Student leaders, accompanied by student organization advisers and student affairs officers, from all over the Philippines gather at Saint Louis University in Baguio City for ACUP’s first youth gathering. With them are ACUP and SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD (seated, center, wearing dark coat), SLU administrators, and the ACUP Secretariat led by the ACUP Secretary-General Ms. Michaella Lagniton.
The Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines, Inc. (ACUP) concluded its first Youth Seminar-Workshop and gathered over a hundred student leaders, student affairs officers, and organization advisers from all over the Philippines. It was held on July 23 and 24, 2024, at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall of Saint Louis University (SLU), Baguio.
The ACUP Youth Seminar-Workshop explored ways in which the youth can be involved in synodal efforts in their schools and communities; emphasized the unique roles of the youth in promoting innovative ideas in line with synodality and methods of new evangelization; and empowered the youth to take action in matters of the environment, social transformation, and technology in line with the teachings of the Church.
“Synodality” means journeying together as the People of God. More practically, it means listening to individuals within the community, engaging in dialogue, and discerning the way forward for an inclusive, understanding, and missionary Church. It equips communities to live together in communion, achieve greater participation, and move forward more intentionally toward the mission. By listening to and sharing perspectives from the youth, young people are not just made welcome to accompany the Church in its common journey, but their relationship with Christ is also strengthened.
The two-day gathering had for its keynote speakers the Angat Buhay Chairperson Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo and the Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelization (OPNE) Director Rev. Fr. Jason H. Laguerta, Ph.D., while Mr. John Rhey Espinoza and Radio Veritas 846 anchor Ms. Hazel Lorraine Icalia from the OPNE served as the Masters of Ceremonies.
The first day began with a Eucharistic Celebration led by the Administrator of the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral Rev. Fr. Roland Buyagan, who emphasized “Our mission as a disciple of Christ is to love. Let what you do for the people you do around you be an act of love. That is the art of a true shepherd.”
“This conference is both an opportunity and a challenge. It is a chance to deepen our understanding of synodality. It is also a call to action, urging us to work collectively toward social transformation. Your participation here is a testament to your commitment to these principles and we look forward to the innovative ideas and collaborative ideas that will emerge from our discussions. May this conference inspire you, challenge you, and empower you to be catalysts for positive change in our world,” said ACUP and Saint Louis University President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, in his welcome remarks.
ACUP and Saint Louis University President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, delivers the welcome remarks.
Fr. Laguerta’s keynote discussion on the morning of Day 1 centered on “The Youth’s Role in Synodality and New Evangelization”. His longestablished active involvement in the synodal efforts of the Church––including engaging with thousands of faithful at the annual Philippine Conference for New Evangelization, which he serves as the Director––prompted valuable insights to be shared with the participants.
He interpreted the theme “Tayo-Tayo” in three ways: Tayô Táyo (Let us stand), Tayo-tayo (we, together), and Tayô! Tayô! (Stand! Tumindig!) in calls to action to stand up for your beliefs and principles and to become and share good news to your community.
“Never stop questioning things, not with disrespect, but because that is what is needed for us to grow as a Church. We cannot just be quiet bystanders. Do not let life pass you by,” Fr. Laguerta encouraged the participants.
He further explained, “The Lord calls you. Be a seeker. Be a dreamer. Be a warrior. Be a messmaker. All these things can happen if we know who we are, if we know ‘whose’ we are––and we belong
to the Lord… Seek God! Seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else shall be given to you. Dream of God’s purpose and plans for you. Be a warrior like David, unafraid to take on Goliath, and be a “mess-maker” like Jesus, who was not afraid of the scribes and Pharisees. Be like Jesus, who stood up to the establishment. He made a mess in the temple and he said ‘Do not make the house of my Father into a marketplace!’ Who could do that? Only someone who has God in His Heart, only someone who is clear about His mission in life.”
Fr. Laguerta called Jesus ‘the change that changes everything’ and urged participants to open their hearts to encounter Christ, saying “Evangelization is to be so transformed by the love of God so that you are clear about who you are. Be what God has meant you to be, and you can transform the world. We have to go back to that fundamental relationship with God, that basic experience of God’s love in our heart. You are loved! You are loved more than you’ll ever know. This is more than enough for us to be a seeker, a dreamer, a warrior, and a mess-maker. Young people, I challenge you: Be the change you want to see in the world. You can be that change if you have allowed God to change you.”
“Young people, I challenge you: Be the change you want to see in the world. You can be that change if you have allowed God to change you.”
Rev. Fr. Jason H. Laguerta Director Office for the Promotion of the New Evangelization Archdiocese of Manila
To facilitate active dialogue among the youth and the Church, Fr. Laguerta’s talk had a panel of student reactors from Catholic schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including San Beda University (Manila) Student Council President Ms. Mari Ernestine Okol, University of St. La Salle (Bacolod) Student Senate President Mr. Yuval Adera, and Notre Dame of Marbel University (Koronadal) Student Government President Mr. John Ryan Huqueriza. They shared insights and comments on Fr. Laguerta’s keynote address.
Adera shared his experience in student government, emphasizing the need to do away with exclusive groups (tayo-tayo lang) that marginalize some students and move toward a more inclusive educational community that can learn from each other. Student leaders may come and go, shared Adera, but legislating and enforcing synodal systems where everyone can share their voice, would lead to more long-term and impactful change.
Okol pointed out that the act of leading is not tied to a position, but rather the character and purpose of one who carries the weight of leading a community to be better and shared that those who would like to be leaders have the responsibility to influence their own selves to become better for others.
