Universalidad. Universidad. UNIV.
Each year during Holy Week, thousands of university students from around the globe participate in an international gathering in Rome that includes events such as an audience with the Pope, cultural and historical tours of the Eternal City, and multicultural encounters, one of which is the UNIV Congress (UNIV).
UNIV began in 1968 to foster dialogue among youths on a relevant aspect of our culture and to provide opportunities for them to suggest forward-thinking solutions that can be shared with the participants. Young people are drawn to various kinds of sessions—workshops, social projects, video and photo contests, debates—where their creativity and initiative can come to life and grow.
Organized by the Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria (ICU), this annual international university meeting encourages the young to expand their horizons, be close to the heart of the Church, and promote new projects that have a real impact on society.
Read the UNIV stories of your fellow Dragons, and know why it is worth the 6,500 miles to travel.
I was entering the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross feeling excited for various reasons, a huge part of which was due to being in a crowd of diverse nationalities and thinking how cool it was. When suddenly, a fellow delegate grabbed me by the arm, pulling me to one of the boards where the list of finalists for each contest was posted. Lo and behold, our entry in the Social Initiatives Forum—Civitas Asia—made it to the final 10, along with entries from Spain, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Poland. I could not explain how exhilarated I became; I had to take a second look. Slowly, my excitement turned into cold anxiety. My teammate and I thought of how to work out our presentation with literally no preparation at all. Eventually we decided to wing it. What made things more agitating for me and my team was the fact that we were completely clueless as to when and where the presentation was going to be held and what the expectations were.
Eventually, we cleared the details of the presentation. The moment we arrived in the room, I felt an intense vibe that arose not only from the well-prepared presentations but also from the completely focused audience. When our time to present came, we told our story with enthusiasm, as if doing a TED talk of some sort. We were in complete control of the room. The audience members were fascinated with our project.
To cap off the UnivForum, the list of winners per competition was announced. To our complete surprise, they proclaimed civAsia as the winner. I vividly remember running to the stage and shaking eagerly the hand of each of the jury members. Even though we were confident with our presentation, we did not expect a sure victory in this competition. I was proud not only because I represented the Philippines and the University in an international conference, but also because the project I handled made it to the international stage and garnered huge recognition.
Karlo Angelo M. Maddara is a senior Entrepreneurial Management student. He served as the project head of the 2018 Civitas Asia National Student Conference with the theme “Tagged 2.0.” He currently runs a coffee company.
It was my second time to attend the UNIV Forum. I was lucky enough to go to Rome for two consecutive years: in 2017, which was the beginning of the 50th anniversary celebration of UNIV, and this year, which capped off the jubilee. Here are some of my memorable moments this year:
The Pope. Though I was not able to have a personal meet-and-greet with the Pope and give him a pack of ChocNut (which one of the Filipino delegates was able to do), just seeing the Pope in multiple occasions and spending the Holy Week with him were truly momentous. The whole of St. Peter’s Square was filled with the deafening roar of young people every time he passed by in his Popemobile. #SuperSolidPope
The Prelate. The Prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, had a get-together with the participants and talked about the importance of prayer, freedom, and deep friendships. I was given a chance to be onstage along with other delegates. I was really thrilled about it since it was the first time I had a close encounter with him. Soon after the get-together, I immediately rushed to him, took out my cellphone, greeted him, told him that I am from the Philippines and I attend the activities of Amber Drive, hugged him, and hurriedly asked if I could take a selfie with him. Of course, he could not say no! That selfie, though a bit blurry (I was really nervous at the time), was super worth it! I will never forget that short but sweet encounter with him in which he told me that he was praying for me and for Amber. #Blessed
The Participants. UNIV was like a big reunion. I met friends from Spain and other countries whom I first got to know in last year’s UNIV and made a lot of new friends. On the last day of UNIV, there was a talent show for all the delegates. I, together with Jeff Velasco, another Filipino delegate from San Beda University, sang “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. We did not expect that our performance would be given a standing ovation. #PinoyPride
The Places. There were four churches that really caught my attention—St. Peter’s Basilica (of course), St. Paul’s Outside the Wall, Church of the Gesú, and the Church of Gerusalemme. Rome is truly a place full of history and meaning. Every corner, every detail is rich. One week—or some people would say, a lifetime—is definitely not enough to grasp the grandeur of Rome. #NeverEnough
Above all, this trip wouldn’t have been as fun if it were not for my companions. They made those long walks, long lines, and numerous train trips going from one place to another bearable. UNIV was not just culturally and spiritually enriching. It also allowed friendships to deepen.
