By FFWPU Philippine
The National Blessed Children Committee (NBCC) spearheaded the 7-Day Divine Principle Workshop with the theme, “Finding the Divine Principle in Me,” last October 29 to November 4, 2022 (Saturday-Friday) for blessed children ages sixteen (16) and above. It was conducted through a hybrid setup where the participants simultaneously attended the workshop in their regional centers while listening to and participating in the lectures via Zoom. This workshop aims to educate blessed children on Divine Principle as inheritors of True Love, True Life, and True Lineage; to guide blessed children to deeply understand the heart of Heavenly Parent and True Parents; and to create an environment for blessed children to form and improve relationships with other blessed children in their local districts. A total of seventy-six (76) participants from different regions participated in the workshop.
The lectures were comprised of Part One and Part Two of the Divine Principle, True Parents’ Life Course, and Life of Faith. There were four (4) lectures given each day with a total of twenty-eight (28) lectures throughout the workshop. Part One of the Divine Principle consists of the Principle of Creation, the Human Fall, Eschatology, the Messiah, Resurrection, Predestination, and Christology which was lectured by Mr. Herwin Calinawan, the Assistant Director of the National Education and Nurturing Department HPHC-FFWPU Philippines. Part Two lectures, which consists of Introduction to Restoration, Adam, Noah, and Abraham’s Family, Moses and Jesus’ Course, Parallel Providential Periods, and Preparation for the Second Advent was lectured by Rev. Ariel Realin, the Director of the National Education and Nurturing Department HPHC-FFWPU Philippines. And Dr. Julius Malicdem, the Regional Vice President of HPHC-FFWPU Asia Pacific 2, gave the lectures on the Second Advent, True Parents’ Life Course, and Life of Faith.
One of the highlights of the DP workshop is the Question and Answer session. The participants enjoyed listening to the questions being asked and learned additional knowledge about the discussed topics from the lecturer’s answers. This encouraged the blessed children to study the Divine Principle and True Parents’ speeches even more which will greatly help them in witnessing to their friends, classmates, relatives, and their family members. Furthermore, team discussions and reflection writing was also facilitated to express their thoughts, understandings, questions, and realizations that they received from the lecture sessions. The participants closed each day with a 3-minute unison prayer where they sincerely reported and connected with Heavenly Parent and True Parents.
The workshop culminated with a graduation ceremony. Regional and national leaders graced the ceremony with their congratulatory messages and guidance. Reflections were also rendered by representative participants who expressed their deep gratitude to Heavenly Parent and True Parents and shared their conviction to apply the Divine Principle in their daily lives. Furthermore, they emphasized that by studying the Divine Principle, they were able to reflect more on the value of their identity as blessed children.
The Divine Principle is the new truth that True Parents brought into the light to save all mankind and to return them back to Heavenly Parent’s sovereignty. Through the lectures, the blessed children were reminded of the value of their love, life, and lineage. The hybrid setup provided a conducive atmosphere for the blessed children to learn more about the Divine Principle and develop their relationship with the Heavenly Parent and True Parents, as well as their fellow Blessed Children in their region.
Reflection
Neil N. Tagyab, Region IV-B (22 years old)
“My reflection for these 7 days is not that much, I hope to learn more about God’s providence and His purposes of creation. The lecture actually helped me rediscover myself and my worth in True Parents’ dispensation to restore fallen men back to their original purpose. At first, I was hesitant to join, surely if my mother was the one who told me to join I probably wouldn’t so it wasn’t my mother who told me about the seminar, she only found out about it after a week or so… She was happy ? My mother was happy, finally her so stubborn and egoistic son is going to learn and participate in the 7 days DP seminar.
I was not a son of faith actually. I was close, really close to a devout atheist (Nonbeliever). But then again I’m grateful and thankful. I finally found out that there are extents and limitations to God’s influence, more precisely “boundaries.” This explains why there is freedom for men, and why God is indeed a being of love and principle. Similarly, being created as human beings, we are also a being of love and principle, before the fall, but because of the fall, humanity has become a being of unprincipled love.
Men have fallen but the original purpose is still there within us, but if God intervenes, then he’d be changing the original purpose of His creation, destroying his natural characteristics, and proclaiming Satan’s triumph and dominion. Many central figures chosen by God have risked their lives to bring about the coming of the Messiah, now when the Messiah comes during his mission, it was really a dark day. My mother is one of those many pioneers who risk their lives in following the will of the Heavenly Parent and True Parent. I’m a fruit of all those hardships and love. This is my identity as a 2nd generation blessed children of Heavenly Parents.”
Queen Shine P. Demasis, Region IV-B (17 years old)
“On the first day of lectures, the questions surrounding human existence and the nature of the universe were clarified to me. After learning that there are connections between God and people in both science and religion, I became fascinated by how the Divine Principle can also explain these topics. It also stated that while we are all ignorant, we also seek the truth because this is human nature. However, there are times when our ignorance causes us to fall because we choose to act even though we know it is wrong. In response to the question of “why did God not intervene to stop the fall of man,” I discovered that if God had done so, He would not have maintained the absoluteness and perfection of the Principle.
In the same way, my parents are not overly strict with us, they give us freedom, but it is up to us to decide whether or not that freedom will lead to positive or harmful behaviors. I was deeply moved by the sacrifices made by True Parents in order to build and carry out God’s will. Although they endured many hardships and acts of persecution, they never gave up and continue to stand and speak for God until today. At this point, I am grateful to my parents because they met the church. Just as True Parents, they made multiple sacrifices.
I am aware that my parents have made so many sacrifices as well, and without them, I would not be born as a second generation. In addition, I’m very grateful to Ate Yuki Carias for inviting me to this workshop and for giving me the chance to attend. So that sooner or later I’ll be the one to lecture and share the Divine Principle in front of people. I hope to continue participating in more workshops and learn more about life and the Divine Principle. Thank you so much.”
