Sangkay, Sangga, and Akay (Someone Who Walks, Stays, and Stands by You)

Homily of H.E., Rufino “Jun” C. Sescon, Jr., D.D., Bishop of Balanga

Day 3 Mass, Philippine Conference on New Evangelization – for Youth

July 26, 2026 | PCNE 2026: Sangkay Day 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1sDNjPUcc

Your Eminence, Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, the “father” of PCNE,

Bishop Gerardo A. Alminaza,

Father Jason H. Laguerta,

and my dear brother priests, reverend deacons, reverend sisters, brothers and sisters in the Lord:

Good morning to everyone!

Introduction

Nagpa-dalawang kape po ako kanina. Hindi ko alam kung iyon ang dahilan kaya ako kinakabahan o dahil nandito si Cardinal Chito. Pero, gayunpaman [tayo] ay nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon na tinipon Niya tayo sa araw na ito. Yes, this is a PCNE Youth but this Sunday, we also recognize and give honor to our grandparents. Tamang-tama po, nandito rin sa atin si Nanay Mila, ang mother po ni Cardinal Chito. Kaya Happy Grandparents’ Sunday din po Nanay Mila, at sa lahat ng (kung may aamin na) mga lolo at lola. Meron po bang lolo at lola na nandito ngayon? Ano’ng ginagawa n’yo rito? PCNE Youth po ito. Welcome po.

Sabihin n’yo nga po sa katabi nyo, “Sangkay kita.” This PCNE12, we have been hearing that word “sangkay” which means “friend”. Since we are talking about friendships, friends and lovers, and since this is PCNE Youth, permit me to begin first, before proceeding to my reflection with some pick-up lines. Sa mga kabataan, alam n’yo na po ang isasagot n’yo, itatanong n’yo sa akin. Anong sasabihin n’yo? [People: Baket?] Okay.

Bp. Jun: Dictionary ka ba?

People: Bakit?

Bp. Jun: Kasi, you give meaning to my life.

Wait, there's more.

Bp. Jun: Koala ka ba?

People: Bakit?

Bp. Jun: Kasi, malungkot ako at hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko koala ka.

Bp. Jun: Para tayong see-saw.

People: Bakit?

Bp. Jun: Kasi, when you're not there, I'm down.

Last nalang po…

Bp. Jun: Wi-Fi ka ba.

People: Bakit?

Bp. Jun: Kasi, I see and feel a connection.

Bp. Jun: PCNE ka ba.

People: Bakit?

Bp. Jun: Kasi, inaabangan kita lagi at gusto kitang puntahan.

Amen? Palakpakan natin ang Panginoon.

Jesus, Our Sangkay

There is an old saying, “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are”; but today, I dare say, “Show me your friendships, and I will show you your mission.”

The Gospel today (Matthew 13:44-52) presents three images: the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl of great price, and the net that gathers all kinds of fish. At first glance, they speak about discovering the Kingdom, but they also reveal how God often brings us into His Kingdom. The Church is not merely an organization, but a community, a friendship of missionary disciples.

Evangelization begins not with programs, but with persons; not with structures, but with relationships; not with slogans or campaigns, but with friendships.

For the past two days, we have been hearing the word “sangkay”. You must have realized, it is more than a companion. A sangkay is someone who walks with you, stays with you, and stands by you. It beautifully captures what Jesus desires the Church to become: a community of friends in the Lord who journeys together towards God's kingdom. That is why this Sunday, this PCNE Youth, we pray for three graces.

Find Jesus, Become His Sangkay.

Find Jesus, become His sangkay. In the First Reading (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12), King Solomon, in his youth, simply asked for wisdom (understanding heart), to find and know what matters most in life. The man who found treasure sold everything with joy. The merchant who found the pearl gave up everything else because he found what truly mattered.

Christianity begins not with a doctrine, but with a friendship. Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants; I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Many people today, actually do not reject Jesus; they simply have not yet encountered Him through someone who genuinely cares.

Before the gospel is preached from the pulpit, it is often preached around the dining table, in the workplace, during coffee moments, or in ordinary conversations. Jesus did not begin with lectures and seminars. Before He sent the apostles, He first befriended them. He ate and walked with them, listened to them, corrected them, forgave them, and loved them. He became their sangkay. When Jesus becomes our sangkay, faith is no longer a burden but a relationship; prayer is no longer a duty but a loving conversation, the Church is not merely a place we attend, but a family to which we belong.

Every genuine evangelization begins with an encounter with Jesus. We cannot introduce a friend to others whom we ourselves barely know. Friendship is not a strategy; it is the first language of the gospel. Find Jesus, become His sangkay.

Fix Relationships, Become a Sangga

Secondly, fix relationships. Let every sangkay become a “sangga”. Friendship becomes communion when it becomes protection. Rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7), A true sangkay does not disappear when life becomes difficult. A true sangkay becomes a sangga, a shield.

How many people today are battered by loneliness, anxiety, family conflict, addiction, injustice, or hopelessness? Many people have thousands of online friends, but very few people who truly know them. We have many contacts, but little communion. We have followers, but very few fellow travelers. People do not need arguments. People need someone who will stand beside them. Jesus is exactly that for us.

He shields us from despair with hope.

He shields sinners with mercy.

He shields the weak with his strength.

He shields His flock by laying down His own life.

If Jesus is our sangkay and sangga, then we too are called to become a sangga for one another.

In our families, let us become each other's protection instead of each other's wounds.

In our friendships, let us defend one another's dignity rather than destroy it with gossip, or misinformation, or fake news.

In our parish communities, let us create spaces where no one feels abandoned, judged, or forgotten.

