WHAT: Youth groups and leaders from the CALABARZON region hold a two-day Local Youth Assembly titled “Kabataan Kabalikat ng Kinabukasan: CALABARZON Local Youth Assembly”  – organized the youth for a more consolidated and collective action towards meaningful democratic governance participation.

The CALABARZON Local Youth Assembly is an initiative of the Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) project of The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), presented by Active Vista Center.

The CALABARZON Local Youth Assembly is co-presented by DAKILA – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, We The Future PH, Association of Langkiwa Youth Leaders, Edge TV, Linang Quezon, Rotary Club of Filipino Young Leaders, Rotary Club of Lucena Circle, Sinag Quezon, Inc., Sangguniang Kabataan – Ibabang Nangka, The POST, and Youth Parliamentarians of Laguna, in cooperation with DLSMHSI College of Rehabilitation Sciences Student Council, Kilos Lagunense, Millennial Youth Organization, Mission Isla, brought together by Benevolent and Responsive Alliance of Valiant Eagle Scouts – Laguna BRAVO, Every Nation Campus – Imus, JCI Imus Haligue, Kilos Ko Youth – Cavite Chapter, Rotaract Club Alpha San Jose, and Rotary Club of Trece Martires.

WHO: Video Message of Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo; Talks by Danica Castillo of Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project, John Verlin Santos of Titik Poetry, Hannah Pauline Pabilonia of Tadhana Collective, and Chesca Persia of Zero Hunger PH.

WHEN: Held last Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, 2021 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WHERE: Zoom

Last August 7 and 8, 2021, youth groups and leaders from the CALABARZON region  hold a two-day Local Youth Assembly (LYA) titled “Kabataan Kabalikat ng Kinabukasan: CALABARZON Local Youth Assembly” to organize the youth for a more consolidated and collective action towards meaningful democratic governance participation. CALABARZON Local Youth Assembly is an initiative of the Youth Leadership for Democracy (YouthLed) project of The Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), presented by Active Vista Center.

The CALABARZON LYA opened with a keynote speech by the Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo, followed by a reflection and grounding activity where the participants were asked what their unique power as a Filipino is. Then, a talkback session about building a better bayan in the new normal took place. Speakers for this session are Danica Castillo of Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project, John Verlin Santos of Titik Poetry, Hannah Pauline Pabilonia of Tadhana Collective, and Chesca Persia of Zero Hunger PH. Afterward, the participants was grouped according to their areas and participated in a three-activity workshop. They were asked to reimagine the future of the Philippines by identifying key issues in their communities and crafting local action plans and agendas, which they pitched to the plenary the next day.

Day one was closed with a synthesis.

For the second day of the CALABARZON LYA, the program opened with a presentation of the Youth Agenda issues identified on day one and a quick presentation of their YouthLed journey.

This was followed by a presentation of each group’s local agenda to the plenary and a selection of the top 5 agenda for the CALABARZON Region. Then, a “lightning lab” where the participants ideate and develop strategies and action plans for the selected agendas that took place. The Steering Committee was also formed. Secretariat Team Lead Shanelle Rivera cap off the day with her closing remarks, followed by a youth solidarity action led by the CALABARZON LYA Secretariat Team.