We have all experienced being assigned

projects in school. But it is not only us who

have been given a task to fulfill. Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, was also commissioned with a
project: to love us and bring us closer to God.
In the first session of the IKV, the participants
were treated to an interactive talk show entitled
Knowledge for Children. Hosts Ate Sarah,
Kuya Josh, and Kuya Dane, introduced
stories in the form of cartoons to let the
participants know more about Jesus Christ
and the goodness that He is sharing with
us, especially in the most important areas
of our life our family, our friends, and our
Kids for Christ community.
In all of these things, one thing is made clear to
everyone and that is how Jesus came into the
world to be with us. He wants to be near us. As
His beloved, He wants to know us because true
friends know and love each other. We consider
Him as our example for how to be good at
loving other people.

Right before the end of the session, Team

Serra, the guest family on the show, gave 3
simple steps for the kids to follow so they could
fulfill their project to love. First is to simply kiss
and hug their parents every day. Next is to pray
with them every day. And lastly, to always tell
their parents I love you.
To reciprocate this love, parents were also given
3 pointers: To go out often on family adventures
which need not be expensive. They can even do
it daily, as long as they give emphasis on quality
time. Second is to treat their home as their first
household, their kids being their first household
members and they as their kids first household
leaders. They must also not forget about the
tradition of having a daily prayer time as one
family.
As a challenge, an important lesson was
imparted by the hosts and that is for us to also
accomplish our project to love. Because Jesus
loves us, we must take on His project too, and we
can begin by discovering more ways to love.

A SIGN OF
GOOD THINGS
TO COME
The first day of the 18th International Kids Village
was filled with smiles and glees of excitement
from everyone. Despite the heat of the sun,
thousands of Kids for Christ from different areas and
provinces enjoyed the activities being conducted
at the main venue in the University of San Agustin,
Iloilo.
The morning naturally started with worship, led
by Kuya RJ Lovandino, a ROCK facilitator from
Metro Manila. After the crowd sang and danced to
praise God, they were led into reciting the Oath of
Sportsmanship by Kuya Mark Jay Nery from
Laguna. Full of energy and encouragement, the
kids then proceeded to the different Creative
Challenges held in different venues around the
campus.

The Creative Challenges such as, Rhyme and

Pitch, Rock n Beat, and Family Acoustic Band
gave the crowd inside the USA gym something to
cheer loudly for; it was sheer entertainment. The
kids, together with their parents, showcased their
gifts in dancing, playing different instruments, and
singing.
Simultaneously, the Family Duet, Family Dance
Showdown, Little Kids Can Duet, Glee
Showdown, and Step by Step Dance competition
were also held in the University Auditorium. The
hall was filled with voices and beats ranging
from angelic to strong and powerfulfm. The Little
Saints Competition, a portrayal of different saints,
the On-the-Spot Poster Making, and the Family
Art Project, together with the Essay writing,
Captured (Photography), as well as Bible Spelling
and Catholic Kiddie Quiz Bees and fun
games, were also attended by many. Surely,
if the first few hours of the international Kids
Village was this jam-packed and energetic,
then theres no doubt that the weekend to come
would be one giant and exciting Love Project.

TO BE LOVED
AND TO LOVE

Namiss niyo ba si Mama at Papa? O kasama mo

siya ngayon? (Did you miss your mother or father?
Or are they with you now?)
This was the first question Fr. Jessie Tabobo, OSA,
the main celebrant of the Holy Mass, asked the
participants on Friday, May 1st. Three thousand
parents, couple coordinators, and, of course, Kids
for Christ gathered at the University of San Agustin
covered gym in Iloilo City, a sea of candy-colored
participants to the 18th International Kids Village.
In his homily, Fr. Jessie emphasized to the children
that being accompanied to the IKV by their
parents, guardians, couple coordinators, and ates
or kuyas is already a strong testament to how
loved they are. But before one can discover more
ways to love, which is the goal of the three-day
conference entitled Love Project, it is important for
us to remember the most basic and fundamental
truth to our faith: God loves you so much! God
loves you beyond your imagination! God loves us
all! And it is because of this love that God has for
us that we are able to love in return.
After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter: Do you
love me more than these? And Peter responded,
Yes, Lord, I love you, which prompted Jesus to
command him to feed His lambs. God loved us
first, and now He is asking us to show our love to
our beloved families, to our parents first of all, and
to our siblings; to all our relatives, our teachers,
and without forgetting our yaya (nanny) or
anybody else who helps us.
Love begets love. Jesus first loved us and is now
commanding us to love. Do we know how to love?
Fr. Jessie then turned his attention to the parents,
guardians, and teachers in the crowd: It is
important to show our kids how to love others in
return. To do that, we must remember that love
begins in our respective homes. If the children do
not see that we love one another, that we forgive
and are compassionate with one another, then
they will not learn it. Values are taught through our
personal example.

Part of the homily also drew upon the feast of St.

Joseph the Worker, which was celebrated on the
same day. The church emphasizes the dignity of
labor. Our parents work hard to give us a brighter
future. Fr. Jessie encouraged the kids in the
audience to say thank you to their parents and
guardians who were with them today. He also
emphasized the need to give thanks to ones
teachers, guardians, and even to the household
help. To those who remember and serve us, we
must give thanks for them.
In emphasizing the value of work, we are reminded
that even God worked when He created all of us at
the beginning of the world. Each person is worth
loving because in them is the image and likeness
of God. God lives in our hearts! This is why Jesus
commands us to love one another, especially the
poor and the least among us. Whatever the work
of a person, Fr. Jessie exhorted, you should love
and respect each and every one of them. He gave
the example of St. Joseph, who was a carpenter
and, therefore, poor and simple in the eyes of the
world. Yet St. Joseph did not mind. He was only
mindful of serving the holy family. Truly, our work
can bring us closer to God because through it, we
serve and love the Lord and His people. Therefore
let us follow the example of St. Joseph.
Before ending his homily, Fr. Jessie made a
special request from the KFCs in attendance:
Listen, actively participate, and be aware of the
people around you. They will help you discover
how to love more.