By Prenovice John Paolo Romero

Canlubang, Calamba City, the Philippines, December 6, 2015 - “Once a Bosconian, always a champion!” was the dominant cry of all the participants who attended the Inter-Don Bosco Youth Center (DBYC) Fellowship day held last Saturday.

The 5th of December 2015, commemoration of Bl. Philip Rinaldi, has been a day filled with smiles, fun and games for the DBYC members of the Philippine North (FIN) Province. This year's DBYC Fellowship day was hosted and organized by the Mary Help of Christians Parish-Mayapa with the theme, “Palig-samahan.”

The main objective of the gathering was encapsulated in the theme which was coined by the DBYC-FIN in-charge, Fr. Dante Valero, SDB – Paligsahan and Samahan (Competition and Camaraderie) – to form friendship with one another while having healthy competitions through games and sports.

The event took off from the center – the Holy Eucharist. The Mass was presided by Fr. Jake Adrian Lopez, SDB, himself a product of the DBYC in St. Dominic Savio Parish-Mandaluyong.

In his homily, he exhorted the young people that they have a mission to spread the Word of God, which is Christ. He also challenged the participants to have at least one new friend before the day comes to a close.

After the Holy Mass, a short program was staged in the Don Bosco Canlubang gymnasium. Fr. Dante gave the opening remarks. Here, too, the pledge of sportsmanship of the participants took place. After which, the instructions and rules for the games where announced.

Overwhelmed and excited with the games, the young people headed to their respective room assignments to gear up for the games.

Forthwith, the basketball and football matches having three divisions each (12 years old and below, 17 years old and below, and 22 years old and below category) and the volleyball (female, 22 and below), started. Simultaneous with these games, special games like “bounce pa more (modified pingpong game),” were held around the campus.

After hours of exciting and tiring games, the event was culminated with the awarding of the winners of the games and special awards. The DBYC of the Don Bosco Calauan reigned as the over-all champion for garnering the 1st runner-up in the Football (under 12), Basketball (under 22 and under 17) and Champion in Football (under 17) and Basketball (under 12).

Virtues-based awards were also given for the groups that were exemplary in conduct, the Sportmanship award was given to the Don Bosco Calauan, the Most Disciplined and Most Organized Awards were given to the DBYC of St. Dominic Savio Parish, while San Ildefonso Parish Makati bagged the Service award.

With the objective of being present in the midst of the young, the event was made possible by young Salesians in the theologate, postnovitiate and even our prenovices.

This fellowship among the various DBYC setting shows that Bosconians are not only exemplary in showing their talents and skills in playing sports but also in using sports to build friendship, camaraderie and character.

At the end of the day, the young people left the place not only with trophies, medals, certificates and awards but also with smiles and new friends. The exhortation of Fr. Jake in his homily has surely been fulfilled by each young people who attended the event – to share Christ and to have new friends.

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