Finding My Way on the Camino
By: Ara De Vero
As I entered the Cuneta Astrodome for LIVELOUD 2026, I expected an evening of worship, music, and fellowship. What I did not expect was how deeply the theme, CAMINO, would speak to my own journey of faith.
The event opened with a powerful reminder that God is present wherever His people gather. Surrounded by thousands of worshippers singing and praising together, I felt part of something much bigger than myself. The atmosphere was electric, yet there was also a sense of peace—as if God was gently inviting each one of us to come closer to Him.
The theme verse from John 14:6-7 echoed throughout the evening: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” As the worship leader, Bro. Mac Quinto, reflected on the meaning of camino, the Spanish word for “the way,” I realized how much of my own life has been a journey of searching, questioning, and trying to understand where God is leading me, like a pilgrim.
“Where am I?” This question struck me deeply. During his reflection, Bro. Mac shared that sometimes we feel lost not because we have stopped loving God, but because we begin searching for Him in the wrong places. His words resonated with me. There have been times when I sought fulfillment in achievements, plans, and personal ambitions, only to realize that none of these could truly satisfy the deepest longings of my heart. It was a powerful reminder that true fulfillment can only be found in God, who continually calls us back to Himself no matter how far we may have wandered.
As the night unfolded through worship and reflection, I was reminded that God knows exactly where I am. Even when I feel distant, confused, or uncertain, He continues to seek me and call me back to Himself and to the Father. I am where He wanted me. And unworthy as I am, He deserves my worship. I just need to allow myself to be found.
A moving testimony shared during the program brought this truth to life. We were reminded that following God’s call does not mean walking an easy road. Fr. Yroll S. Zoleta, OFMCap, shared how his journey—from being a YFC missionary to the priesthood—was marked by one of the most painful moments of his life: the sudden loss of his mother in a tragic accident just months before his ordination. Fr. Yroll found himself questioning God and wondering if he could continue the journey, he once embraced with so much enthusiasm.
Like many pilgrims, he found himself lost in grief, disappointment, and doubt. But amid the pain, he discovered that God had never left him.
Through prayer, surrender, and the grace to forgive the young man responsible for the accident, Fr. Yroll encountered God’s mercy in a way deeper than anything he had ever learned in books or classrooms.
Looking back, he now sees his vocation as his Camino—a journey where God did not remove the struggles but faithfully walked beside him through them.
Listening to the sharer’s story of struggle, surrender, and God’s faithfulness, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences. It was a reminder that “When God calls, He definitely sustains.”
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came when participants were encouraged to approach one another and say, “You are not alone.” As I exchanged smiles, handshakes, and embraces with people I had never met before, I was reminded that the Christian journey is never meant to be walked alone.
The experience also challenged me to trust God more deeply. Life often feels like a long road filled with obstacles, fears, and uncertainties. Yet, LIVELOUD reminded me that our focus should never be on the giants we face, but on the God who walks beside us. The Holy Spirit continues to guide, strengthen, and accompany us through every step of our pilgrimage.
Before the event concluded, we were gathered for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the summit and source of Christian life. The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by the Executive Secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth, Rev. Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan and was concelebrated by the event’s featured sharer Rev. Fr. Yroll S. Zoleta, OFMCap, and Rev. Fr. Raphael Mbugua, from Nairobi, Kenya.
The celebration served as the fitting culmination of LIVELOUD 2026, bringing participants to the very heart of the Christian pilgrimage. In his homily, Fr. Jade Licuanan reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus naming the Twelve Apostles. He explained that their names were intentionally mentioned to show that Jesus values the individuality of each person He calls. Just as the disciples had different personalities and journeys, Christians are called to respect their own pace and the uniqueness of others.
He also reminded the congregation that differences, change, and uncertainty are part of life’s camino. While these can make the mission challenging, they also help people grow stronger, wiser, and more faithful. As pilgrims of faith, we are invited to trust that every uphill climb and unexpected turn is part of God’s way of leading us closer to Him.
Throughout the evening, we reflected on Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the Eucharist, we encountered Him sacramentally and were nourished for the journey ahead. United in prayer and thanksgiving, we were reminded that while every pilgrim’s path may be different, all are called to walk together toward the Father through Christ.
As the final blessing was imparted, the message became even clearer: our ultimate destination is not success, comfort, or recognition—it is God Himself. Like pilgrims traveling toward a sacred destination, we are all journeying toward the Father, guided by Jesus, who is both the Way and the destination.
I left LIVELOUD 2026 with renewed faith and a deeper understanding of God’s love. More importantly, I left with the comforting realization that I do not have to find God on my own. He has been searching for me all along.
As I continue my own camino, I carry with me the night’s simple yet powerful reminder: wherever I may be on the journey, Christ walks with me, leads me, and lovingly calls me home, may we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Buen Camino!
