Press Conference for National Youth Day (NYD 2025)

(Transcription by Myrna Bermudo 2 June 2025)

Thank you very much po dear fathers, Sir Allen Reondanga, Sir Rene Gumba, PLt Col Chester Pomar of PNP Naga,representatives from LGU Naga and of course Hon. Mayor Nelson Legacion, PNP, our media partners, youth delegates, delegation heads, friends, NYD Caceres, to those of you who are attending this press conference thank you for being here today.

Thank you for attending this press conference.

The first word is “Thank You!” to all of you who are participating. To all of you who are interested. To all of you who are helping particularly the different agencies, civic and government agencies who are helping us in the preparation. And of course the host families, the parishes, the parish priests, the youth leaders who are working for the National Youth Day, Thank You !

To you, the delegates who are coming, Thank You.

We are happy to welcome you to Naga!

As mentioned earlier, from 2019, this is the first national meeting of young people as far as the Episcopal Commission on Youth is concerned. So, we are very happy to resume and providentially here in Naga, in Caceres.

At kasabay ng Jubilee Year 2025 na Pilgrimage of Hope. At tamang tama, while are celebrating the Pilgrimage of Hope, papunta naman dito ang mga kabataan dito sa Pilgrim City of Naga, this Pilgrim Province of Camarines Sur and of course the Bicol Region.

At yong pagpunta dito ay opportunity for all us, as hosts, to share our place, our culture, and to share our devotion. At yon namang pupunta dito, our visitors, opportunity for them to share their experiences, their joy, their excitement, their dreams and aspirations. Tamang tama ang theme natin ay Rejoice in Hope, Endure in Affliction and Persevere in Prayer.

It is also in line with the Jubilee Year the spirit that we want to sustain in us is the spirit of hope. And this is also an opportunity for the youth - we always say that the youth is not only the future but the youth is the now. I'm sure all you, all who are here, and specially those who are leaders, you have been sustaining your desire to serve others sapagkat yan po ay napukaw noong ikaw ay kabataan pa. At hanggang ngayon ay nagpapatuloy pa.

At yan ang gusto nating ibigay na opportunity sa mga young people na darating dito-

una, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang karanasan ng pagpunta dito, ng paglalakbay, ng pakikilahok sa kapwa kabataan, ay lalo pang umigting ang pag-asa, ang pagnanais na maglingkod and to make a difference in the life of others .

At dahil ito ay pagtitipon ng marami, ibang diyosesis, arkidiocesis, at mga bayan, ito ay nagpapa- alala sa atin ng kahalagahan ng pagiging community, ng sambayanan. At sa panahon natin ngayon sinasabi natin na ang pag-unlad ay hindi na lamang nangyayari dahil sa galing at sigasig ng isang tao kundi dahil, there is a community that is working together, a community who helps one another and ready to support one another. At ito ang nakikita natin, hindi lamang sa pagtutulungan ng simbahan at ng gobierno, ng PNP, ng health services at iba pa. Ito ay nakikita nating tuwing tayo ay may pagdiriwang.

And, in our times, we continue to emphasize the need for collaboration, networking, synergy, interdependence , linkages. Ito po ay napakahalaga.

At para sa kabataan ang isang benefit ng pagpunta dito ay nahuhubog sa atin ang cross cultural competency. Yong natututo tayo makilahok, makipagtalastasan, makipag- usap, makibagay sa kapwa-kabataan na hindi tagarito sa atin. Kabataan na taga- ibang lugar, kabataan na may ibang pananaw pero katulad natin, Pilipino din naman. At ito ay nagbubuklod sa atin towards nation building but also enriching our church community building. And for us, this is also a very good time to share what we have.

Alam ninyo, marami nagsasabi sa akin na, Bishop, pupunta po kami sa inyo! We are excited po, pupunta kami sa Naga for the National Youth Day!

I am amazed at the excitement of people who are coming and I am equally amazed for some generous few people who have come and readily offered help.

Ako, I am very sure that whatever good that we continue to do are like seeds that we sow and will continue to grow.

So, ito po ay pagbabahagi ng ating lugar at ng ating resources, at ng panahon din.

I am very sure that whatever good we do are like seeds that we sow and someday will grow.

At yan ang karanasan natin bilang mga kabataan.

It is very good for us here in Naga to, here in Camarines Sur, here in Bicol, to provide these experiences for many of our young people.

Kung babalikan natin ang ating mga karanasan "Oo nga, sumama ako sa isang camp, sa isang Youth Day, sa isang Youth Camp, sumama ako sa isang National Youth Day! At iyan ay hindi ko makakalimutan kasi iyon ay mahalaga sa akin."

Kaya po, welcome!

We are happy to welcome the delegates! We are happy to welcome the youth ministers and those who are coming here! We welcome the support. And we are very grateful to the stakeholders and to the assistance of those who are providing help.

Ang focus, ay mga virtues. Palakasin ang ating virtues. Pakakasin ang ating "loob"

We hope and we pray that these events will truly be enriching both personally, communally both as church and as a nation.

Kaya, once again, ipinapaabot ko ang pasasalamat, in the name of the Episcopal Commission on Youth, sa lahat na nag- aambag ng tulong - from the LGU, PNP, civic organizations, media partners, you are very important. Thank you for helping us disseminate this very important event. This will also showcase our place and our culture and devotion.

Thank you for the foster families, parokya, the youth of Caceres, team headed by Fr. Dan Vegas, NYD Caceres, the Episcopal Commission on Youth, with Fr. Jude Licuanan, thank you for organizing this press conference.

Again, our sincere gratitude. And we pray that this will truly be an enriching experience for all of us-isang pagtatagpo na magbibigay sa ating lahat ng panibagong pag-asa since this year is a Jubilee of Hope, we all can work together, to rise up again and do wonderful things for each one, especially for those in need, for fellow young people and for everyone.

Thank you very much po.