MANILA, July 11, 2013—Six Swiss youth leaders from Jungwacht and Blauring (JuBla), Switzerland are set to visit the Philippines on July 16 to meet their Pinoy counterparts and learn more about the Filipino youth.
The fourth batch of Swiss youth leaders is set to visit Manila, Baguio, Infanta, and Cebu until August 2, 2013.
According to Ldr. Marie Gutierrez of Chiro Youth Movement, the visit will have the theme “Tuloy Po Kayo!” meaning “Come in!” which what Pinoys typically say when they want to invite someone to enter their homes.
“This visit is also an invitation for Jubla to come inside, see how we live, and see our family and friends. It is like inviting a friend to come over, sit down, and share a meal so we can casually talk about our lives, discuss about our children and youth work, and share a moment of prayer together,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez added that the visit is a cultural exchange program that aims to enrich leaders through meaningful encounters in the host country.
“The youth leaders, who are mostly college students or young professionals, visit the partner organization to see the way of life of typical Pinoy/Swiss family, the day to day life of a student, how a youth group works in another country, the usual past time of the locals, foods, songs and dances,” Gutierrez explained.
The visit of the 6 French youth leaders will last for two weeks wherein they will experience family life in Cainta, Paco and Pasig in Metro Manila.
In Infanta, Quezon, they will visit the pre-school supported by Jubla which is run by the Prelature of Infanta.
In Baguio, the leaders will experience family life in Northern Luzon. They will also have a courtesy call to the City Mayor and visit the city hall, experience marketing, encounter with other Filipino youth leaders and children which will be highlighted by a cultural presentation in Maryhurst Seminary.
While in Cebu, they will experience Children’s Day and Leaders’ Evening in Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish in Danao. They will also have an audience and lunch with Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emilio Bataclan.
The youth leaders will also experience the life of a typical Cebuano in the parishes of Argao, Sangi and Valladolid, have fun watching whale sharks in Oslob and explore the Heritage trail in the area.
The partnership has been in existence since 2006 where Jubla youth leaders were able to see and understand the realities of the Philippines and the Pinoy youth.
Each youth movement take turns in visiting the other country. In 2006, Chiro Philippines visited Jubla Switzerland; in 2007 Jubla visited Chiro; in 2008 Chiro’s Team 2 visited Jubla; and in 2009, Jubla returned to visit Chiro.
Team 3 of Chiro visited Switzerland in 2010 while Jubla Team 3 visited the Philippines in 2011. Chiro Team 4, all of them students, visited Jubla last year. This year, Chiro is welcoming Jubla’s Team 4.
Jubla and Chiro are organizations under the International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements (FIMCAP) which supports encounters like partnerships and roundabouts among different member organizations. (Jandel Posion)
