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WORLD YOUTH DAY - JORNADA MUNDIAL DELA JUVENTUD - GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA GIOVENTU - JOURNEE MONDIALE DE LA JEUNESSE - JORNADA MUNDIAL DA JUVENTUDE - WELTJUGENDTAG

Yes, I was there in World Youth Day 1995 in Manila and it was an awesome experience. To tell you the experience by detail will be of no use, for I have really no words to express them all. They say, “a picture paints a thousand words”, therefore I rather impart to you the experience i had through the light and shades of the photos. Some of these pictures that you will see are from my private photo albums. I think I had 10 36 shots rolls of kodak film for this once in a lifetime event. There were no digicams back then, only analog cameras. So lo and behold, the private photos for the World Youth day including a meter away shot of John Paul II in his Pope Mobile that a friend of mine took in one of the streets of Manila.

We left for manila at around 5 am of January 10, 1995 aboard the service vehicle of our school. The WYD logo on the van’s window was drawn by me while waiting for the others to come.

At around 7 am, we were already in Manila, and the atmosphere was just festive as billboards pertaining to the celebration were everywhere. The cold morning breeze of January 1995 even made the ambience an extension of “Christmas”

a large logo of World Youth Day at Ayala Center, Makati. Where is the MRT? hehehe! It was not built yet during 1995.

A welcome sign for the Pope in San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe along Edsa.

A large signboard along the walls of San Carlos Seminary

Again the large logo of World Youth Day at the Ayala Center in Makati. At the extreme left is the “twin towers” of Makati.

The opening celebration at the Luneta on the dusk of January 10, 1995

Youth Pilgrims were stationed at their designated fences. The fences, according to a WYD organizer whom I talked to, serves as a protection for the pilgrims against pandemonium and stampede in case there were any. And it also has a theological meaning, “the sheep” are herded by the “Shepherd” inside the fences, to gather them into one.

Youth Pilgrims singing the official theme “Tell The World Of His Love” I took this sghot climbing the bamboo fence.

Another “Tell The World Of His Love” scenario as demonstrated by my group mates, Aldwin Jose and Alex Ylagan

My groupmates on our way home to our foster parents in Paranaque. Let’s see if I still remember their names: Violy, Kuya Vic Leonor, Neneth, Jeff, oops that one I didn’t remember and Aldwin. And yes, we were obliged to walk back and forth from the Luneta to the CCP complex because the traffic in Roxas Boulevard was closed. All buses and services were parked at the CCP and PICC complex parking lots.

Coming from a long walk, we again walked for another mile and a half to get to our respective foster homes.

Youth pilgrims from around the world walked for miles while gazing at the illuminated Christmas decorations all over the skyscrapers that lined the Roxas Boulevard. The Archdioce of Manila made a request to the different companies not to remove their christmas decorations for the World Youth Day Pilgrims to see. Thus the WYD’95 was also coined by the Philippine Media as “Christmas in January”.

Upon our arrival in Paranaque, a Barrio Fiesta feast was held by the homeowners and residents. Gracing the occassion was former Paranaque Mayor and Actor Joey Marquez.

One of the modules during the “day of the diocese” cathechism.

An ice-breaker. Of course, the day will not be complete without singing the theme song.

During the Last day of our “day in the diocese” thematic events. Holy Mass was offerd in the afternoon at the Manressa Gym. Thousands of Youth Pilgrims all over the different cathechetical sites in the Archdiocese were celebrating the Holy Mass simultaneously.

The kids of Maressa School assisted the Mass as Choir members. The voices of these kids were angelic. Most of the pilgrims were turning their heads when the choir started singing.

the Gym was Jumpacked with Youth Pilgrims.

The station of the Cross during the evening.

The scene of the resurrection during the station of the Cross. John Paul II gave a broadcast message to the youth all over Manila via video cast straight from the Papal Nunciature where he stayed.

The Afternoon before the Vigil with John Paul II.

The night sky in Luneta. I was across this flag pole, as well with thousands of Young people, waiting for the Pope to pass by riding his Pope Mobile.

This was one of the two shots I took when the pope passed along Roxas Boulevard in front of Jose Rizal (Philippine National Hero) shrine. Unfortunately the second shot with the pope in front of me was stolen from our campus bulletin board when we posted the photos.

This shot was from a book which I bought entitled “John Paul II We Love You”. The encircled young man wearing a black cap and a black backpack and taking pictures of the Pope was yours truly. I never discovered that I was in the book until I saw the photo montage on the book. My shot of the Pope and that of the Photographer in the book was very identical, differing only with the angles of the shots. The people beside me were the same people who blocked my final shot of the Pope. On my picture and that of the book, the same banner accross the street was visible on the two photos, which gave me the conclusion that I was indeed on that book.

