SDSN Youth Philippines Joins the Filipino Youth Summit 2025

In July, the Filipino Youth Summit 2025 with the theme “Ugnayan: Kabataan para sa Kamalayan at Boses ng Kinabukasan” took place at the De La Salle University (DLSU). Organized by the DLSU USG-Office of the Vice President for External Affairs (OVPEA), the summit gathered youth leaders from across the country for a 4-day conference highlighting the vital role of the youth in shaping a better future.

Rafaella Villena, Network Coordinator of SDSN Youth Philippines, joined the summit with fellow youth delegates from different regions of the country, each representing their respective academic institutions and youth organizations. The event opened with a plenary session at Hotel Benilde, featuring messages from Mr. James Laxa, Director of the Office of Student Leadership Involvement, Formation, and Empowerment, and Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, President of De La Salle University. The opening ceremonies also celebrated youth culture through performances from OPM artists Armi Millare and The Itchyworms.

The summit’s masterclasses were held at DLSU’s Pardo Hall, where delegates engaged in sessions tackling urgent social issues. Grace Padaca, an advocate for good governance, and Teddy Baguilat, a champion of indigenous rights, led the masterclass on civic empowerment and human rights. This was followed by a session on environmental stewardship led by Ronnel Arambulo and Alexandra Bacani, who discussed climate justice and the urgent need to build a greener future. The program also featured a masterclass on digital and media literacy, where journalist Pia Hontiveros-Pagkalinawan highlighted the importance of being critical thinkers in today’s digital age.

Beyond the speaker sessions, delegates took part in collaborative workshops where they synthesized their learnings into practical outputs. These activities showcased youth-led solutions on topics such as inclusive governance, indigenous rights, and community-driven sustainability.

The Filipino Youth Summit 2025 is one of the many initiatives from DLSU that underscore the importance of amplifying the voices of young people, and providing meaningful opportunities and platforms for the youth to actively drive progress towards social change.