By Novice Jojo Agar Villanueva

Don Bosco Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines - A post-celebration for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was highlighted by the traditional theatre play called “academia”. This year’s academia was sponsored by the Sacred Heart Novitiate sector who come from different provinces (FIN-PNG, FIS-PAK, CIN and THAI-CAM). The musical play entitled #walangforever, revolved around the true meaning of love.

The two protagonists (a teacher and a student) in the story debated about the existence of everlasting love which the young people normally coin as “may forever” (there’s forever). Their contradicting previous experiences made them stand on opposite poles. Towards the end of the story (about 10 years later) one of the characters (the teacher) whose former belief was on the contrary, after experiencing an unconditional love from someone, changed his conviction that indeed, there is “love-forever”. Providentially the teacher met his former student who now became a priest and both of them brought to mind the true meaning of love which was captured in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we can also experience in our day to day life. In the end, the understatement of the title really speaks of “#mayforever” because God’s love is our standard.

The night was concluded with the “Goodnight Talk” given by the Novice Director, Fr. Ronel Vilbar, SDB. He underlined the truthfulness of forever referring it to the unconditional love of the Sacred Heart for us. Don Bosco’s devotion to the Sacred Heart was also emphasized and the challenge for all is to be like the Heart of Jesus loving, serving and forgiving. The evening festivity was culminated with the choral singing of Bld. Michael Rua and Fr. Luis Carreno’s “CorJesu”.