From April 5 to 7, active Youth for Christ members from all over the archipelago and from overseas gathered, as they do once a year, for the YFC International Leaders Conference. This year marked the 9th ILC  my first. I was supposed to go to last year’s conference in Cebu but the day of the conference was also my graduation day.
Of course, my mom would have raised hell had I passed up my graduation.
My friends said it was more fun last year (for us Luzon folk, at least) because the 2001 Metro Manila and Luzon delegation went on a boat ride. So we were really looking forward to another boat ride this year.
Sadly, for us Luzon folk, there was no need to take the Super Ferry (you can’t take that on the expressway, can you?) So, to our disappointment, we just had to settle for traveling by road. One delegate joked that we should have flown all the way down south, say Davao or Cebu then rode the ferry from there. That’s because this year’s conference was in Tagaytay.
Of all the Couples for Christ family ministries (including Youth for Christ, Singles for Christ, Kids for Christ, etc.), it has always been the YFC International Leaders Conference that attracts the most number of people.
This year’s conference drew 15,000 YFC members and was literally a fiesta since the theme this year was "Pistang Pinoy."
We arrived at the campsite before lunch. Thank goodness I heeded the advice of my friends, who had attended previous conferences, to wear shorts and only shorts. Once we stepped out of the car, the stifling humidity and dust greeted us. It wasn’t really a pleasant feeling  like we were in a giant sauna.
Truth to tell, we really did not mind the heat at all, but what really got on our nerves was oppressive dust. It was an asthmatic’s worst nightmare. Those who weren’t asthmatic yet started to wonder whether all that dust would change that fact most abruptly.
The stage, where all the major activities would be held, was set on a hilly piece of land. So one had to have steady feet (all that mountain trekking in South Africa finally paid off for me).
Some seemed to have been turned off by these conditions, saying in jest that they had expected a Temptation Island setting, but what we got was more Survivor.
But that was the first day, so we expected to hear a lot of whining since we were all still adjusting or, should I say, "blending" (literally, at times).
By the time we reached the camp it was already full of people. The provincial delegations had already arrived in full force.
The first order of the day was to find shade to get relief from the searing sun. We envied the delegations from Mindanao and Visayas, who had brought yards and yards of batik.
As the sun finally relented and began to set, we decided to do some exploring.
Since the theme of this year’s conference was "Pistang Pinoy," there was an appropriate foodfest and exhibit showcasing the different delicacies of each province. Each province was assigned a particular kubo to showcase their goods. I think this was one of the major highlights of this year’s conference which should be maintained.
People went there not only for spiritual nourishment but for the mind and tummies as well. Cultural awareness was certainly broadened among the participants.
Our society is very "ethnocentric;" we prefer hanging with people like ourselves. Thus it was really a good idea for people (especially the Manila folk who sometimes think Manila is the center of the universe) to be exposed to other cultures here in the Philippines.
When you learn to appreciate what the country has to offer, it gradually takes away the prejudice, the ignorance and the stereotype. Indeed, we shouldn’t be foreigners in our own country.
The conference was also an instant geography lesson, too. It became obvious that I didn’t even know for sure whether or not a province is in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao.
The huts that drew the biggest crowds were made of the Visayas and the Mindanao delegations  specifically southwestern and southeastern Mindanao. It was one of the most colorful and well decorated huts in the exhibit. With colorful decor indigenous to the region and the batik hanging and blowing in the wind. The kubo of southwestern Mindanao even reproduced the summit of Mount Apo. At night, it was the "party" site. We could even hear the delegates playing the kulintang. The people here, we discovered, are very warm indeed. We hopped from one booth to another, food-tripping along the way.
We from Metro Manila, jaded as we are, fell in love with Mindanao  at least with its booth at the conference (I haven’t actually been to Mindanao, you see). That’s why we also realized that it’s pretty sad that we know just one Pinoy language  Tagalog.
That’s why we should feel bad about Mindanao’s image problem  thanks to the Abu Sayyaf. Notwithstanding, I believe it must be one of the most beautiful and welcoming spots in the Philippines.
On our first night, it was a good thing we had a place to stay in. We were so pooped upon reaching our host’s house we did away with freshening up. After we changed our dusty clothes and brushed our teeth, we just set up our sleeping bags and fell down flat.
On the second day of the conference, considered the most important day, there were so many activities.
It was capped in the evening by a lot of partying with a special guest act  the Freestyle band! There was nothing really special that happened that day, since we tried to stay in one place and not move (remember the heat and dust?). A lot of us didn’t even bother to see what was happening on the main stage since there were so many people and we would surely be caked with dust.
When night fell, we tried to get the best seats. Some talk and sharing still had to be done.
Contrary to common belief about this kind of conference, the focus is not solely on the participants’ spiritual well-being. YFC and other family ministries are now exposing their members to active country-building. People were intently listening to talk about the youth trying to make a difference in their lives and their fellow men.
Actually, it’s really hard to explain the ILC’s impact on each individual. You really have to experience it. I’m barely scratching the top.
Just to share one significant talk though. There was this girl who did some sharing. The first thing about her was the fact that she was bald. We thought at first it that it was a fashion statement. Besides, it suited her well.
But she later explained that she has breast cancer. In the first part of her story, she narrated how she asked God why she was inflicted with this kind of illness.
One day, while she was helping in an outreach program in some slum area, she got to talk with a sobbing mother who was crying because her family didn’t have the means to bring her son to the doctor and had to settle for an albularyo. Helplessly watching your children die is unbearable.
The speaker went on to say that even if she was suffering from a serious ailment, she still felt very blessed because she still had the means and the resources to seek and receive treatment.
There was a strong determination in her voice as she said, "Even if this cancer would come back, this would not stop me from helping other people."
Well, after hearing that talk there wasn’t some drastic epiphany that came to me (of course, I could not speak for anybody else), but it did make a difference  no matter how small.
One good thing about these conferences is that people go there on their own free will  unlike the retreats back in school where we had to go because we were required to do so. And like I said, you have to experience it to really feel it.
And yes, there was talk during that time that I completely didn’t agree with  you don’t have to believe everything you hear. It’s more important to rely on your principles and personal convictions. Actually, it’s not the talks that are important but the entire experience’s impact on you.
So after a few more sharings and talks, it was party time. Honestly, I’m no Freestyle fan, but the atmosphere is kinda different when you’re watching something live. We were all physically drained, but spiritually uplifted in one way or another. We were ready to face the outside world once again, and that was what really counted.
So next year, I will really be looking forward to the 10th ILC. Too bad again for us Luzon folk, though. The conference will be in Manila, so no boat ride for us again!
I’m just hoping there’s no dust, either.