Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Don Bosco Technical Institute, Victorias, 21 August 2018. This year’s Leaders and Animators Formation (LAF) theme is ABLAZE, in celebration of the 30th year of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the Philippines. About 53 young people from different Don Bosco houses in the Negros and Iloilo District were gathered together at Don Bosco Technical Institute – Victorias. The registration started at 7:30 in the morning, followed by the welcome message from the Rector of DBTI-Victorias, Fr. Eligio Santos, SDB. The young people were gathered in the Chapel to prepare for the Holy Mass with Fr. Keith Amodia, SDB as the main celebrant together with Fr. Vince Michael Sabal, SDB, Fr. Medelino Borgueta, SDB and Fr. Allen George Elevado, SDB. In the homily, the participants were reminded to keep the fire ablaze as expressed in their service towards others.

The program proper started with a getting-to- know-you (GTKY) activity then, the house rules were given by the SYM  FIS secretary, Mr. Ralph Gerald Padilla. After which, the Youth Serving Youth action video was launched as part of the 30th year celebration of the movement. The participants were assembled and grouped into ten with five members coming from different DB settings for the challenging activity called #throwback followed by the group sharing. Ms. Rachel Patricia Farrarons, SYM FIS core group member, gave her talk about the 30^th year of the SYM, the evolution of the movement, the persons behind its success, its humble beginnings and the different sodalities present in each setting.

In the afternoon session, Fr. Sabal, SDB talked about the Synod of bishops for the youth. Then there was a survey regarding to how the youth perceived the situation of the young people of today. During the sharing, it was a nice interaction because each one has something to say and was aware of the current situation of the youth. All groups were tasked to present what was transpired in the group sharing through acting or singing, etc..

For the final activity, the participants had the chance to reflect and write down in a piece of paper their dreams for the SYM-Philippines. The pieces of paper were posted on the wall and surprisingly it formed the face of Don Bosco highlighting the 30^th anniversary of the SYM and the theme ‘ABLAZE’.

It was a touching moment because young leaders knew that the source of all of this celebration is Don Bosco himself who is the father and patron Saint of the young. With the efforts of the Salesian priests and Salesian community the dream of St. john Bosco continues to grow and remains on fire as time passes by. All in all, LAF 2018 will truly be unforgettable not only because of the activities and the persons they met but because the formation reminded them not just to dream but to live the dream of St. John Bosco for the young with the help of the Salesian Youth Movement.

Contributor: Demitria Rosero