YWD from Manila Gen. Chapt. poses
after an energetic dance number
Young Women's Division
Manila-Mindanao
Exchange Meeting
Last October 14 (Saturday), a total of 110 Young Women’s Division members and leaders from Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro traveled all the way to Davao City, joining their fellow YWD members there, to participate in the highly anticipated 2nd Manila-Mindanao Exchange Meeting that would be held for 2 days from October 14-15 at the Mergrande Resort, Davao City.
Welcome banner at the Mergrande Resort
YWDs during one of the lectures
Lunch time at the kubo
At the airport on the way back to Manila
with Senator Ramon Revilla
After a reverberating gongyo and daimoku, the first training session kicked
off with the "Continuous Advancement Training" (CAT) for the
participants. It was a very helpful and effective training in that our
HQ YWD Chief Grace Jingco shared topics on leadership qualities taken from
Pres. Ikeda's book, "Faith Into Action" and other straightforward
guidelines on how to encourage and care for our fellow members.
The session then proceeded to an interesting lecture about the "Nine
Consciousnesses," explained very clearly by Ms. Hazel Andaya, our
HQ YWD Vice Chief. To facilitate better understanding of the said topic,
visual presentation was used and the Buddhist principle – eternity of life
and the oneness of life and environment – was integrated into the discussion.
Before the first session ended, our YWD HQ leaders offered words of encouragement
to all leaders and members that left everybody in high spirits. The rest
of the day was left for bonding and interaction among Manila & Mindanao
members while some sought personal guidance from our HQ leaders. All group
in-charge of the Boys & Girls Division and Byakuren from Manila also
took this perfect opportunity to discuss and share with their fellow Mindanao
in-charge updates on their group activities, concerns, and suggestions
on how to develop their respective groups.
The 2nd day officially marked the onset of the exchange meeting. Two YWD
participants who joined the Japan Youth Training Course last July shared
with everybody their unforgettable experiences during the training course
and motivated their fellow YWD members to also make a strong conviction
as well to join the succeeding youth training courses in Japan. Following
the report was a moving and empowering video of one of Sensei Ikeda's speeches
where our very own Philippine Marimba-Kotekitai Chief Hazel Andaya was
shown being offered a crown of flowers by Mrs. Ikeda in celebration of
the 50th Anniversary of Japan's Marimba-Kotekitai.
After the touching video, an enlightening speech with a touch of humor
was given by Davao Women's Division Chief, Mrs. Alcantara, encouraging
the YWD members to strengthen their faith more than ever, to read Sensei's
guidance and to continually participate in Gakkai activities. The meeting
went on with a lecture on the Gosho passage from "The Heritage of
the Ultimate Law of Life" by our HQ YWD Vice Chief Cynthia Gaerlan,
emphasizing on the importance of the mentor-disciple relationship and giving
participants a new attitude and perspective on faith.
Our HQ YWD Chief Grace Jingco gave the last lecture, "On Attaining
Buddhahood & Purifying the Six Senses" thereafter. As with all
exchange meetings, it would not be complete without the sharing of experiences
by selected YWD members from Cagayan de Oro, Manila and Davao that always
leave members inspired and encouraged.
Of course, this two-day activity was not limited to only lectures and discussions.
Fun-filled bonding activities, entertainment presentations from different
regions, and icebreakers added color to the event, fostering friendships
and camaraderie among members along the way. Not to mention the sumptuous
local delicacies and meals that was enjoyed by all.
It truly was such a memorable and successful exchange meeting that only
became possible with the all-out support and efforts of the respective
members of the Women's Division, Men's Division, and Young Men's Division
of Davao Chapter.
Photo on the top: Cagayan de Oro Culture Center in Mindanao
Copyright (c) 2006-2007, Soka Gakkai International of the Philippines,
All rights reserved.
