Before WYC 2025 even started, life was already hitting me hard. Days before the congress, my lola was rushed to the hospital because she hit her head. At first, okay naman siya. We were hopeful. But later on, the doctors said she needed surgery kasi lagi siyang nagrereklamo ng sakit sa legs. Nung una, bewang lang yung na-xray kaya hindi nakita agad yung problem sa legs niya. Kaya no choice, kailangan siyang operahan. May 27, surgery day. Grabe ‘yung pagod ko that time. Wala akong tulog kasi ako yung nagbantay sa kanya the night before. Pag-uwi ko, bagsak agad ako sa kama. Around 4 PM, na-operahan siya. Natapos ng 7 PM, and we were all relieved kasi nalagpasan niya. Akala namin okay na. But the next morning, May 28, everything changed. Nagising ako sa iyak ng tita ko, sumisigaw ng “Wala na si Mama.” Doon ko lang nalaman na nirevive si Lola pero hindi na siya nagising. Naalala ko pa ‘yung boses ng tito ko habang umiiyak. Ang sakit. Para akong na-paralyze. Hindi ko alam anong mararamdaman ko. Nalilito ako, pero sigurado akong wasak ako.
Then came May 30 the start of WYC 2025. Honestly, ayoko nang pumunta. I was grieving, I was tired, and I didn’t feel like worshipping. I felt guilty pa nga na pupunta ako sa congress, parang hindi bagay magcelebrate habang nagluluksa. Pero something in me pushed me to still go. Pagdating ko sa WYC, it felt weird. Ang saya ng lahat. Lahat energetic, worship mode agad. Pero ako? Hindi ako makasabay. Parang wala ako sa lugar. Tapos during worship, tumugtog yung “My Hope is in You”. Bro, ang bigat. Gusto kong sumabay, gusto kong kantahin, pero parang hindi ko kaya. The word “Rejoice” felt too much for me. Paano ako magsasaya kung ang puso ko wasak?
Then came Session 1. Si Father biglang bumanat ng line na hindi ko makakalimutan: “Our hope is in Christ.” Simple lang. Pero para sa isang taong lumalaban para lang bumangon sa umaga, sobrang powerful no’n. Parang sinampal ako ni God in a good way. Parang sinasabi Niya, “Anak, I’m still here.” Doon ko narealize, yes, nawala si Lola. Pero hindi ibig sabihin noon na nawala na rin si God sa buhay ko. Hindi ibig sabihin nun na wala na akong pag-asa. That moment helped me breathe again. Parang unti-unting gumaan yung dibdib ko. WYC became more than just a camp. It became the start of my healing. Dahil sa worship, sa talks, sa prayers, at sa mga taong kasama ko doon, narealize ko na hindi ako nag-iisa. Ang dami ring may pinagdadaanan, pero andun pa rin sila, worshipping, praying, fighting. And I thought to myself, “If they can, maybe I can too.”
The Line That Stuck with Me
If there’s one thing I’ll take with me forever from WYC 2025, it’s that line: “Our hope is in Christ.” Madalas ko na ‘yang naririnig before, pero iba ‘yung dating sa’kin ngayon. That line hit differently habang wasak na wasak ako. Para siyang hug ni God. A reminder na kahit umiikot ang mundo, kahit magulo ang lahat, si Jesus hindi nagbabago. Life won’t always make sense. Hindi lahat ng tanong may sagot agad. Pero I learned that even when I don’t understand things, I can still choose to stay. I can still choose to anchor myself in Christ. Kahit ang sakit-sakit, kahit naguguluhan ako, I can hold on to Him. Before WYC, sobrang lost ko. I was questioning everything. Bakit nangyari ‘to? Anong kasalanan namin? Worth it pa ba lahat ng ‘to? But during the congress, I was reminded that my hope isn’t based on what I see or feel. It’s based on who Jesus is. And He is faithful, always.
What Keeps Me Going Now
Now, every time I feel weak again, I go back to that moment. That phrase: “Our hope is in Christ.” That’s what keeps me grounded. Hindi man mawala ang pain, hindi man bumalik si Lola, but I now have something na mas matibay kaysa lungkot ko. I have a hope that can’t be shaken. And I won’t pretend na okay na ako 100%. May days pa rin na naiiyak ako bigla. May times na nami-miss ko si Lola bigla. But now, hindi na ako nag-iisa sa pain na ‘yun. Alam kong may kasama ako si Jesus. Even nung worship na halos hindi ko maibuka bibig ko, I learned that worship is not just about good vibes. Worship is about surrender. Kahit hindi okay, kahit may pain, I can still worship. Kasi ang totoong faith, hindi lang kapag masaya ka, kundi lalo na kapag wasak ka pero pinipili mo pa rin si Lord.
Final Thoughts
WYC 2025 wasn’t just a congress. It was a rescue. A reminder. A turning point. Hindi ko man na-escape yung sakit, pero natuto akong lumaban. Natuto akong kumapit. At natutunan kong hindi ako nag-iisa. There’s a whole God fighting for me, loving me, and reminding me that I still have a future because Our hope is in Christ.
Kaya ngayon, kahit may bagyo ulit, kahit feeling ko malulunod na naman ako sa lungkot, I know where to drop my anchor and that’s in Jesus.
