I Have A Big GOD!

(A Kerygma Conference Experience)
By Grace Madriñan

I have attended the Kerygma Conference last year, and I had a blast. Lots of praise and worship, inspirational talks that melt your heart -- the Holy Spirit filled the air. You bet I'm still singing praises even months after the event! That's why I made a decision not to miss it this year, and this time it was held at the Big Dome; very well fit for this year's theme "Dream BIG, Win BIG"

But this year was a lot different. First, I was only able to attend the 2nd day of the event. As much as I have decided to attend the 2-day event even months before, I have to miss the 1st day to attend a friend's wedding. Second, I have to attend it alone, well, proximity at least , because my friend was at the patron seating while I'm on the upper box level. Nonetheless, the 2nd day proved to be a Spirit-filled day for me. So, today I want to share my observations and experiences on this event:

Praise and worship at its best. The day started with a praise and worship led by Father Joseph Skelton, an American missionary based in Bohol . With the Music Ministry and his powerful worship, he sure roused the Holy Spirit into the Big Dome! It was great to see people lifting up their hands singing praises at the top of their lungs to one Father. For a Catholic community who is usually passive and conservative, it was refreshing to see people of all ages and social stature expressing themselves freely, in worship to one God.






Mind-blowing realizations. Throughout the event, you will hear thoughts which will either pinch your heart or blow your mind away. From Bo Sanchez talk on "Shine Your Light", there was one verse which he quoted from the Bible that stuck in my mind, " You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16)" This meant a great deal to me because I was one of those people who is too cautious and hesitant to volunteer their talents thinking that others may view it as being too self-absorbed or overconfident. It's a confirmation for people like me that if your intention is motivated by your passion to serve God and others, then you are doing the right thing. In a world where humility is defined the wrong way, it is difficult to go against the flow but it is the only way for God's light to shine through you.



And just when I thought that his talk is coming to a close, Brother Bo Sanchez presented a surprise props on stage. For a while, I actually thought he meant it that he has a special prize for raffle hidden under the cloth. When he took the cloth off, under it was a first class, bronze-polished, fully-cushioned coffin. He said it right, when he mentioned that no matter who you are, or what position you may hold -- we will all end up in a box. It's not a matter of 'if', it's a matter of when. He said, "Don't wait too long for you to shine. So shine more, love more, serve more." And it does not have to be about going out and saving the world, it can start as simple as loving and serving your family and neighbors more.



A Solemn Mass graced by His Eminence. What better way to celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent than having His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, presiding the mass along with 3 other priests. In his homily, he started by commending the Kerygma team for holding such event. He also emphasized the importance of the Holy Eucharist by saying that the mass is a prayer for Jesus, and we, Catholics, are privileged to have such gift of the Eucharist. I can see by the look on his face how delighted he was to see the crowd united in one celebration. His talk revolved around that Sunday's Gospel which was about Jesus' Second Coming. It talked of signs written in the sun, moon and stars and how people will be frightened in anticipation. But Cardinal Rosales said that His coming should not only be about terrifying signs from the heavens. It should be about us becoming a sign of His presence to others. Even a small sign of compassion and charity will introduce to someone the presence of Jesus.



Moving performances. Alvin Barcelona and the Himaya band performed a medley of songs which are very much apt for this year's event -- 'Mangarap Ka' (an original by After Image) and 'Liwanag sa Dilim' (an original by Rivermaya). But a personal favorite of mine was his rendition of the song 'Who am I?", originally sung by the Casting Crowns. His song, blended in the collage of heart-warming pictures shown in the background, gave it all away and I can definitely hear soft sobs in the audience.



Gift of healing right before your eyes. I have been blessed to have witnessed healing right before my eyes. Brother Bob Canton has a special healing session and I admire him for being generous in sharing his gift. Not only did he facilitate healing, he also enabled other members of the Light of Jesus community to be instruments of healing by letting them help in the session. Also, he does not just go about performing the healing session, he made it clear in his talk that before a person can be healed, one needs to repent, forgive and surrender to God in all faith. Furthermore, he said that you don't need to be physically touched by a healer to be healed. If you pray fervently for healing, you will receive healing by God's grace.

It felt really great having attended this event. I may not personally know the girl seating next to me, but her smile is an evidence of our shared joy towards the event. It was a good breather to a world swamped with bad news and controversies. Going home after the event, I feel renewed and armed with an experience to remind me how BIG I am, and most of all how BIG my GOD is! Until the next Kerygma Conference!

Kerygma Conference is a yearly Catholic event presented by the Light of Jesus which aims to bring more people to rekindle the fire in their spiritual life through powerful talks and exhortations from renowned Charismatic preachers and priests and worship experience that provides respite from today’s hurried pace.

(Photos courtesy of Ms Fely Santiago)

Yasia Fiesta!

By Grace Madrinan




Pwede pala yun, masakit ang katawan mo, ngalay ang paa mo at nagkandaubo-ubo ka na pero masaya ka pa rin...at kung may pagkakataon, gugustuhin mo itong ulit-ulitin


Ganito ang naramdaman ko sa nakaraang pagbubukas ng ika-5 Asian Youth Day nung ika-23ng Nobyembre, taong kasalukuyan, na ginanap sa liwasan ng Katedral ng Imus. Ang aming choir ng Immaculada Concepcion ng Dasmarinas, kasama ng iba pang choir sa Cavite (Himig Agustino ng Tanza at UHAY ng Molino) ay mapalad na naging bahagi ng pagtitipon bilang Asian Youth Day choir.

Di naging madali ang aming trabaho. Ilang linggo ding pag-eensayo ang aming binuno para lamang aralin ang ilang awiting pang-Misa. Karamihan pa ng mga awit ay nasa Latin, na bukod sa mahirap nang kantahin ay mahirap pang bigkasin. Lahat ng ito ay para masiguradong sagrado ang Misa at pagdiriwang ng okasyon.



