On its 15th year, YFC Western Visayas was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate its Regional Youth Conference in Don Bosco Technical Institute, Victorias City, Negros Occidental last October 22-23, 2011. With almost 890 YFCs from Aklan, Guimaras, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, and Antique, Christ’s love was abound in the conference.
During the first day of the 2-day conference, the YFC Western Visayas from the six provinces started the day with a worship led by Jant Caceres from YFC Negros Occidental who shared of how blessed he was to serve the Lord through the community and together with his family.  The conference was then declared open by Tony Magno, the CFC Head in Negros Occidental, followed by the recitation of the oath of sportsmanship which was led by Yves Laurence Mari Patriarca, also from Negros Occidental which signaled the start of the competitions.
Cheerdance, basketball, football and other sports competition were enjoyed in the morning and followed by the YFC 3S (share, show, and shine) segment, which exhibited the talents of the YFCs from Western Visayas in set dancing, band competitions, and individual dance showdown.  Of course, the groovy couple coordinators also had their chance to shine during the Couple Coordinators got talent, which was a definite crowd favorite.
Later that day, simultaneous workshops were opened to participants with varying themes such as “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, which gave insights on how to spend money wisely; “Crossover”, which was meant for YFCs approaching Singles for Christ age and maturity; “Webvange”, which taught the participants how to use social networking sites for evangelization; “ROCK forum”, which was a special workshop for Kids for Christ facilitators; “Speak Up”, which served as a short training in the art of speaking and giving talks; and “Daily Retreat and Prayer”, which emphasized the importance of prayer time and reflection in the youth’s lives.
The evening session officially started with the praise parade from YFC Iloilo which energized the participants all the way to the opening worship that was led by Earl Caballo, the YFC Iloilo Provincial youth head, who shared of how Christ’s love has worked on him. Session one was then given by JR  Atando from Capiz.  The talk was entitled “Victory to Win” and emphasized how we should claim God’s victory in every aspect of our lives. Sharers (Sherwin Judicpa, Bridgette Glace Suaberon, and Yvonne Grace Dolorosa) were also introduced, inspiring each of the participants to do the mission wherever they were and whatever their status in life.
Session two: “Gain in Pain”, followed soon after, with Ming Adriano, Fulltime Pastoral worker for Negros Occidental, giving the talk.  Creative dance presentations and a dramatization of current youth issues took place before the speaker talked about developing a personal approach on our spiritual journey. She challenged the delegates to always be hopeful in the Lord’s perfect plans for all of us, even though we undergo sufferings, for it is a privilege to suffer with Him. After the talk, the delegates painted their hands red, which symbolized the blood of Christ erasing our sufferings.  Mac Advincula, the YFC head for Aklan, then headed the praise fest which exhorted the participants with the sharing from the YFcs on how Christ had healed their brokenness and changed each one of them to be like Jesus in their lives.
The Eucharistic celebration with Rev. Fr. Generouso Taqueban, SDB together with Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB began the second day of the conference. The priests, who were also from DBTI, shared on how we should exhibit the obedience of Jesus and how to be like Him through praying.
The RYC participants then proceeded with the opening worship led by Brother Martin Isidro from Aklan. Session three entitled like Jesus with Kuya Ryan Las Piñas, YFC Region head of Visayas followed after the worship. Kuya Ryan challenged the participants that we should live like Christ as a child, in our service and our own spiritual journeys and that we should also have the JESUS-all day experience in which we should share Jesus to everybody because it is one of God’s will for all of us.
Being like Christ is trusting God faithfully and the victory that the YFC Western Visayas had in the RYC was just the result of allowing the ways of Lord to happen in each of us. The conference ended with the praise fest, awarding ceremony for the competitions and the announcement of the venue for RYC 2012—CAPIZ.

This article was written by Yvonne Dolorosa, YFC web correspondent for Visayas.  Photo credit by Ian Coniza.

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