MANILA, August 29, 2012—When it’s a barrage of heavily tainted messages that the media are dishing out to the youth, it’s time to go counter-cultural. And this is how organizers of Real Love Revolution 2012 are going about spreading the notion of authentic love among young people.
“We strongly feel that young people need to hear this message! They are bombarded 24/7 with negative messages and values in media, so that at least every year or year and a half, they can hear positive messages about virtues and values,” said Carol Anne Tansingco, coordinator of Youth for the Family (Y-FAM).
Y-FAM has put together Pure Mind, Pure Heart II, the August 31 event at the University of the Philippines (UP) Theater of UP Diliman featuring youth speakers Leah Darrow and Chris Stefanick.
The two are in the Philippines for a series of talks and conferences to be held in Manila, Cebu and Iloilo from August 29 to September 1.
The August 31 event, which happens from 1:00 o’clock to 5 p.m., has been organized primarily for high school and college students.
“I met with several principals of the schools we invited. They are all so excited to have an event like this!” Tansingco excalimed.
“They all agree that there is a sore need for symposiums like these for the young people, as problems with purity are some of the biggest problems besetting the youth nowadays!”
Darrow, a full-time apologist for Catholic Answers, brings her experience in the fashion world and the Catholic world to the masses. She speaks internationally to people of all ages on topics of forgiveness, conversion, human dignity, the ability to change one’s life, modesty and chastity. She made it to the finals of TV show America’s Top Model and did succeeding modeling stints till she decided on another path.
Stefanick, who is director of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry in the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, is an accomplished guitarist and songwriter. His dynamic presentations and retreats have inspired thousands of teens all over the world to a deeper love for Jesus Christ and his Church.
“I am excited about Leah Darrow and Chris Stefanick. I’ve watched many of their videos and interviews on Youtube, and their styles are so different! Leah is soft-spoken, while Chris is a guitar-playing, outspoken guy,” Tansingco remarked.
Real Love Revolution 2011 brought renowned chastity speaker Jason Evert to the Philippines and audiences were significantly inspired by his talks that dwelt on true love, relationships, dating and finding happiness. Tansingco expects the same enthusiasm from students this year based on the organizers’ experience last year. She described how teens loved Evert, took in every word he said and revered him “like a rock star!”
“I guess our job is to get them into the theater, maybe even kicking and screaming,” Tansingco said in jest, “and the excellent speakers do their magic, and in the end the youth come out converted and fortified in values!”
For the Y-FAM event alone, more than 35 public and private schools are sending participants. Over 1,600 participants so far have snapped up tickets, according to Tansingco.
Aside from the August 31 event at UP Diliman, Real Love Revolution 2012 will bring Darrow and Stefanick to Iloilo’s Western Visayas State University today, August 29; Cebu’s Waterfront Hotel on August 30; and World Trade Center in Manila on September 1.
For details and ticket reservations for the UP Diliman event, please contact Carol Anne Tansingco at 0905-4819566. For information on the World Trade Center event, please contact catalyst@uap.asia and 0908-8648491.
Pure Mind, Pure Heart II is organized by Y-FAM Woodrose School Chapter in cooperation with the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Social Responsibility (I Am S.T.R.O.N.G), and World Youth Alliance (WYA). (CBCP for Life)
