OOOOH. This news just made me even more excited:

Seymour Centre: Theatre “Altar Boyz!”

To celebrate WYD08 The Seymour Centre is offering registered pilgrims amazing discounts off ticket prices to see the smash hit musical comedy “Altar Boyz!” - a hilarious musical comedy about a struggling Catholic boy band looking for their big break.

Pilgrim promotion available 11 June - 2 August 2008.

To redeem this special offer simply quote promotional code ‘Pilgrim’ when booking your tickets.
Contact the box office on +61 2 9351 7940 or book online .
For more information www.altarboyz.com.au .

Tickets on sale now. Discounts are as follows: Friday & Saturday: $47.00 (Normal Rate: $60.00); Tuesday & Thursday: $45.00 (Normal Rate: $55.00); Saturday & Sunday Matinee: $42.00 (Normal Rate: $48.00); Sunday: $42.00 (Normal Rate: $48.00).

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I admit to being an Altar Boyz fan. Especially when I watched the Philippine production (twice!). And although this one isn’t going to have the same cast (hello Altar Boyz of the Philippines), I want to watch this if only for the sheer love of the story and the songs.

Ack. I need to find a flight to Sydney!!!

Yesterday, my friend Marvs and I submitted our AU Visa requirements our group head. It was kind of hectic, and we were wondering if the documents we submitted were enough. I hope it is enough, and I hope we get our passports back in time.

That’s one down, and waiting!

Next. Other than the registration fee (waiting for our group leader to send us the bank details so we can pay for the reg fee already), is the flight.

Ack. It’s so hard too look for cheap flights now! We should’ve gotten that $750 flights back last month, but we weren’t sure and we don’t have the money yet! Not that we have them now either, it’s just that all the flights we’re seeing now are all so expensive (1000 USD++!!!) that the money we have now would definitely not be enough.

Ohwell, there’s always credit cards. But then again…I’m gonna be in debt when I return. :(  And I have yet to buy winter clothes for Sydney!

Argh. Right now we’re still searching for a flight to book. We saw Cebu Pacific’s Php 0.00 fare, and we’re planning to get a flight from Manila to Singapore (or HongKong or KL or wherever else we can get a connecting flight) and then we’re looking for another flight from anywhere to Sydney. If we go that way it’s going to be a bit complicated, plus we have to make sure the flights have considerable gaps in between so we won’t be rushing from one flight to another.

BUT STILL. It’s so expensive.

Then again, it’s already mid-May and this is in July. Argh.

Maybe we should get that PAL fare that one of my travel agents sent me. 

Lord, I believe You’d provide us with the flight. Please help us in searching, help us not to give up, help us to find the best way. 

Any other ideas, friends? Help us find a way to fly to Sydney, please?

The schedule for the World Youth Day 2008 celebration in Sydney has been posted! Check it out:

Tuesday, July 15
4:30 - 6:30 pm - Opening Mass with Cardinal Pell @ Barangaroo
2:00 - 10:00 pm - Youth Festival (except during Opening Mass) @ Sydney CBD locations

Wednesday, July 16
9:00 am - 12:00 nn / 10:00am - 1:00pm - Catechesis Sessions @ 250+ locations in Sydney
2:00pm - 10:00 pm - Youth Festival (various events) @ Sydney CBD locations

Thursday, July 17
9:00 am - 12:00 nn / 10:00am - 1:00pm - Catechesis Sessions @ 250+ locations in Sydney
2:45 pm - Papal arrival via Boat-a-cade commences @ Sydney Harbour and Barangaroo
2:00pm - 10:00 pm - Youth Festival (except during Papal events) @ Sydney CBD locations

Friday, July 18
9:00 am - 12:00 nn / 10:00am - 1:00pm - Catechesis Sessions @ 250+ locations in Sydney
3:00 - 6:00 pm - Stations of the Cross @ St. Mary’s Cathedral, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Forecourt, Domain
2:00pm - 10:00 pm - Youth Festival (except during Stations of the Cross) @ Sydney CBD locations

Saturday, July 19
5:30 am - Pilgrimage Walk @ Sydney Harbour Bridge through city to Southern Cross Precinct
7:00 - 9:00pm - Evening Vigil with the Pope @ Southern Cross Precinct

Sunday, July 20
9:00 am - Papal motorcade commencing in Centennial Park
10:00 am - Final mass with the Pope
12:15 pm - Announcement of the next host city
12:30 - 5:00pm - Youth Festival (various events)

[source]

I heard from one of my favorite Catholic websites, LifeTeen, that they’ll be hosting an event during WYD08. I’m assuming it’s during one of the Youth Festivals, and I’m right. Posted in their website (on the side bar):

~ Life Teen is hosting an event at World Youth Day in Sydney. These are the details we have so far…Thursday, July 17, 2008 from 7 to 10 PM at the Entertainment Centre. You should expect to see Life Teen’s Lisa Epperson, Randy Raus, and the Matt Maher Band. We’ll post new information when we have it.