Quirino Grand Stand and with the dusk as its background.

Praying the Our Father during the start of the Vigil.

Again, the theme song as it was sung on the night of the vigil. The Logo of the world youth day on top of the Grand stand which was well illuminated was very visible to all people even at the very far end of the Luneta Park.

The original score of the theme song “Tell The World Of His Love” by the composer, Trina Belamide included in our official liturgy booklet.

the original cover of the official album of WYD 1995 released in cassettes. I do not know if they released CDs back then. The Cassette has 5 tracks: all of which were finalists of the WYD song competition. Side B of the cassette contains the minus one versions of the tracks.

the official document sent to the office of our VP for academic affairs of my college excusing us from classes during the WYD week. Out of the four thousand college students in the campus during my time, I was lucky enough to be included in the list of the official delegation of our campus. Its actually a long story. Divine Providence as I may add. One of the original delegates backed out during the last minute and I was only chosen by our group leader as a replacement. That’s why I was at the very end of the list. LOL.

My official ID during the celebration.

the back portion of the ID and with my picture laminated with it. It was a hasty process when this ID was made because of my last minute inclusion on the list. I have no other picture in my wallet at that time except this Seniors Prom photo shot of mine. The organizer suggested that my “Prom” pic will do the trick. LOL

my name tag during the first day of our “day in the diocese” thematic event.

my name tag on the second day of the thematic event.

my name tag during the last day of the thematic event.

my group number in one of WYD group dynamics activity in the”day in the diocese” thematic events.

the official information kit included with the ID, a few stickers and the liturgical booklet all in one bag. The bag was ripped during the final Mass when every human being from the Philippines seems to be heading at the venue.

The liturgical booklet included with the kit

one of the ten postcards i kept during the WYD 1995

the official postcard of the WYD 1995 which was included in the kit

the official sticker of the WYD included in the kit

a sticker I bought in Luneta for a staggering amount of 40 Php a piece. Vendors took advantage of the event.

the front and back cover of the literature included in the 2 “commemorative” medals (its more like a coin actually) I bought before the actual WYD. It was a limited edition. each medal-slash-coin was priced as 100 Php a piece. The proceeds went of course to the WYD organizers to help young people in and out of the Philippines who cannot pay for their expenses.

the inside literature of the Commemorative medal.

detail of the front of medal-slash-coin

the reverse side the medal-slash-coin

One of the limited edition pins of WYD 1995.

the official WYD pin included in the kit.

A JP II pin which I bought as a souvenir.

A WYD keychain turned pin

The “WYD album” limited edition key chain given to those who have sold at least 50 pieces of cassette tapes. I sold 52. It was a project of my group and the archdiocese.

my replica of the papal cross which was blessed by John Paul II during the vigil. The upper beam of the cross was detached from the crucifix because of my ordeal with the growing crowds coming to the venue during the dawn of January 15, 1995. I was wearing it on my neck when the crowds sadwiched me between the fence and the people trying to enter the fence. I’ve tried so hard in attaching the piece on the crucifix but it kept on falling. after so many attempts, I gave up. I just setlled on the present appearance of the crucific which resembled the “tau cross”. the tau cross is one of the emblems of the Franciscan order. 2 years after it broke, I entered the seminary formation under the auspices of the Franciscan Capuchin Friars.

the official wind breaker used on the candle included in the kitduring the vigil.

a ribbon which was given to me by an american friend. She tied this ribbon on her hair during the WYD. She gave this to me as a souvenir and remembrance from her.

My unused WYD “letter heads or note pads” which I bought in WYD 1995 as a remembrance. Up to now, I havent used the rest of its leaves. maybe because I kept it in an envelope for 12 years.

detail of the notepad.

detail of the other notepad

the official T-Shirt of our group for the 1995 WYD

the pouch bag with the WYD logo where I keep all of my souvenirs.

a letter from a friend the night before we left for the WYD. Surprisingly, it is still intact. I never remembered keeping this on the envelope because letters given to me are placed in a different box.

One of the official posters of the WYD 1995 sponsored by CocaCola. This poster was blown by the wind on my face during our walk towards the Luneta on the Opening Ceremony.

the book which I bought 3 months after the WYD. The same book which contained my “back” shot during the passing of Pope John Paul II in front of the Luneta flag pole.

these shots of Pope John Paul II during his arrival was taken by a friend during college. I asked him to make me a copy. My original photo of the Pope during the night before the vigil was stolen from the bulletin board of our campus and the “negative” of the film was nowhere to be found. (Special thanks to Jan Jan Montenegro, Jenny Camagon and Ethel Atienza for these pictures ca. 1995)

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