THOMASIAN Leandro Alverio Santos II recalled that cold January weather like it was yesterday while he waited for his turn to read his testimony in front of Pope Francis and to almost 24,000 people in UST last January 18.
Santos, a fourth year working student from the Faculty of Civil Law and a former Central Student Council president, was one of the young people selected to represent the youth by telling his experience in relation with the relevant issues affecting the young today.
Stress on Values
According to Santos, his testimony about the age of information was inspired by his ‘accidental’ encounter of seeing a hand painted quote about values on the 7th floor of the call center company where he worked for as a legal specialist.
Santos recalled, “Dun kasi, sa seventh floor, I never go there. Nung araw na nandun ako sa seventh floor, dun ko nakita yung isang hand painted na quotation about values. So na-struck ako nun.”
Just then, he received a call from the Archdiocese of Manila saying that he was selected to make a testimonial for the upcoming encounter with the youth of Pope Francis in the University of Santo Tomas.
He was given five days to create the testimonial that would represent the Filipino youth. The thought of the hand painted quote lingered. Combined with his habit of reading news about the trends in technology, the idea of the importance of values in the age of information immediately entered his mind.
He explained that the idea was born out of the prevalence of unlimited sources of information that is considered as an advantage but also becoming a source of distraction to the youth. He also compared how contemporaries of Rizal and Bonifacio worked hard to inspire change and progress even without the use of technology.
“I think na kaya siguro ganun kasi dahil sa mga values ng some youth ngayon,” he continued, “Although very simple siya, it affects everyone talaga so I ask to give us guidance and help with regards to how we can find God with technology.”
Special Experience
Before reading the testimonial, Santos said he had difficulties while practicing how to read the words efficiently and at the same time admitted to being frightened and intimidated by the Pope. Fortunately, the contrary happened.
“Big part of it was the presence of the Pope,” he said. “His presence was very inviting and calming.”
That moment, Santos revealed that he was encouraged to continue because the Pope seemed very attentive and was really listening to his message.
After reading the message, he gave a gift to the Pope called ‘The Jar of Memories’, which contained 5,000-7,000 notes written by UST volunteers for the Papal visit, symbolizing their prayers and messages. Along with the jar was also a picture taken by Paul Quiambao, showing a young girl who survived typhoon Yolanda in a devastated church while holding her scar.
Santos also applauded the Pope for reiterating their messages and by deviating from the prepared speech.
“Parang mas gumanda yung experience kasi he really took the time to reinforce it,” Santos said while remembering some of the lessons he learned from Pope Francis.
Right after, big part of his experience, which he described as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity, was the blessed feeling of embracing the Pope and really seeing him up-close. He admitted that he only intended to kiss the Pope’s ring as a sign of respect but he never expected that inevitable moment would happen.
The Pope Francis Effect
Santos said Pope Francis definitely had the charisma in terms of connecting with the youth. He believes that his teachings would trigger the youth to form a movement for some cause that would help other people.
Part of it was because Pope Francis has a personal approach and application in his pastoral teachings for the youth to be participative. He believes this to be significant and that the ‘Pope Francis Effect’ would definitely last.
This experience has also prompted him to examine the way he is living his life. He said that he is still in the process of discerning things and still contemplating about what he should do about it.
“The other two who gave their testimonials, they deserved it. Pero of all the people, I continuously ask myself,’why me?’ Parang instead of being enlightened, I got really bothered by it,” he humbly said.
Santos believes that the hand of God is working for him ‘to do something’. After the Papal visit, he said he has been receiving requests and invitations to speak on seminars and some people are now even talking to him about values formation.
He admitted to having difficulties in making and inspiring advocacies because of the limited time he gets from being a Law student and from working full time; but he is taking things slowly right now.
The experience definitely strengthened his faith and that he would certainly incorporate the personal approach and application he learned from Pope Francis when he become a lawyer.
“Everyone should meet people on a personal level, participative yung gusto niya e so ganun, ganun yung application na gagawin ko,” he said.
Photo By Adrian Castillo
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