‘Your Word is the Lamp Unto My Feet and a Light Unto My Path’

By Gracebelle Montecillo

The author graduated in March
from the high school department
of Kabankalan Catholic College
Negros Occidental

When I was 10, I dreamed of one day joining the youth camp that was held annually in our Diocese, Kabankalan. Luckily, the following year, I was allowed to join the parish youth camp and later the diocesan camps. That was the beginning of my desire to reach more than that. When I reached high school, my longing to join youth camps grew deeper. I wanted to learn more about Christian values and share these with my fellow youth.

Last September, when I was nominated as one of the participants for the National Youth Day to be held in Davao City, I was very happy and said to myself, ‘Ayos! Gracebelle, you made it. Thanks be to God!’ But even if I was very excited to go, there were doubts and hesitations on my part. Firstly, I would have to miss my classes. Secondly, this was my first time to go out of the province and I felt nervous. Thirdly, I was financially incapable. My mother is widowed. Yet, with her full support, determination and with the help of my generous benefactors, my dream came true.

Fruit Basket of the Country

The author extreme left her fellow delegates

At 4am on 6 November 2006 we, the delegates from Kabankalan, together with Fr Marlon Tejada, the school chaplain and director of the Pastoral Ministry Office and the Episcopal Vicar of the Diocesan Youth Commission, left Kabankalan City.  We flew from Bacolod to Cebu and then onto Davao City, where we arrived at around 10:30am. The place was really beautiful and peaceful, different from what I thought it would be. Since we arrived earlier than the expected date, the Trinitarian Sisters accommodated us girls and the Alexian Brothers accommodated the boys for the extra two-day stay. They were generous and welcomed us wholeheartedly.

8 NOVEMBER 2006 – the Big Day.  Delegates from the different dioceses arrived at the sites – the University of Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross of Davao College and Ateneo de Davao University.  These three sites accommodated almost 8,000 young people. We Kabankalanons belonged to Site 2, Holy Cross of Davao College. At 3pm, we had our opening Liturgy followed by a program by the different parishes of Davao welcoming the delegates.

9 NOVEMBER 2006 – first day of the catechesis. The topic was ‘God the Father: Source of True Light’, by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma SJ of Cagayan de Oro. During the activity, everybody was surprised and happy when the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, showed up. In the afternoon, there were different topics and conferences in different areas.

The topics were the following:

a. Halika Sabay Tayo (Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Dialogue)

b. Magkakaroon Ka Rin (Youth in the Culture of Absence)

c. Heavenly Do-Re-Mi (Music Ministry)

d. Halina sa Landas ng Puso  (A Call to Holiness)

e. Your Choice (Pro- Life)

f. A Foot Forward (Servant Leadership)

g. Ano ba Talaga ang True Love? (Christian Sexuality)

h. Level-up Batan-on (Youth Ministry)

i. Ehem! (Corruption)

j. The Flickering Shadow (A Child in the Media)

k. Back to Basics (Youth in BEC)

l. Atin, Hindi Akin (Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation)

m. Preaching and Sharing the Word (Creative Gospel Sharing)

In the evening, at around 7, was the Youth Festival. It was our chance to use our God-given talents and to creatively showcase the culture of our place of origin. The delegates of Bacolod showcased the Masskara Festival.

10 NOVEMBER 2006 – second day of our catechesis. The topic for this day was ‘God the Son: The Eternal Light’. This was given to us by Fr Joseph McLaughlin SM. In the afternoon, the participants were given a chance to watch a theater presentation about the life of the Muslim and the Christian. It was about a Peace Talk between the Muslim and the Christian. What a meaningful presentation!

11 NOVEMBER 2006 – last day of our catechesis. We had Fr Cris Violon of the Diocese of Digos on ‘The Holy Spirit: The Source of Truth’. That afternoon, all delegates of the NYD ’06 assembled at the back of SM Davao. We had our pilgrim walk from SM to the Sto Niño Shrine. At the Shrine, Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla of Davao celebrated the closing Mass. In the evening, there was a Youth Jam. That was the time for all the delegates to get to know one another and make friends.

12 NOVEMBER 2006 – was a day spent with our foster families. The Veneracion family, our foster parents, brought us to some historical and beautiful places of Davao. I would like to thank them for the very nice accommodation and for treating us like their own children, showering us with love and concern.

Indeed, the National Youth Day was a big and meaningful event for a simple girl like me to join. It was an exciting, fantastic, educative and reflective activity for the youth, helping us look deeper into our lives, our purpose and our role as Christians.