus
of the input of the resource person at the prior plenary. Instances they cited
ranged from rewards and punishments to undue use of family pressure to
influence results on issues, unwise use of allowance, fabricated reasons and
??host??projects for asking money from parents, rigged elections of class
officers, unaltriustic motives in choosing courses/degrees to pursue, obsession
to ??in no matter what??in competitions and cheating in quizzes and examinations,
this last having been the one mentioned with the highest frequency. No one
raised objection to the claim that big offenses start small, and that cheating
and lying in whatever form can, with time, become eventually the young
cheater-liar?? way of life to his/her ripe old age. Many, too, during Bidahan 2
said that family has much to do with human character formation. Touching upon
corruption in government, they said that it was important to remain hopeful for
its ways to straighten out but that it was more important that they who shall
be at the helm of things in the future commit to honesty and integrity whatever
the consequence. A few, however, admitted that they were not yet that strong to
stand against corruption expressing their need to be further empowered.
For Bidahan 3, the participants were grouped based on the
proximity of their schools. Except for a negligible number observed to be
hesitant or unready to be involved in communal action when called for, the
great majority of those at the Youth Camp affirmed commitment and set out to
meet subsequently to draft plans other than what they at the instant saw they
were prepared for which was for launching ??o out and register??campaigns and
eventually for organizing voter education sessions. They see these initial
projects as spring boards for their more serious involvement. To facilitate
communication among them, bidabethechange.multiply.com, bida_bethechange@yahoo.com, bidapromotions_2010.multiply.com
shall be initiated by a group to pave the way for others to join.
Interspersed with dialogues were testimonies, music and
video presentations, and a concert by bands of
The Youth Camp was a time for those who joined to speak their minds out and
express how they felt about themselves, others, our country?? situation and to
reflect and consider that with positive collective effort they could make a
difference.
A Eucharistic Celebration officiated by His Excellency
Broderick Pabillo, DD., Auxiliary Bishop of
his homily, Bp. Pabillo stressed that it was not enough that evil be avoided
but that the good of and for others must be worked at and pursued. This thought
was the spirit underlying the simple Commissioning Rites held before the Mass
ended.
Before dispersal, Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos, Ed.D., CEAP
President, expressed the gratitude of the organizers of the Youth Camp to the
La Salle Brothers especially to Br. Felipe Belleza FSC and Br. Armin Luistro
FSC not only for the camp venue but also for ensuring that La Salle Green Hills
staff were at hand to extend physical facilities and security services where
there was need. He also thanked the sponsors and donors, too many to call out
individually, and the heads of CEAP schools in the NCR and other regions and of
MAPSA for their expression of confidence and support, to the catechists of the
Archdiocese of Manila and the Dioceses of Cubao, Kalookan, Novaliches,
Para?aque and Pasig for their selfless performance of the numerous tasks
requested of them, to the Camp Program Committee, to RockEd, to the Don Bosco
Technical College and Ministry of Youth Affairs choirs and to the staffs of the
CEAP-NCR, CEAP, ACM and MAPSA offices. His last message was: Plans for Youth
Camp 2 are not far behind