At naging sulit naman ang lahat. Pagbungad ko pa lamang sa liwasan at masilayan ang entablado at lugar kung saan magaganap ang lahat, naramdaman ko na isa ito sa mga araw na di ko malilimutan.



Mga bandang ika-apat na ng hapon nang nagsimula nang magtipun-tipon ang mga kasama sa programa, panauhin at mga pari. Bakas din sa kanila na ang kasiyahan sa pag-aabang sa pagdating ng mga delegado na nagkakarakol nang mga oras na iyon mula sa isang kalapit na paaralan.



Maya-maya lamang ay nagsidatingan ang mga delegado mula sa iba't-ibang probinsya sa Pilipinas pati na rin sa kalapit na bansa sa Asya: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Kyrjyzstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, at iba pang delegasyon mula sa ibang kontinente (Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands). Nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang mga kabataang, iba't-iba man ang lahi na pinagmulan, ay nagkakatipon para sa iisang misyon: ang isabuhay ang at maging alagad ng Salita ng Diyos.



At ilang saglit lamang ay nagsimula na ang Banal na Misa. Nalula ako sa dami ng mga pari at obispo na dumalo. Ang Lubhang Kagalang-galang Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales ang unang bumati at mainit na sumalubong sa mga delegado. Sinabi niya na malapit sa puso at lubos na kinagigiliwan ng Diyos ang mga kabataan -- na karamihan ng mga aral at milagro ni Jesus ay para sa kanila.



Naging mataimtim at sagrado ang Misa gaya ng inaasahan. Lalo akong naantig nung nagsimula ng homilya si Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle. Sinimulan nya ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabing lubhang malaking biyaya ang natanggap ng Pilipinas at ng Cavite dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay itinanghal na CNN Hero of the Year ang isang kabataan at isa ring Caviteno na si Efren Penaflorida. Ito ay isang napakagandang balita at akmang pambungad sa aming pagdiriwang ng 5th Asian Youth Day.

Sinabi rin ni Bishop Tagle na ang pagbasa at Mabuting Balita nang araw na iyon ay tila akma sa tema ng 5th Asian Youth Day na "Young Asians, come together. Share the Word, live the Eucharist". Ang unang pagbasa na hango sa Aklat ni Propeta Daniel ay tungkol sa apat na kabataang lalaki na naging tapat sa kanilang pananampalataya at napili ng Hari ng Judah bilang tagapayo dahil sa kanilang angking katalinuhan sa anumang larangan. Habang ang Mabuting Balita naman mula kay Lukas, ay tumutukoy sa paghahambing ni Jesus sa mga mayayaman at balo na nagkakaloob ng donasyon sa templo - na bagama't malaki ang binibigay ng mayaman, ay maituturing na higit ang pinagkakaloob ng balo sapagkat binigay nya ang lahat, mula sa kanyang kaunting ikinabubuhay.



Mula sa mga pagbasang ito, hinikayat ni Bishop Tagle ang mga kabataan na maging aktibo sa Simbahan at gamitin ang kakayahan para mapalaganap ang Salita ng Diyos. Binalaan nya rin ang mga pari na huwag maging katulad ng mga Pariseo na nananamantala ng mga balo, na sa halip na tulungan ay inuubos ang ikinabubuhay nito. Sinabi niya na marami ang mga kabataang nagmamasid sa kanila at naghahanap ng magandang halimbawa.



Sa pagtatapos ng kanyang homilya, binigyang diin niya na di na iba si Jesus sa mga Asyano, sapagkat Siya mismo ay isang Asyano. Ipinanganak si Jesus, namuhay, nagturo, gumawa ng milagro sa lupa ng Asya. Kung iisipin, pati si Maria, Jose, Abraham, Moises at halos lahat ng prominenteng tauhan sa Bibliya ay mga Asyano. Kung gayon, nararapat lamang nating ipagdangal nang buong puso ang ating pagiging Asyano. Muntik na akong maluha nang mga sandaling ito sapagkat noong una’y di ko napagtanto na si Jesus ay kapatid ko rin bilang Asyano.



Nagpatuloy ang Misa sa Panalangin ng Bayan na binasa ng piling delegado mula sa iba't ibang bansa, gamit ang kanilang sariling wika.



Ang Paghahandog din ay ginawa ng ng piling delegado mula sa iba't ibang bansa dala ang kanilang alay. Magandang pagmasdan sila habang suot nila ang kanilang katutubong kasuotan. Habang nagaganap ang pag-aalay, ito ay sinasaliwan ng tugtog gamit ang flute, violin at piano.



Sa pagtatapos ng Misa, opisyal na binuksan ng Pangulo ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo ang 5th Asian Youth Day. Ilang saglit pagkatapos nito ay muling inawit at isinayaw nang sabay-sabay ang theme song na Yasia Fiesta. Sadyang nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang masayang pakikilahok ng lahat mula pari, madre at mga kabataan -- talagang piyesta!



Ang Misa ay sinundan ng isang makulay na programa na nagtanghal ng iba't ibang katutubong sayaw at awitin mula sa iba't-ibang rehiyon ng Pilipinas. Di ko man napanood ang kabuuan ng programa, damang-dama ko habang papalayo ang kakaibang kasiyahang maging bahagi ng isang ganitong pagdiriwang. Napatunayan ko na tunay na may pag-asa pa sa ating kabataan, kailangan lamang tuklasin ang sariling galing, maging magaling na pinuno at humanap ng magandang huwaran. Dahil dito, lalong tumibay ang aking pagnanais na mas makapaglingkod pa sa ating Simbahan at sa kapwa kahit sa ano mang mumunting paraan. Yasia Fiesta!