Ahhh I’m so excited! But to be honest, there are still two things I need to have before I can truly say that I am going, and they’re the two most crucial things: Australian Visa and airfare. I’m praying and claiming that I’ll be able to get them quite soon (goodbye savings after I get the airfare), and I have a positive feeling that I’ll get them soon. I just need to keep believing.

Prayers will be appreciated, as always!

I know I haven’t been updating as much, and I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with job related stuff that I keep on forgetting that I owe this blog A LOT of updates.

So my last post, almost a month ago, was about me registering as a pilgrim for WYD 2008 — FINALLY. After long long wait and doubts, I finally got off my lazy bum and registered. It felt exciting and all, but after a few days, the excitement wore off and I suddenly wondered if I should still push through. I suddenly realized I had so much stuff to do — fix my visa, fix my airfare, buy winter clothes and save, save, save! I suddenly had doubts if I could pull it off financially. Do I have enough money? Can I pay for everything? I know my parents are there and all, and I could ask them for some help, but I’m already working; I want to finance this on my own, as much as possible.

And if I do manage to get enough finances…how about when I return? I’d be losing almost a year of my savings…can’t I just continue saving and go to Australia (or other places) another time?

But…this is World Youth Day. This is a chance of a lifetime. The next WYD might be too far and even more expensive for me to go.

See, I’m talking to myself.

But anyway, I know my savings might be gone after this trip, and it’s only for a week. And when I get back, salary’s like three weeks to go. How the heck will I survive, especially with my bills?

That’s worse case scenario of course.  I know I won’t blow off all my money, and probably for airfare I can use my trusty Lizzie the credit card to save me some of the immediate cash out when I buy the ticket. Plus I’ll be saving more because I know my accommodation and food are paid for with my registration. But I still can’t help but think if I want to postpone this for another time.

BUT THEN…what I’m talking about is just money. I know it’s important, but I know I can never replace the experience I’ll be getting from this entire thing. Cliche as it may sound, this is a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve been praying to go to Australia for two years now; why stop now when it’s practically within reach? Right? And this is like, the biggest Catholic youth event ever, and other people are dying to go. The experience is definitely going to make a HUGE dent on my finances…but I’m pretty sure the ENTIRE experience is worth it. Right? I can earn the money back after, but I can never replace all the learnings that I will be getting from this entire…adventure. Yes, this is an adventure.

Soooo…go lang! Let’s see where this brings me. I pray that God provide me the grace (and finances :D) to go through with this trip. Please pray with me?

This is cool. Talk about B16 going techie.

In a World Youth Day first, Pope Benedict XVI will send text messages of hope and inspiration directly to pilgrims, reaching young people in their social space.

The service will be made possible by Telstra, announced today as the official telecommunications partner of World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08).

“We wanted to make WYD08 a unique experience by using new ways to connect with today’s tech-savvy youth,” said WYD08 Coordinator, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP.

“Our partnership with Telstra will help us do that.”

Telstra will provide voice, data, mobile, broadband and broadcast services to WYD08, connecting 8000 volunteers, 2000 clergy, 3000 media and an anticipated 225,000 pilgrims to more than 700 locations around the greater Sydney area.

“Telstra’s involvement will ensure that WYD08 will be the most innovative World Youth Day to date,” Bishop Fisher said.

One-of-a-kind Telstra services planned for WYD08 include:

· Daily inspirational text messages from Pope Benedict XVI

· Digital Prayer Walls at event sites

· Hosting the official WYD08 online social networking site, XT3.com

· Telstra precincts - on the ground interactive centre?s including wireless internet, green screen studios, commemorative WYD08 photo messaging and music downloads.

· Next G (TM) Regional Catechesis webcasting

Mr Michael Rocca, Telstra Group Managing Director Telstra Networks and Services, said Telstra was the only provider in Australia with the proven size, scale and innovation to deliver these services to WYD08.

“Just as we did for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Telstra will bring participants closer to the event through new media and telecommunications services, allowing youth to interact with WYD08 events,” he said.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this major global event and we are happy to be providing world class telecommunications to WYD08 participants and organisers,” he said.

I. Can’t. Wait.