Joy, Thrill Fill Air in Cebu as Nat’l Youth Day Delegates Arrive

Joy and excitement have filled the air here as an estimated 11,600 delegates to the National Youth Day arrived on Tuesday for the six-day spiritual encounter.

Rev. Fr. Joselito Gutierrez, festival sites manager, said minor hitches experienced by the organizing team on the first day of the event were lightened by the smiles of the arriving pilgrims.

Most of those who traveled to Cebu by boat arrived at the domestic port. However, some vessels from neighboring provinces arrived ahead of schedule.

Those who arrived early were not fetched right away as the buses assigned to pick them up at the pier area arrived on the supposed schedule of arrival of their vessels.

“In spite of the notice that the schedule for pick-up was only between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., many arrived at 3 a.m., so there were no buses available yet,” Gutierrez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in Cebuano.

Despite the hitches, the pilgrims excitedly proceeded to their respective foster families and foster parents, he said.

The PNA also learned that delegates from the Diocese of Pasi arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport at 12 midnight on April 22, in spite of the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

Gutierrez also said 60 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Davao arrived in Cebu and showed up at the registration area but were later found to have not been included in the official list of delegates.

“Amo lang silang pangitaan og paagi asa sila makapuyo (We will find places where they can stay) and they can still participate in the activities of the National Youth Day,” said Gutierrez, a member of the team ministry of the St. Joseph Parish in Mabolo.

The pilgrims fetched from the pier and from the airport were brought to the International Eucharistic Congress and to the San Carlos Seminary College for registration before they were distributed to their respective foster families from different parishes.

For this event, at least 52 parishes have been tapped by the Archdiocese of Cebu to host the pilgrims.
Gutierrez praised youth volunteers from Cebu who signed up as facilitators for the national event.

“Bilib ko sa atong mga youth volunteers, walay balibaray way pahuwayay (Our youth volunteers are amazing. They don’t turn down work, they don’t even stop for a break),” he said.

Like any other pilgrim, Roselene Sico of the Diocese of Pasig said she expected to get involved in all National Youth Day activities and to enjoy her stay in Cebu.

Among the delegates who arrived on Monday was 20-year-old Jasper Bareno from the Diocese of Gumaca, Quezon province, who admitted to have experienced financial difficulties but managed to travel to Cebu “full of excitement to meet new people, and to strengthen his connection with God.”

“I struggled financially, but that’s how it is. We should make sacrifices and do whatever it takes to serve God – it’s all for God,” Bareno was quoted as saying on the National Youth Day 2019 official Facebook page.

Bishop Paul Jaucian, SVD, chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY), formally welcomed the delegates in his message posted on social media.

“This is Bishop Paul Jaucian, SVD, DD the ECY Chairman. Welcome to all the delegates, and my prayers for safe journey and a peaceful arrival in Cebu,” he said. “To all who are traveling now, with prayers for your safety. To all those who are here already in Cebu, welcome and feel at home.”

On Wednesday, the National Youth Day 2019 will officially start with an opening program at the Cebu City Sports Center, which will be followed by a procession to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, where an opening mass will be held. (PNA)