A Tribute to the APY

Twenty-four years ago, after a busy yet fulfilled month of May, Gagalangin Parish welcomed the month of June with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 2nd.  For me, it was a special occasion because on that date the Apostleship of Prayer-Youth  (APY) was inaugurated.  Donning a Barong Tagalog complete with the scapular of the Sacred Heart, I together with Angie Tortosa-Manlutac, Jonathan De la Llana, Rizza Evasco, Herminia Castillo, Carolyn Castaneda (now Balkin), Ma.Christina Biado, Maricel Castaneda, and Allan Dabu took our oath as officers of this new youth organization.  This ceremony was followed by the investiture for new members - the only investiture when the entire platform of the sanctuary was filled with members from one end to another.

Let's rewind for awhile.  Previous to that memorable date, there have already been young members of the Apostleship of Prayer (AP) in the parish; some have been there ahead of me.  However, because of their small number that time, it wasn't feasible for them to form an 'independent' group.  Towards the middle of 1988, there was a growing sentiment among a small core group of young members (and prodded by some elders) to have its own organization.  On consensus, I became the core group's leader.  On behalf of this small band, I wrote a letter to Sis. Cely Tortosa who was the AP President at that time.  The letter contained a proposal to form the APY as a separate group.  She didn't approve it at once, but gave us the opportunity to become more exposed to parish activities such as manning some hours looking after the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (PEA) Chapel, doing collections during the 4pm Sunday Mass, etc.  During these times (I'd consider them as exciting rather than trying!) we learned that years ago, there was an APY in the parish, however it was short lived. (There was a story that our 'forebears' used their meetings as occasions for ligawan.  In a way, we understood how cautious our elders to our request.)

Surprisingly, during the first AP meeting in January 1989, Sis. Cely announced that we can form a new group. As a first step, officers were to be elected.  Nominations came from the elders with the youth only giving their Opo.  I was voted President by viva voce. We got elected, but it was only after 6 months that we were officially installed!  We were still under the wings of the AP Elders! At any rate, this gave us the time and space to recruit more members and become more familiar with parish life, especially the AP's charisma.

Fast forward now.  Right after the group's inauguration, we began to organize monthly meetings following that of the elders'. We also attended the regular meetings for all APYs in the Archdiocese held at the Pope Pius XII Center. For some reason, we didn't immediately attended the regular meetings of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). It was only in early 1990 and it was because we have a project proposal which was rejected unfortunately.  Nevertheless, that paved the way for us to began sitting there.  Lakasan lang ng loob was what we used to say to each other.

When Fr. Mario Enriquez, then parish priest, mobilized the PPC's WESTY (Worship, Education, Service, Temporalities, and Youth) committees, we appointed chairmen for these committees and have been proactive in being represented in the regular meetings of the PPC's WESTY. So much so that Bro. Eddie Jayo, then Worship Committee Chair, encouraged us to have our own slot every month to look after the PEA Chapel. He was also instrumental for us to hold the Divine Mercy Triduum and Feast day (began in 1991) as well as the Twin Hearts Crusade (statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary are brought from house to house every week to pray the Rosary - started in 1990). The APY was also a 'founding member' of the Tanghalang Anluwage and Ang Pahayagang Anluwage, erstwhile theatre and newsletter of the parish. It was also part of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting when this was launched in 1992.

At the height of these, I stepped down towards the end of 1992 due to a rift with the AP Elders. I thought it best to leave rather than have the group suffer.  It was one of my saddest moments. 

I later reconciled with the AP Elders and kept in touch with my former colleagues in APY.  And although I haven't been active in the group I still continue to say the Morning Offering till this day and do my best to live the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Above all, I keep on cultivating a life of prayer.

Happy birthday, APY! To have reached 24 years of service in the parish is something to be grateful for.  Keep yourselves animated by the Sacred Heart of our Lord so you could remain attentive to His message, be steadfast in faith, and reach out to more souls. As the song goes "In Him alone is our strength"! Ad multos annos!