Conference Program of the First Cebu Kerygma Conference: Director’s Cut

Handling a conference program may be one of the more “toxic” assignments in event managing, producion managment and directing but it could also be one of the more effective ways of stimulating personal growth especially when it involves an event dubbed as the “biggest Catholic learning event of the year” and one with a “historic” element to it being the First Kerygma Conference in Cebu with live satellite feed to and from Araneta Coliseum in Manila. I have had my share of handling national and international conferences in the past and I must say, I used to dread being involved because of the magnitude of work and the sleepless nights that go along with such events.

When first approached to direct the conference show for Kerygma Conference-Cebu, however, I was surprised to find myself feeling excited and optimistic that I said yes immediately then asked myself “Why?.” The answer did not come in a day but in a series of events that took place from the month of August until the first week of November 2009. 

The Kerygma Conference theme for this year shouts DREAM BIG WIN BIG. I decided to use these very words to end my slide presentation on the technical and production needs of the conference in Cebu before the Kerygma Conference executive committee of Manila. I was hoping it would create enough impact for our proposal to be approved most especially the part where we recommended the personal appearance of international preacher Bro. Bo Sanchez in Cebu and not just through live satellite feed.

Bro. Bo Sanchez used to give regular talks in the monthly Kerygma Feast held in the city. The event was often filled with people coming from different Catholic and non-Catholic communities united in being nourished by his refreshing view of a loving God and practical ways of applying scripture to daily living. Video teachings replaced his personal appearances to give way to invitations from Filipino communities in foreign countries. Cebu therefore, has missed his personal appearance. What better way to highlight the First Kerygma Conference in Cebu than to bring him back!

The executive committee appreciated the presentation feeling more confident of the Cebu team and said they would confer with Bro. Bo about it. This became the first piece of the answer to my “why?.” I love directing big, important, valuable and significant events that aim to touch many lives. It is my core gift, my passion and my mission. My dream of winning big through this project was beginning to take shape.

The conference is to be a time of learning, healing and entertainment graced by a power house of Kerygma preachers assigned to come to Cebu comprising of folksinger-turned-preacher Bro, Alvin Barcelona, Light of Jesus (LOJ) leader Bro. Eng Si, the pioneer elder of the LOJ, Bro. Pio Espanol and worship leaders, Fr. Joseph Skelton, an American missionary priest and Arun Gogna, Jr., the insightful educator and preacher. Providing the healing element of the conference program are Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, celebrating the mass at the opening of the conference and popular healing priest Fr. Joey Faller conducting a healing mass to close the conference program the next day.

The power packed line-up took care of the learning and healing part of the conference program and it was a surprise to find out that I was to provide the “entertainment” element by recommending activities that would take place in between the talks in the two day conference scheduled November 28-29, 2009. Providing entertainment with relevance has been my practice and it was truly an honor to be given the chance to make recommendations and have them approved immediately.

I had the pleasure of getting in touch with former students, musical theater actors, dance ministry members from other charismatic communities and creative staff to comprise a dream team to handle creative work. It was a delight to have over 50 people all together in the KCON -Cebu team building workshop I conducted together with Ripplemaker Michelle Simtoco, in preparation of the work ahead. It was an experience that allowed rebuilding and building of relationships among former community members, non-community members and members from other charismatic communities gathered together to manifest a big dream dedicated to a big God.

The workshop provided another piece of the answer to my “Why?”. Rebuilding broken relationships and building new ones through production work allows me to better practice what I preach in using every opportunity to employ the healing love of God in empowering people.

Touching base with the big dreamer himself Bro. Bo Sanchez, was what the KCON-Cebu team needed to boost the energy level to an all-time high. We were ecstatic that he decided to come to Cebu, “Live!” on the first day of the conference but we were even more thrilled to know we was coming over to hold a press conference in Cebu weeks before the conference. It was like winning millions of dollars in a lottery twice in a row.

Bro. Bo was awesome as he calmly stated the reason behind the DREAM BIG WIN BIG theme. He said he simply wants to encourage more people to dream again because” for Filipinos dreaming has become a painful experience” for many believe they can never achieve their dreams. He said this may be traced back to how our culture has taught us to think small. “What is our national flower?, he asked. He answered his own question with a small voice ‘Sampaguita” (a tiny sweet smelling flower). “What used to be our national bird?” he asked again. This time the audience answered with him, with squeaky voices too, “maya”.

The message was clear. The conference was out to teach participants how to dream big and win big knowing there is a Big God who desires to make our Big Dreams come true. His short talk was like a fireball that ignited the spirit of every attendee of the press meet that the open forum became a venue for some to give their testimony of a loving big God.

The press conference sent another piece of the answer to my “Why?”. Michelle and I have been sharing the same journey Bro. Bo has embarked upon -- help people change their mindset from that of lack into the mindset of abundance. We may be doing it in a different manner but it’s the same journey where God’s tremendous love provides the ultimate compass.

The Filipinos deserve to have a big push during these times of global economic crisis and ongoing recovery from natural calamities. The Kerygma Conference is one big push with some big loving that goes along with it. What better way to achieve our goal of creating big dreamers and winners than to start with ourselves -- the very team preparing for this event.

Already we can see some of our dreams manifested. Bro. Bo’s decision to make a personal appearance in Cebu was just one. There is the reuniting of the original One in Him Band to play during the conference and participate in the concert scheduled the first day. Then there is my former student and ABS-CBN Born Diva Grand Prize Winner, Raki Vega-Siu, agreeing to do a musical sharing during the conference. Other local artists, sponsors, donors and volunteers have also come from everywhere to help make the conference a success. All these making the KCON Cebu Team increase their faith, confidence, trust and love in a Big God.

To say the KCON team is growing personally, professionally, spiritually and emotionally may be an understatement. We know we are constantly increasing our capacity to dream to include dreams for the bigger world out there and in the process empower many with the tools to create big winners in life. After all, the biggest original creator is on our side.

Another piece of the answer to my “Why?”, has been delivered. I no longer have to ask “Why?”. I simply know that it is with joy I receive a Big task from a Big God to dream Bigger with His Big love.

I am Daisy Ba-ad and I have a Big Dream with my Big God for your Big dreams to become even bigger.