KIDMACO YOUTH CONGRESS

One hundred one youth attended 6th
KIDMACO YOUTH CONGRESS in Cotabato City
By Rex Rubio
Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Archdiocese of Cotabato



Amidst the unstable peace and order situation, the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry of Archdiocese of Cotabato finally settled in the 6th KIDMACO (Kidapwan, Marbel and Cotabato) Subregional Youth Congress on April 27- 29, 2009 at Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary, Nuling, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao with the theme “ KIDMACO YOUTH: Challenged to Respond the Call for Moral Recovery.”

On the first day of the congress, an input on anti- drug abuse was given by a representative from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The Speaker informed the young that as of 1999 at least 1.8 million were reported as users or dependents to prohibited drugs. With this data, 1.2 million comprised the youth sector. “The situation is alarming, thus, we call you young people to be our partners to combat this cycle of drug- abusers and promoters of prohibited drugs in our country especially in our locality”, the speaker added. An opening mass was presided by Most Rev. Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop of Cotabato. During his homily, the Bishop stressed that with the present situation of our country and of the world, the youth is called to be hungry for the truth of Jesus Christ set on moral values of the gospel and must seek the foods that remain eternal which is the Eucharist. Transformation of the people including the government sector be geared towards values like faith, peace, justice and honesty. After the mass, a simple welcome was offered by selected youth of Cotabato to the participants of the congress.

The second day started with the Holy Eucharist presided by Most Rev. Romulo dela Cruz, D.D of Kidapawan. He encouraged the youth to be vigilant in choosing the future leaders, and called those youth whose age will be 18 years old on May 2010 to register and become voters in the up coming local and national elections. With this, the youth could be able to partake their right to vote and become part of the political change in our country, the Bishop added. After the Mass, Rev. Fr. John Macalisang, STL, Phd, gave the eye- opener talk on moral values with an exciting workshop on moral standards. Fr. John challenged the youth on the call for moral restoration of values and emphasized that despite the ill effects of globalization, a mature and moral person is always interested to pursue good. The good means to object of our endeavor which contributes to the growth of our being; value- orientedness is the key toward the recovery of our moral standards and to keep away from the claws of evil which hinders the growth of a human person and even diminishes and destroys our moral standards. He also challenged the young to obey their conscience and must obey the truth of the objective moral order- a law governing us all. The universal law which can be found in Romans 2: 15 that says, “Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. At the end of the 2nd day, a 2- representative per Diocese crafted the 1st draft congress statement and presented to every Diocese for critiquing and suggestions. In the afternoon, every Diocese got an opportunity to join and facilitate the pinoy Olympics- a team building activities which energized the young and felt the spirit of solidarity despite of diversity of cultures in the KIDMACO Subregion..

On the third day, the final congress statement was presented to the 101 participants during the closing Eucharistic celebration which presided by Fr. Jun Balatero, DCK, Youth Director of Diocese of Kidapawan and Fr. Armand Dice, DCC, Subregional Youth Director.

Moreover, the said statement will be the guide post of KIDMACO Youth as they will make an action plan to their respective Dioceses, Parishes and Basic Ecclesial Communities.