The synod repeatedly calls the Church to become a home where every person feels welcome, listened to, and accompanied. The Church is a sangga for a wounded world.

Find Jesus, become His sangkay;

Fix relationships, become a sangga;and lastly,

Form communities.

Form Communities, Become an Akay

Let every sangkay become an “akay” as well. If friendship becomes communion because of protection, Christian friendship finds its fulfillment in mission. The Gospel ends with a net gathering fish of every kind. Notice that the kingdom gathers a people, not isolated individuals; and that is the dream for a Synodal Church, walking together. So, that together we may bring others to Christ.

A mature sangkay eventually becomes an akay. “Akay” – someone who guides others gently by the hand. Not someone who drags, not someone who dominates, not someone who simply forces others (inaakay, hindi hinahatak, hindi pinipilit), but someone who lovingly accompanies.

Real friendship does not leave us where we are. It lovingly leads us toward God, where He wants us to become. A friend who only affirms every choice is merely a companion. Yung tango lang nang tango. Kahit mali ka na, kampi pa rin sa iyo, pinagtatanggol ka pa rin, pinagtatakpan ka pa rin. Alam n’yo yan. Usung-uso ngayon iyan. Dahil kaibigan, kakampi, kapartido, kakilala, kahit mali na kakampihan pa rin. That is not true Christian friendship.

A true friend is one who lovingly challenges us to holiness, to truth, to goodness.

A true friend is an instrument of grace.

The greatest gift we can give our friends is not merely our time, our advice, not even our generosity. (Kasi para sa atin, yung bestfriend lang natin ay ‘yong laging nanlilibre. ‘yong laging nagsasabing, “Sagot kita.”

A true friend, the real friend, the best friend, is the one who introduces us to Jesus. Because friendship without Christ may comfort the heart for a while, but friendship that leads to Christ transforms the heart forever.

Is this not what Jesus did? He accompanied the disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). He guided Peter even after his failure (John 21:15-19). He sought Thomas in his doubts (John 20:24-29). He restored Mary Magdalene in her grief (John 20:1-2, 11-18). He was always an akay.

Evangelization does not end when someone becomes our friend. Neither does it end when someone attends church. It reaches its fullness when friendships become communities of missionary disciples, leading others towards the holiness, healing, and hope of Jesus.

Befriend Jesus.

From being a friend, become His disciple.

From being a disciple, become His missionary.

Filipinos, Bearers of Good News

There is a story about a new barber in town. Since he just opened the barber shop, he had a promo, and the first customer that came in was a Chinese. He had his haircut, and when the Chinese was about to pay, the barber said, “No, it's free. Libre. Promo, opening week namin ngayon.” The Chinese guy was so happy. He said, “Xièxiè,” (thank you), and he left. The following morning, when the barber went to the shop to open, he noticed a plastic bag hanging by the door, and when he opened it, there was a siopao. Galing dun sa Chinese la naging customer nya.

That day, an American came, and he had his haircut. When the American was about to pay, the barber said, “Promo week, free.” The American was so surprised. He said, “Really?” “Yes, free,” says the barber; and the American said, “Thank you, thank you. You're such a good guy.” The following morning, when the barber was about to open his shop, he noticed by the door a plastic bag hanging, and when he opened it, there was a hamburger, and he presumed it came from the American customer he had.

Later in the day, another customer came. Syempre, doon na tayo sa bida. Sino ang susunod na customer? Pinoy. Nagpagupit ‘yung Pinoy at nung magbabayad na s’ya, sabi ng barber, “Libre, kabayan. Libre. Promo week.” The Filipino was so happy and said, “Talaga? Libre?”, “Yes,” says the barber. Sumagot ‘yung Pinoy, “Salamat. Salamat, kabayan,” and he was so happy when he left. The following morning, when the barber went to his shop to open the shop, he noticed by the door a dozen of Filipinos lining up, waiting for the barber shop to open. Yan ang Pinoy! Ikinakalat agad ang mabuting balita.

That is the true friend of Jesus. Saint Pope Paul VI says that “the test of truth, the touchstone of evangelization is when the evangelize goes on to evangelize others” (Evangelii Nuntiandi #24). When the friends of Jesus enable others to also become friends of Jesus.

Exclusive friendship is not Christian friendship.

Hindi ba minsan ganoon tayo? “Friendship tayo ha? Tayo lang ah. Hindi sila kasama. Huwag na tayo mag-sama ng iba.” That is not Christian friendship. True Christian friendship always grows outward. It asks, “Who else can we bring?” “Who else is waiting to discover the treasure?”

Perhaps today Jesus is asking you and me, “Who among our friends is still searching for the treasure?” “Who else needs a sangkay, a sangga, an an akay?” Perhaps you need not immediately look outwards. Perhaps you need to look in the mirror first. Bago ka maghanap ng iba para kay Christo, hanapin mo muna si Cristo sa buhay mo.

The hidden treasure is Jesus, our best sangkay.

The pearl of great price is Jesus, our strongest sangga.

The net is the Church that gathers people to Jesus, our faithful akay.

Let us ask Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag, “Apo Baket”, ang “Inang Tumatawag”, the Mother Who Calls”, to call us always to Jesus, who has called us His friends.

When PCNE 12 is over, when you return to your schools, parishes, and dioceses, return as friends of Jesus, and because you are His friends, become friends for others; and more so, make others friends of Jesus.

Let every friendship become a path to communion,

Let every communion become a cradle of discipleship, and

Let every disciple become a missionary.

Gathering more hearts into the joyful friendship of Jesus Christ, our greatest Sangkay, Sangga, and Akay. Amen.

Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo

Cover photo form TV Maria Facebook page