Tag: sya

Categories
Articles SYA

“Finding Joy in SYA — My Extended Family, My Second Home” by Marie Tycangco

At some point in our lives we ask ourselves ‘What is it to be truly happy?’. We explore all the possibilities to find things that will give us the joy we have been longing for, but after so many tries, we still can’t seem to find the answer — not in a person, not in our work, not in the hobbies that we enjoy. So, where?

Is happiness the absence of problems?  Is it having a perfect family, having lots of friends, having a huge paycheck, being able to travel the world? Is it even possible to be problem free?

I think being happy is a decision. It is appreciating what life has to offer, seeing the beauty in everything that we do and in everybody that we encounter. It is in knowing that God is with us in every endeavor we face that we find happiness. It is inevitable that we have disagreements within our parents or have conflicts with our brothers or sisters or go through failed relationships or have problems at work. These things should not stop us from being happy.

Back in 2012, I felt that amidst having a complete family, a good set of friends, a growing business and keeping myself busy with lots of activities that I enjoyed, something was missing. Then a friend invited me to join the 23rd Single Young Adult (SYA) Weekend and without hesitation I did, with high hopes that with some divine intervention, I will find the missing piece in my life that will make me happy. True enough, my weekend experience was a starting point to becoming a better me and finding happiness. It strengthened my relationship with God, making each day thereafter a happier day to live. Now, no problem will pull me down, without being able to rise again and seeing the brighter side of things. So many things can go wrong, but with a strengthened faith, I believe that God will not give me anything that I can’t handle.

It all started with one weekend, but the impact of the experience is forever. What was it during the weekend that made me change my perspective of life and continue to serve God through this community? The talks were simple but very relevant and real. It made me reflect on who I am, my relationships with the people around me, what I have been searching for, and the things that are keeping me from growing, among others. The people I met in this community have become my new friends. SYA has become my extended family, my second home. This community has taught me what happiness is all about and what it is to be in the midst of people who share the same happiness. It has made me see things in a different light, allowing myself to live life with more enthusiasm and share the same zest for life with others.

I would then like to invite all those who are single, 21-39 years old to join us for the 27th SYA WEEKEND on March 21 to 23 (Friday evening to Sunday) at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center. Sign-up forms and informational brochures are available at the Parish Office. For more details you may also visit the parish website at https://ssaparish.wordpress.com/parish-mininstries/youth-of-san-antonio/sya/.

***

MarieMarie has been a member of the Single Young Adults since 2012. She enjoys traveling, trying out new restaurants, and playing sports like badminton and boxing.

Categories
Articles SYA

“SYA Weekend-First Step to a Wonderful Journey” by Alexandra Li

SYA WeekendWhen I was asked to join a Single Young Adults (SYA) weekend in 2008, I didn’t know what to expect. All the while, I thought I wouldn’t get a lot out of the weekend since I had lived a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I had firm goals in life and was on track to achieving them. I was spending just the right amount of time for God, family, work and leisure. Mondays to Fridays are mostly spent working. Occasionally, I would hang out with friends after work. Saturdays are mostly spent playing sports or going on short trips out of town. Sundays are definitely reserved for church and family.

However, a few weeks before the weekend, the life that I once knew fell into pieces. Work became too busy which made meeting with friends more difficult. Friends turned against each other. My relationship with my mom was getting shaky.

As the weekend approached, questions about life started to pile. Questions like—“Do I bother myself with these problems or do I turn my back on them?”, “How do I piece myself and my relationships back together?”, and “Where is God amidst all the chaos”?

Finally, the weekend came. I was surprised how 3 days can put things in perspective. It was a great way to reflect on all aspects of life. The weekend facilitated self-rediscovery, finding our identity—which is mostly drowned or taken over by what we do versus who we really are,our relationship with our family and friendsand how we—as Catholics—fit into the big picture. Unknowingly, it was what I needed and more. I was in the company of people going through the same uncertainties in life. I was not alone. All participants were moved by the talks and sharings, and as time went by, we have all grown closer to one another and had been each other’s confidants.

After the weekend, SYA had continually inspired me to see God in everything I do. The community is a place I know can always fall back on with no judgments and no hesitations. As I had been a prodigal son who had left and returned, SYA had always been the family who was glad to see me back.

Joining SYA had been one of the best decisions in my life. I thank God everyday for allowing me to take my journey together with a loving community. It is a group that always provides me opportunities to keep my faith strong—through various church activities like prayer meetings, birthday masses, and service at Makati City Jail and Philippine General Hospital. It is a group that continues to help me find God in the center of all things. I have never felt more purpose in life than when I found God in my center.

The 28th Single Young Adults weekend will be from September 12 – 14, 2014 (Friday evening to Sunday) at the 2nd floor of the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Center. Registration Fee is P1,000. Informational brochures are available at the Parish Office. You may also contact Jonathanat 09178367374 or jona.dcruz@gmail.com for more information.

Categories
Photo Gallery SYA

HALLOWEEN IN PGH by Rocky Chan

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

photos courtesy of Rocky Chan *All Rights Reserved*

Last October, SYA-ers Brought Joy to PGH. Halloween is a time of the year that is made for the child in all of us. Candy by the bucketful and kooky costumes worn by kids of all ages are the hallmarks of this festive day.

This year, the Single Young Adult (SYA) Community brought Halloween to the Philippine General Hospital. Gamely wearing costumes, the SYA-ers brought the treats to the Children’s Wards of the PGH, shared prayers with the individual families of the children confined at the ward, and threw an all-out Halloween party at the Silahis ng Kalusugan High School of the PGH. I have always been in awe of the generosity of the SYA-ers. More than just the donations collected to fill the loot bags or chipping in to provide the catering for the Halloween Party, the SYA-ers are more than willing to share their time for the various ministries of the SSAP. For this event, Sabs Soriano took the lead, ably organizing the party, transforming the Silahis ng Kalusugan classroom into a Halloween venue. The students, along with their parents and teachers, were just as game, with most of them wearing costumes and ready with their prepared song and dance numbers. It was definitely a fun time for all.

Categories
Articles

SYA PGH SNK School End of Year Celebration by Sabrina Soriano

With the school year just ended, SYA planned and organized an end of year celebration for the PGH Silahis ng Kalusugan elementary and high school students. This was attended by the students, their parents, the teachers, and volunteers from church and SYA.

For most of us, one year is just a wink in our lives, something we take for granted, especially when we get bogged down by career, relationship and financial problems. For these students, one year in their lives means so much! With all of them with health / medical ailments, most of them congenital diseases, one year means another year where they have battled their conditions successfully. Being in the Silahis ng Kalusugan School in PGH allows them to have the support that they need – physically (in terms of the readily available medical services in the hospital) but most especially, emotionally through the support that they get from their classmates and the parents who are in the same position as themselves.

This party was a celebration of their lives – a year full of successes in being a survivor and still being able to study and attain achievements in school.

Congratulations are in order to Ryza, Cheycel and Josan, high school graduates, who are now embarking on a new journey in their lives. Good luck in whatever endeavor or course you undertake! You have all gone through so much already and have succeeded with smiles on your faces and a positive outlook in life. We know that with your strong hearts and minds, you will be winners in whatever goal you strive for.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started