The SPIRIT FORCE (Seminarians, Priests and Religious’ Task Force) held its preliminary meeting and consultations yesterday, April 23, 1998 at the Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola School of Theology’s Jaime Cardinal Sin Center. The meeting was presided over by Fr. Joel Taborra, SJ chair of the Chapel Net (Christian Action for Peaceful and Meaningful Elections) and Bro. Kim Lachica, SJ over-all Coordinator of the Spirit Force. The meeting was attended by a total of forty-six participants coming from different seminaries and religious groups around Metro Manila.

Seminarians who participated in the gathering came from San Carlos Major Seminary, San Jose Major Seminary and St. Camillus Seminary while nuns were from the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), Carmelite Missionary, Holy Spirit Sisters, Carmelite of Charity, Handmaids of the Sacred Heart, and Sisters of Charles Borromeo. Two scholastics and a priest also attended the said assembly.

Things that were discussed in the meeting were the purpose and need of the Spirit Force as a revival of the Namfrel MARINES (Madre, Pari, Seminarista) organized and mobilized during the 1986 Snap Elections. Identification of Metro Manila election hot spots, the Task Force’s organizational structure, recruitment and application were also discussed.

A simple refreshment was offered after a series of talks and explanation given by the organizers after which groupings were formed according to different identified hot spots municipalities and cities. The groupings were facilitated by seminarians from San Carlos, San Jose and the Society of Jesus to elaborate further on the role of the seminarians, priests and nuns in the Task Force.

The program was capped off by a film showing on the Philippine electoral process and history entitled "Eleksiyong Pinoy" which was produced by the Jesuit Communications Foundation, hosted by Danny "Pidro" Javier and written by known poet Pete Lacaba.

The participants were then asked to fill up application forms with pertinent information and their preferred dates for training. Participants enthusiastically responded to the application process by signifying their intention to join, undergo training and recruit more volunteers.