CFC West C Magnificat Echo Weekend

This article came out today on the Ugnayan issue of the CBCP Monitor.


A month after the first Magnificat Weekend for the leaders of Couples for Christ Metro Manila was held, it was time to bring the message to the Unit Leaders, Household Leaders and senior members of CFC West C.  Led by Bro. Steve and Sis. Minnie Maningat, the sector held their Magnificat Echo Weekend at the Teacher's Camp in Baguio City from March 2-4, 2012.

Steve Maningat, sector head of West C, Metro Manila

As early as the morning of Friday, more than six hundred participants from the six clusters of West C converged in Baguio City to participate in this monumental event.  By Friday night, the echo conference proper started with a fellowship night-cum-chorale competition entitled "West C Goes Glee."

Saturday's and Sunday's activities started with the praying of the Rosary followed by a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Allen Aganon, Couples for Christ Spiritual Director.  To kick off the Saturday sessions, Msgr. Aganon gave the prologue, expounding on the significance of the Magnificat from which CFC's theme this year is based on.

Over the course of the conference, four talks were delivered and all of them delved on the faithfulness of Mary to her Son, Jesus.  From these words, we learned that Mary was always there for Him at all phases of His life and therefore, she could be considered the first disciple of Jesus.  It was Mary's "yes" to Angel Gabriel that paved the way for mankind's salvation.  The Blessed Sacrament was exposed at the end of the Saturday sessions.

The CFC West C Magnificat weekend ended with a praisefest and healing session.  As the echo conference came to its inspiring end, everyone was spiritually high and ready to emulate Mary and ready to take on the mission that God has entrusted to them.

Magnificat Weekend

One of the biggest activities that we go to being leaders of the Couples for Christ community is the MC Weekend.  This is a gathering of the members of the Mission Core (MC) Group, the top leaders of Couples for Christ. The MC Weekend Conference is a retreat cum fellowship that every MC member looks forward to every year.  It is held at Baguio City on the last weekend of January.  Every year, the theme for the conference changes.  For this year, it is called the Magnificat Weekend based on the community's theme "Proclaim the greatness of the Lord"  (Luke 1:46).

Photo taken from the CFC website

My husband and I prepared well for this trip.  As early as the first week of January, Jun bought a new pair of tires to replace the worn-out ones.  He also made sure that our vehicle was in tip top condition so as not to encounter mechanical problems while out of town.  Three years ago we had that unfortunate experience when this same vehicle conked out in Baguio City for the 2009 MC Weekend.  We had to leave the vehicle in the repair shop of Jun's client.  We traveled back by Victory Liner a week later to retrieve the vehicle.  Meanwhile, Bro. Rainier and Sis. Meng Figueras welcomed us in their vehicle for our trip back home to Manila.

We checked in at Hotel Elizabeth on a Friday afternoon.  I readily fell in love with the hotel the moment I stepped in their lobby.  The hotel staff were friendly and attended to our needs immediately.  I am not surprised, Hotel Elizabeth has been voted Baguio's Best Hotel a few years back.  The room was clean and doesn't smell musty.  I told myself, "I have found my home in Baguio".  After resting and freshening up, we, together with another CFC couple, Bro. Deng and Sis. Reiah Yango proceeded to the venue, Camp John Hay. 

Breakfast with Reiah at Hotel Elizabeth.

Jun and I at the driveway of the hotel.

The conference had fellowship on the first night and talks on the next two days.  There were worships and Mass before each session and a praise fest capped the conference on Sunday noon.  Though Sis. Reiah and I suffered from hypertension from Day 1, the conference and bonding time with CFC brothers and sisters made the trip all worthwhile.

No Place Like Baguio City

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Jun and I among the blooms.

Last Friday, all roads led to Baguio City as far as leaders of Couples for Christ West C Sector is concerned.  A good number brought along their cars and vans while others took the ever reliable Victory Liner buses.  For those who brought their cars, the luggage compartment was packed to the rafters with cooked and uncooked food, cooler with all kinds of drinks, shoes, clothes, pillows for those who cannot sleep without the familiar cushion under their head, junk food for munching while listening to the speakers or for fighting the urge to sleep.  My colleague in the household, Sis. Meng Figueras, brought along her electric airpot which was used not only for boiling water for coffee but for a warm and soothing bath.  Talk about ingenuity and travelling light.

The blooms of Baguio.

The City of Baguio will always be special to any leader of Couples for Christ.  It is where the annual leaders' weekend conference is held.  Ever since my husband and I became leaders in 1999, the Teachers' Camp in Baguio City was the usual venue.  There were times that the conference was held elsewhere but the number of attendees was less than the Baguio-based conferences.  Though Baguio conferences come out costlier than those held elsewhere, the cool temperature and the bonding time spent with fellow CFC members more than make up for the additional money to be shelled out.

A typical cottage at Teachers' Camp.  Has the basic amenities of home at very affordable prices.

Baguio City, tagged as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, is located in Benguet Province in the northern  part of the Philippines.  Besides its cool weather that make it a city of blooms, Baguio City is a favorite destination for vacation seekers because of the numerous tourist spots like the Philippine Military Academy, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay and the Mansion.  It also boasts of affordable accommodations like this cottage at Teachers' Camp.  It can be reached by land and air but travel by land at approximately five hours is preferred by many using any one of the three accessible roads, Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguilian Highway.  Kennon Road remains the popular choice of travellers but could be risky in times of bad weather because of landslides and erosion.

Map of Baguio City

Despite its limitations like the lack of water, rising pollution, and traffic, Baguio City remains the favorite destination for our annual weekend conference.  While in Baguio, everyone  shares a room or cottage and food with a colleague, a dear friend.  The endless stories and laughter make one forget loved ones back in Manila. It is this closeness, camaraderie and selflessness that make Baguio City so special.  Truly Baguio City is etched in the hearts of every member of Couples for Christ.

Breaking bread with other household members.  Thanks Bro. Junel for the photo grab.  Sa uulitin. Lol.

At the garden of the El Cielito Inn, our home for this 2011 conference.