John Joseph David D. Paje is a fifth year student of Integrated Marketing Communications. In spring 2017, he was an exchange student in the University of Navarre, Spain under the Faculty of Communication.
The UNIV Congress was a very pleasant experience. Although there were numerous paperwork needed to be done before our trip, aside from the midterm exams in UA&P, it was all worth the hard work.
When we reached Rome, I was overwhelmed by the many wonders of the city. I was genuinely excited that our trip was a pilgrimage and not just a tour. It was a singular opportunity to pray in all of the places where many historical events of our faith took place, such as the martyrdom of many Christians and the death of Saints and Popes.
On the fourth day of our trip, we had the UNIV Congress with the theme “Rethinking the Future.” Students from different universities around the world were all gathered in one place to discuss the relevant issues in today’s society and implement solutions to promote sustainable development. Fortunately, the UA&P team won first place. The entry featured Civitas Asia, a program of UA&P that helps students become more conscious about issues in modern society and propose solutions.
After the UNIV Congress, the remaining days were spent exploring the Eternal City. There were three most memorable moments for me: First was seeing the famous St. Peter’s Basilica. We gazed in wonder at the many sculptures made by famous artists, as well as the breathtaking paintings. Best of all, what made this particular experience exceptional was the opportunity to participate in the Holy Mass in the church of St. Peter!
The second most memorable experience was the Visita Iglesia; we visited seven churches around Rome. Each church is amazingly beautiful, each with original pre-Renaissance design.
The third was our visit to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. For me, this one is the most memorable of all the churches we visited. I think that all of the beauty that can be seen in the whole city of Rome cannot compare to what can be found in Santa Croce Church: the nail, part of the crown, and a part of the cross of Jesus Christ. This church holds a special place in my heart because I got to see the objects that Jesus Christ once touched. They were the real things!
The UNIV Congress was an extraordinary opportunity to see awe-inspiring sights that made every moment in Rome unforgettable.
Jose Antonio E. Ramirez is a college freshman taking up Industrial Economics. He enjoys joining various activities in a student center for men in order to learn more on how to sanctify ordinary life.
Attending UNIV was truly a memorable experience, since the last time I was in Rome was when I was three years old. Of course, at that time I was too young to appreciate the beauty of the Holy City. Now that I am older, I was in awe of the grand sights the Holy City has to show. Attending a Mass celebrated by the Pope was also one of the many highlights of the whole trip that I cherish.
Miguel Alissandro V. Tan, BSBA, 2018
UNIV 2017
The young gentlemen I was with had a wonderful time absorbing and reflecting on the multifarious cultural aspects, learning new things about people and faith, and making new friends from different countries. This trip included an audience with the Pope, a get-together with the Prelate of Opus Dei, and cultural and historical tours of the Eternal City.
Alfredo Javier D. Santos, BSBAM, 2018
UNIV 2017
One of the more nerve-racking experiences in UNIV is presenting a research paper to the international community. In 2017, I presented the findings of my group’s research paper, “Forces of Migration vs. Family Factors: the Filipino Case,” in front of a big audience at the Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce (Pontifical University of the Holy Cross). I nervously prepared for it in the halls of the university.
Joselle Titus V. Bautista, MA-IMC V
UNIV 2017
One of the most memorable parts of the trip was our group’s performance in the get-together with the current prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr.Fernando Ocáriz Braña. It was a nerve-racking experience as there were hundreds of delegates from different countries with different cultures staring at us on stage and waiting for us to entertain them. On top of that, the Father had his eyes on us! To our delight, the crowd actually sang and grooved to the beat of our own rendition of “Let It Be” by the Beatles.
Kevin Richardt V. Lazarito, MA-IMC IV
UNIV 2017
One of my favorite UNIV experiences is the Wednesday audience with the Pope, when the Holy Father kissed the children. We were all surprised when he stopped the popemobile in front of us. A child behind us was being passed toward the Pope. I took photos of the Pope kissing the child, and they came out really well. I met the parents of the kid, showed them the photos, chatted a little, and had a picture taken together. We exchanged email addresses and kept in touch for a while. It was a great way to meet new people!
Benilda Marie G. Ignacio, BSBAM, 2018
UNIV 2017
Climbing the steps of the Scala Sancta struck me deeply because of the realization that they were the same steps that Jesus climbed on His way to His trial before Pontius Pilate. Though we only had five minutes to go through all 28 steps because of our tight schedule, it was worthwhile because of the grace that we felt at that moment.
Jaime Antonio Angelo J. Hizon, MScM III
UNIV 2017
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