The recently concluded Visayas-Mindanao Aspirants Conference 2025 (January 5-9) brought together Aspirants and Contacts of the De La Salle Brothers under the theme “Live Your Passion!”, inspiring us to embrace our unique gifts and find deeper meaning in our lives.
Through moments of reflection, connection, and action, VMAC 2025:
- Looked inward, recognizing our God-given talents and purpose.
- Strengthened relationships that affirm the goodness within us.
- Lived out our passion for service by leading a one-day retreat for the Grade 10 students of De La Salle-Andres Soriano Memorial College, making a lasting impact in their lives and ours.
VMAC 2025 reminded us that living with passion means living with purpose—grounded in faith, empowered by community, and driven to serve others. To all participants and facilitators, thank you for making this initiative possible!
Below are the reflections of two young Lasallians who joined.
The Visayas-Mindanao Aspirants and Contacts of the De La Salle Brothers was one of the many activities of DLSP that I couldn’t imagine myself joining, not because I don't see myself qualified to join; it's because I had no idea it existed in the first place. My experience during the event was beyond my expectations, from the program's venue to the content and experience it provided. VMAC was no ordinary DLSP-sanctioned event; it was an event specifically catered to the aspirants and contacts of the De La Salle Brothers, and I was a contact.
During the event, aspirants and contacts gathered and spent 5 days in a retreat house in Talisay City, Cebu. Schoensatt Spirituality Center. There, we got to experience and learn about ourselves and what it's like to be a brother. Accompanied by Brothers (Marvin, Irwin, Ivan, and Jeano) from different La Salle schools in Visayas and Mindanao, we also got to share different cultures, which made it a highlight of the event. From speaking Tagalog to our Bacolod friends to mimicking their accent to Bisaya, to the point where I actually brought home the accent, it was truly a wonderful experience. VMAC also got us to experience firsthand one of the things that a Brother does, that is, holding a recollection. Days before the event, the brothers guided us on everything that we needed to do for a recollection, and speaking of it, we were then tasked to facilitate one for a class of grade 10 students from our institution, De La Salle ASMC. At the moment, it was such a big deal for me because these are my students back at school, and most of them are people that I know outside of the classroom. So personally, I really took it seriously because I wanted them to have the best since they deserve it in the first place. So in preparation for it, I really studied the material assigned to me and even applied the things I learned to be a teacher to the activity. I looked at it as if I were holding a class, but the lesson is all about life and self-reflection. I wanted to make sure that they would walk away from the activity feeling inspired and motivated to make positive changes in their lives. I also made sure to create a safe and supportive environment where they could freely express themselves and share their thoughts and feelings. I encouraged open communication and active participation, fostering a sense of community among the participants. By the end of the activity, I was pleased to see how engaged and empowered they were, knowing that I had made a positive impact on their personal growth and development.
Overall, the experience reinforced my belief in the power of self-reflection and personal growth. It was rewarding to witness the participants embrace new perspectives and take steps towards positive change in their lives. VMAC is genuinely one of those events where you really surprise yourself about the things that you think you cannot do, but you can actually do. Not only did we prepare ourselves for the event, but basically we also prepared ourselves for our future. The bonds and friendship we had created were as solid as a rock; 5 days went by as mere seconds, and when the day arrived when we said our goodbyes, it was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life. The experience at VMAC will forever hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of the power of growth and connection in our lives. Schoenstatt, German for a beautiful place, it was truly a beautiful place, fitting for a beautiful experience.--Reflection by Zack Zozimier Zanders Arbon
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Stepping into Schoenstatt for the second time, the first thing that hit me was silence. Not an empty silence, but a warm, inviting one. It made me breathe a little easier, think a little more, like it was asking me to just... be present and live the moment.
The Visayas-Mindanao Aspirants and Contacts Conference, organized by the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines, was something I'd heard about, an event on a schedule. But stepping into it, it was clear that this wasn't just another conference. It felt positively new; it was like a space to look inward and listen. We learned from the Brothers, from my fellow Lasallians, and tried to listen to that quiet voice inside. Sharing experiences with the aspirants and contacts, you could feel something shifting, like a purpose was taking shape.
A truly unforgettable experience during VMACC was the retreat, but not as participants. Instead, we were the facilitators. Leading the retreat for the Grade 10 students of De La Salle ASMC was... something else. Seeing those kids have their own moments of understanding, their eyes lighting up for realization, it was really moving. It felt like helping them was helping me, too, strengthening my own commitment to the Lasallian values of faith, service, and communion.
But it wasn't just about the deep stuff. It was the little things, too. The conversations over meals, the laughter between sessions, and knowing we were all there for the same reason. You could feel that Lasallian spirit, that sense of community.
Leaving Schoenstatt, I felt different. I carried a stronger sense of purpose, a clearer understanding of what it means to serve, and a lot of gratitude. And, of course, the funny, little things I learned from my friends – the accents we tried to copy, the new words, all those shared moments. It was a real turning point.
That silence I found at the start? It felt like it was leading me somewhere. And as I move forward, I knew this journey of service was just the beginning.--Reflection by Kenneth Russel Iglesia
