The gestation of the Liwanag World Festival Launch in Panay by the Iloilo node began weeks before we were conscious of carrying it as a node. Members were individually pushing forward their initiatives as usual as when Kate’s email, inviting all nodes to simultaneously launch the festival with Davao reached us, and before we knew it, we were in labor pains.

Gemma spearheaded the efforts, networking with the LGU of Libongcogon and then Zarraga. Shiela and Au helped in the networking efforts too with the LGUs and with GCI and local communities, as both are GCI parents and Shiela a resident now of Zarraga, Gemma a Libongcogon resident. It was nice that during the preparation, the node was able to meet at Libongcogon, at Nic’s white house, where we were joined by Felice and Doc Bing-bing and updated by Nic about what was happening with Liwanag. We carried the inspiration we received in that meeting thru the lemniscates, and there were a number, we encountered in our preparation for the simul-launch. The inspiration carried us through the challenges, personal or otherwise, and enabled other somewhat inactive members in pitching in, in the preparations. Jopet and Asela, Gretchen,Doc Bing, Felice, Sam, Jim, Gemma and Lazaro, Au, Herms, Nay Bebit, Enrique, Nick S., Jagat and Shiela, Frances helped in one form or another in the preps and in the event itself.Mission Ilo-ilo came out in full force force! The volunteerism displayed was inspiring, it was the ultimate in “respond according to your present capability.”

Of course it was not all beautiful sweet-smelling flowers all the time, the lemniscates came as expected. The night before the event, and during the day itself was a demonstration of the saying: “It is darkest before the dawn.” And what a dawn!(see the pics)

Three-folding unfolded in our audience and speakers. The Libongcogon barangay council was there,the Zarraga municipal council was well-represented, the Vice-Mayor was the speaker for the political sphere and he gave a great reflection about the event. Frances, Human Nature distributor for Ilo-ilo gave her reflection as representative of the economic sphere. Nick S., a teacher at Gamot Cogon school gave a talk about the event representing Civil Society. What filled our hearts was the attendance of the locals representing Zarraga, Libongcogon, and GCI communities.

The Liwanag ceremony was THE highlight of the event. Au’s exhortation of being the space we want to have during the event was great advice as the members demeanor and inner condition made possible the solemnity that permeated the event, specially during the lighting ceremony. There was a hush in and out of the gym during the ceremony and everyone in the gym was present during the lighting. Everyone stayed in the circle and contributed their intentions for Liwanag. It was goosebumps-inducing. The carrying of the sacredness by everyone made the event a rousing success.