REMINISCING WORLD YOUTH DAY SYDNEY 2008

Just last Sunday, the festivities of the World Youth Day Madrid 2011 came to a close. I am 100%  sure all the pilgrims had a great time, just like we did when I joined the World Youth Day Sydney 2008. It was such a wonderful experience for me and my group. 

World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic event held every two-three year in different countries. It celebrates the faith of youths all around the world and this maybe a Catholic event, the invitation extends to all youth of all religious conviction. You get to have a week-long simultaneous activity in different location and have discussions & lectures based on the WYD theme. That year's theme was "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you". You also get a chance to meet new friends from different countries,  to contemplate & meditate and celebrate your faith.

I would love to hear your stories of WYD 2011.


Here is mine:


2008. I just passed the Physician Licensure Exam  and still in a stage where I am pondering on my next step. I already received an invitation a year before to join the World Youth Day to be held on Sydney. I didn't commit that time. But since I am still unsure of what I will do next, I realized and was convinced that WYD would be a perfect avenue and solution to my 'problem'. Though it didn't come easy, with some late documents and mishaps, I was finally Sydney-bound.

I was with 7 other girls in this adventure. We are a unique group consisting of 3 college students, 3 yuppies (me included). There are two Law students, a nursing student, a medical technician, a new doctor, and a tax analyst residing in the United States. There were Dulce and Vel whom made sure that these girls should be kept in line. Good thing, we were so well-behaved...ehem..ehem....   

The Gang. Yes, I am the one in orange stripes.

When we stepped down the soils of Sydney, Australia, the cold breeze enveloped us and clogged our nose. It was winter in Australia. Yes, in July, its winter in Australia. 

We were a lucky bunch because we had prior arrangement to stay at Creston College, a dorm for college girls. We were protected from the cold. I am very sensitive to cold, you see, hehe. I felt like Australia has this heavy-duty air-conditioner and I want to switch it off but I am too short to reach it, hehe. 


In the dorm, we were divided into three.  I got to stay with the two other yuppies, of course. And what is perfect, is that the room has a heater! Pretty toasty! I love it! Another plus is that most activities of the WYD are walking distance from the dormitory. Unfortunately, it was just so sad to hear that some pilgrims from other countries where not warned of the weather in Australia, they didn' t bring any winter clothes. They were surprised when they arrived. Some also doesn't have any prior arrangements in any establishments so they opted to stay in a gymasium or railways without heaters. 

All wrapped up from the winter cold

Good thing we were already pre-registered before we arrived. They gave us our colorful WYD bag & all the stuff we need in it. So basically Day 1 was spent roaming around the Sydney streets and tourist spots along with New Zealand pilgrims that are also staying in Creston. The streets are so alive and seems to have been dominated by pilgrims. It was just so festive. Some pilgrims would wave at our groups or ask which country we are from. We are like one big distant family meeting up.

At the Hyde Park fountain

The yuppies with the St. Mary's Cathedral as the backdrop 

Sydney Opera House

with Ana , overlooking the Harbor Bridge

Day 1 was so fun, walking around and simultaneously burning calories from all the big meals they serve us. But we all agreed that we miss rice, hehe. Simply Pinoy! hehe....

Day 2 was the opening of the World Youth Day. This time, there is this infectious excitement in the air and it is like we are having a very very big fiesta. You look everywhere and see so many people and different races. The only thing we have identical are our red & yellow backpacks, hehe... 

The sky are welcoming all pilgrims

Our colorful backpack backpack- Dora the Explorer singing

Ilongga pilgrims in the house

Our Lunch they served. Mudpies!

Erika's smile

Lovely overwhelmed with tears at everything around her

Met some Ilonggos too, hehe... Kabayan!

Isn't this so cute? hehe... Definitely priceless....

So during the festivities:

• I saw Guy Sebastian, the winner of the coveted Australian Idol because he will be singing the WYD 2008 theme song entitled, "Receive The Power"

He looks a lot like my cousin Ramon in Canada. But my cousin is cuter, hehe... 

• I saw a native (?) playing the didgeridoo in the Harbor Bay 

• I played with a koala

• I saw some Kangaroo Jack, hehe

Mr. Kangaroo is slightly hidden

The highlight of the World Youth Day was the vigil. We packed our bags with warm clothing & big coats and haul our sleep bags. We are sleeping under the stars, baby! There are several activities and a vigil mass after by no other than Pope Benedict XVI himself, at the Randwick Racecourse. He is like the star of the show. He is like a rockstar. When he comes it, the crowd go wild like some cool concert. We would shout in unison, "Viva El Papa--Viva!" like three times or more. 

Pope Benedict in his PopeMobile

Basking in the sun with a little music before the vigil

Sleeping bags laid out everywhere

Ericka smiles as she teaches her new friends tong-its

It was freakin' cold that night

During vigil mass

It truly was an experience to remember. It was a perfect time for me to contemplate on my life & what I want to do next; to offer thanksgiving to God for all the blessings He has given me; to experience new things & see new things and gain new friends & a lasting memories that I will keep forever....

For the WYD Madrid 2011 pilgrims, I would love to hear your stories......