In the Architectural Center Club, in Rockwell, Makati City, Focolare youths or the Gen organized an evening get-together with a short program to launch Genfest 2018. In the program, young people took note of the recent and on-going conflicts in different parts of the country, as well as in the world where walls keep on rising up, making it hard for us to build a united world. “Hard? Yes, but not impossible”, they said. The challenge to build a united world is not new.

As a matter of fact, they quoted Chiara Lubich who, in 1967, had challenged the youth to unite amid diversity. Years later, a group of young people responded to her call. They took the name the Youth for A United World, and even today, they continue to launch international campaigns and projects that promote a world of solidarity and peace. They also shared examples of these projects in the Philippines like the “Start Again Project” which helped the victims of typhoon Yolanda, the “One for Nepal” which was a fundraiser for the victims of the earthquake in Kathmandu in 2015, and most recently, “A Night of Solidarity for Marawi” where Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims came together and raised funds for those affected by the conflict in Marawi.

Later that night, they shared the history of Genfest, the theme, Beyond All Borders, and a few things that will be happening from July 6-8 next year. Also present were representatives from movements in the Catholic Church, and from various religions, and diverse organizations. The entire program that evening, streamed online, was viewed by young people all over the Philippines and in different places in the world. The rest of the evening was spent getting to know one another better, with songs performed by the Gen band.

A similar get-together was also held in Cebu, in the Southern part of the Philippines, on the same night as Manila. They chose a Pinoy (Filipino) Fiesta theme for the night to showcase how positive Filipino values could bridge regional divides and could help Filipinos be united in spite of differences in political and cultural standpoints. Then they spent the night jamming and getting to know each one better.

With one year to go before the international youth meeting, excitement is mounting
as the Genfest is about to come to the Philippines – the first of its kind to be held outside Europe and the first in Asia.

Giancarlo “Gio” Francisco

Photo Credits:

Cover Photo: Aurelio Maria Rodriguez