The Filipino youth is exposed continuously to varied forms of influences that seek to shape the moral and spiritual foundation of the young. These variables (peers and different forms of information media- radio, print, and broadcast) tend to dictate how they think, how they act and how they relate to other people. As a consequence, it affects value formation, and probably even their spiritual growth. This scenario is probably true for other countries all over the world. In this context, preaching the Good News has become more challenging for those who have committed themselves to spreading the gospel.

But despite this reality, Filipino youth remain, generally, religious. However, presence of different forms of entertainment is proving to be formidable obstacles to animate the young. As such, groups engaged in the same ministry need to come together and collaborate their works if they wish to successfully achieve their objectives.

In the Philippines, young people are being given opportunities to preach to their fellow young. This is evidently seen be the presence of numerous Dominican Youth Groups in the country. By the early eighties, before the People Power of 1986, we experimented with Kapwaan at Esteban Abada High School in partnership with Cecilia Legarda, a Teresiana, as part of our apostolate as student brothers. It was more of a youth prayer meeting in modular form. Both the group and the program were turned over to the UST Central Seminary during the Rectorship of Fr. Arrazola, O.P.

The Dominican youth groups thrived through the initiatives of the Dominican seminarians and sustained by the committed presence and support of some Dominican priests. The scope of the majority of these covers mostly the areas within the vicinity of our convents and parishes. Some groups have rigid and structured programs others have open and fluid in a sense. Most of the existing groups sprung from the apostolate our seminarians in Sto Domingo like the MUKHA AD, KADAUPAN, FRIENDS OF ST. DOMINIC. Others flourished in the parishes like the Lectors Group of Santo Domingo, the Male Choir and the parish youth council of UST, Manaoag, Dagat-dagatan, and Calayan. The other groups must have taken off from the impetus of the world youth day celebrations initiated by Pope John Paul II; like the school based groups working for or in the campus ministry. In 1995 the Network of the Dominican Schools, Colleges and Universities or the DOMNET came out with its youth group.

Cognizant of the important role these youth groups bring to the Order, the Provincial Chapter of the Dominican Province of the Philippines proposed in the ACTA of 2000 the following which states "we recommend that the Provincial and his Council establish a Dominican Youth Coordinating Council headed by the Provincial Promoter for Dominican Youth Groups…" Initial encounter of these groups occurred at Santo Domingo parish where the youth representatives from Dagat-dagatan, Santo Domingo, Mukha Ad and Domnet Core, and AUL campus ministry volunteers had a Christmas celebration facilitated by Frs Ziggy and Allen about two years ago. That initial gathering paved the way to other interactions particularly with the MUKHA AD group working along side with the DOMNET Core in some of the activities like leadership trainings, festival and summer camps.

Last May 2001, a summer camp for Dominican youth groups where seven groups responded. Thus, we had the 1st Dominican Youth Camp participated by Mukha Ad, Santo Domingo Parish Youth Council, Domnet Mindanao, Anduyog Bikol Volunteers, Domnet National Core, Habing Dominikan Volunteers (Domnet professionals), and the DYC of GenSan. There they shared their stories and expressed their wish to work together in the promotion of Dominican charism. No organizational structure was established yet because of the desire to continue exploring other existing groups under the guidance of the other Dominican sisters, like the Bible group of the Molo sisters, the Vocation Group of Tarlac, and even that of the OPsiena youth. It is interesting to note however that some of the leaders of these congregational youth groups are also members of the Domnet Youth.

Apart from the groups mentioned previously, other Dominican groups that existed included the following:

1. Anunciata YG
2. SDP-YPC
3. Dominican Youth Volunteers-Gen. San. City
4. Kauban-Davao
5. Habing Dominikano
6. Our Lady of Manaoag Parish Youth Parish
7. Anduyog Youth Volunteers- Legaspi

Another group, Habing Dominikan Volunteers was started as an experiment. It is now on its third year in Aquinas. It has so far attracted nine volunteers coming from different parts of the country. The volunteer program is different from that of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where the volunteers are sent to depressed areas for emersion and community service work. Our volunteers on the other hand are living with us in the university so that they can in one way or another deepen the formation of their Dominican identity and work in partnership with us in ministry. There is no definite program for them because it is the volunteer who is given the opportunity of designing the program within the context of freedom and responsibility.

These groups are also engaged in different activities relevant to the preaching ministry of the Order. Preaching is done by catechism, organizing recollections and retreats and other creative forms such as music and the arts. One group is especially devoted to the promotion of peace in conflict areas in the southern part of the country. They also engage in common study in search of truth by sponsoring seminars and lectures.

Efforts have been made to bring these groups together again after the initial encounter, however distance and financial constraints prevented them from coming together. Not until the announcement of the International Commission of IDYM that the next international gathering for 2004 will be held in Manila. With the blessing of the other members of the Dominican Family (special mention to the friars of the Philippine province), the preparation for the international gathering was put on center stage members of the different groups met (finally) on November 15-16, 2003 at Caleruega, Philippines with the theme "Young Preachers, Seeing Together, Moving Together". The gathering proved to be both enlightening and at the same time gave the groups an opportunity to reflect on the need to come together and coordinate and collaborate their works. To prepare for a national council, an executive committee continues to function as the coordinating body of the movement in the Philippines.

As the Dominican youth groups in the Philippines took shape, it also involved itself in international activities. In fact, by the time the groups met last November 2003, the International Commission had announced that Manila as the venue for the next International Gathering of IDYM. Realizing the need to organize early, the executive committee immediately met and divided the task to different groups. Involvement of as many people as possible was of utmost importance.

But despite the difficulty of organizing such an important event, the enthusiasm and energy of those involved in the work eased the load to a certain extent. The support of the Dominican Family, specially the friars, and several Dominican educational educations was truly appreciated.

Hosting the international gathering brought the different groups to appreciate each other and enables them to work better. It also taught the young preachers the importance of involving members of the Dominican Family. These are some of the many things the Dominican Youth Groups gained from this experience. These lessons will certainly help the groups find answers to future questions such as "what's next?", "where to go?" and "can I still go even if I am not getting any younger". With God's grace, Amen.