WYD becomes a cultural journey for Filipino pilgrim

Faith connects so many people despite their cultural differences, Gen Sagcal says of her trip to youth gathering in Poland.

Filipino pilgrims to the World Youth Day in Poland tour the city of Warsaw with local volunteers. (Photo by Johann Mangussad/Youth Pinoy)

Manila:  Aside from being a spiritual experience, this year's World Youth Day celebration in Poland has also become a cultural journey for many young people from around the world.

Gen Sagcal, a 22-year-old Filipino pilgrim, spent days prior to the celebration in a Warsaw diocese under the care of a Polish family who introduced the young lady to the history, culture, and people of the city.

"I was overwhelmed by the Polish hospitality," said Sagcal, who joined the "Days in the Diocese" program that started in 1997 during the World Youth Day celebration in France.

The activity allows pilgrims to immerse in the parishes, communities, and culture of the host country where the young participants are hosted in homes of local families.

"Our Warsaw trip was mostly going around the city with their youth volunteers," said Sagcal.

Sagcal said she learned a lot from the local people whom she described as "rooted in their history" and with a lot of "sense of nationalism."

"I noticed how much they loved their country," said Sagcal.

"Poland has been through a lot, but the people keep a positive mind. They remain merciful to those who have caused havoc to their country," Sagcal said.

Millions of Polish people perished in the course of the Nazi occupation of Poland between 1939 and 1945 as Germany classified ethnic Poles and other Slavs, Jews and Romani as subhuman.

Finding a new family

The young Filipino girl said she found a family in her Warsaw hosts.

"They made me feel at home, so there was no homesickness," said Sagcal. "Attending Sunday Mass with them reminded me of my family back home."

Back in Krakow for the World Youth Day activities, Sagcal admitted she developed an affinity for her new friends.

"I've seen how people are really connected through the same faith despite all our differences," said the young Filipino woman.

She said that despite the "bad things" that are happening back in the Philippines, "there is still goodness, and sometimes you find it in the most unexpected places."

The pilgrim said she was overwhelmed by Pope Francis' message to young people. "I really admire him for bringing our generation closer to the Lord," she said.

In his address to hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in Poland, Pope Francis urged young people to show compassion for migrants.

"A merciful heart opens up to welcome refugees and migrants," the pope said.

Source: UCAN