Huqueriza, a social work student, highlighted that youth are uniquely positioned to be the scaffolding or external support of the Church and society, and that the Church likewise needs the youth for they are educated, socially aware, and have sustained enthusiasm to participate in movements. He also encouraged fellow students to always stand up for the call of the Church in its journey of synodality.
Fr. Laguerta responded that he was “so happy to hear from the perspective of student leaders because they have a lot of roles to play, not just in the University setting, but in their communities
The panel of student reactors (from left:) San Beda University (Manila) Student Council
President Ms. Mari Ernestine Okol, University of St. La Salle (Bacolod) Student Senate
President Mr. Yuval Adera, and Notre Dame of Marbel University (Koronadal) Student Government
President Mr. John Ryan
Huqueriza with OPNE Director
Rev. Fr. Jason H. Laguerta
and personal circles of influence.” He added, “the wisdom of our elders can contribute, but the energy of the young is also equally important. There is a certain parity of the relationship with the Church. That’s what synodality is––no one should be excluded or invalidated. The Church becomes a safe place for everybody.”
During the open forum, questions were raised on how to create space and representation for the youth in the Church, given that there is a significant generational gap between Church leadership and young people.
Fr. Laguerta acknowledged the reality, saying that the existence of the gap is “very true,” and that it is difficult to answer, but that the journey has begun to bridge this gap. “It’s hard to overcome these hurdles, but transformation and conversion starts from within. That’s why in synodality, the protagonist is the Holy Spirit, who energizes us from within. That is synodality. Everyone is walking together. No one is ahead and no one is left behind. If there is someone ahead, it will be for them to see if the path ahead is safe. If someone is slower in pace, they may be resting or gathering energy. But everyone walks the same path: Todos, todos, todos, samasamang naglalakbay.”
Executive Director
In the afternoon session, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines Executive Director Mr. Rodne Galicha spoke on “The Youth and the Environment: The Road to Laudato Si’ Schools.” His organization empowers citizens to adopt lifestyles and attitudes that meet the urgent need to care for our common home. It acts towards promoting sustainable development and stopping the climate crisis and degradation through collective action among people from different sectors. Mr. Galicha’s talk explored the youth’s role as stewards of God’s creation and how they can apply this in their own learning environments.
Ms. May Parsons, the UK-based Filipina nurse who administered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine, discussed “The Youth and Social Transformation: Inspirations to Uplift the Community” in her video message. Ms. Parsons is currently the Associate Chief Nurse and Director for Risk, Governance and Compliance at the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, United Kingdom, and was awarded the prestigious George Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Since marking her name in history, she has launched a charity to support medical workers, particularly to uplift nurses from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Associate Chief Nurse and Director for Risk, Governance and Compliance at
Participants discuss the morning session inputs with their new friends from different schools. Conference seating was arranged especially for the purpose of letting representatives from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao make lasting connections.
After the open forum, ACUP Treasurer and DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca, FSC, EdD, challenged participants to “Reflect on how you can become good news for one another. It doesn’t have to be big things. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
The third plenary speaker for Day 1 was Break the Fake Movement Founder Mr. Gabriel Billones, Jr., the first Filipino who became an Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University in New York City. He leads an alliance of over 500 young professionals across Southeast Asia who fight fake news, promote media and information literacy, and encourage responsible digital citizenship. His talk focused on “The Youth and Technology: How to Counter the Information Disorder.”
Day 1 concluded with a Dinner and Fellowship Night, where activities to shuffle the seating arrangement and group up with new people encouraged new friendships to be built. Participants were also able to avail of the mirror photobooth to print out keepsakes of their ACUP Youth Gathering experience.
ACUP Secretary-General Ms. Michaella Lagniton welcomes Atty. Robredo by presenting a lei.
For the second day of the Youth Seminar-Workshop, SLU Vice President for Mission and Identity and the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Emery E. Mwako presided over the Eucharistic Celebration, concelebrated by priests in the ACUP and SLU leadership.
The keynote speaker for Day 2, human rights lawyer and Angat Buhay Chairperson Atty. Leni Robredo, discussed “Tayo-Tayo: The Youth’s Involvement in
ACUP Secretary-General and UST Office of Public Affairs Director
Ms. Michaella Lagniton introduces Fr. Sales and Br. Oca to Atty. Robredo
Synodality and Social Transformation” at the Fr. Joseph van den Daelen Center for Culture and Arts Theater of SLU. Before, during, and after her term as the 14th Vice President of the Philippines, she has led efforts to implement community-centered and sustainable development initiatives on education, health, community engagement, and disaster response and rehabilitation. It is her seasoned leadership and expertise in such matters that enriched the discussion, which took the form of a fireside chat.
Since manifestations of synodal education include that learners would have the grace and openness to listen to various perspectives and learn beyond the classroom by being involved in the community, Atty. Robredo shared insights gained from a decade of experience in teaching Economics while juggling her law studies, and her more recent teaching stint as a Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership.
With over 500 Catholic school administrators, teachers, students, and youth leaders in attendance during her talk, Atty. Robredo recommended schools to provide more spaces, time, and opportunities for student involvement in causes they are passionate about, so that they become empowered to express their thoughts and ideas, and encouraged to pursue learning in areas of interest outside their chosen program and curriculum.
“When students have more space to pursue their interests, the students become more confident because they feel supported, and because of that confidence, they can take ownership of their development and transformation. Students end up not settling for being followers, but they are able to see themselves as an important part of seeking and working for change,” said Atty. Robredo in Filipino.
She gave the example of Filipino students often having a packed schedule, spanning multiple subjects and activities from early morning to late afternoon, while she has observed that in countries with more successful and extensive education systems, two subjects in a day is already heavy, and their work weeks often have free days where they can join extracurricular activities or work on independent projects.
“What takes up the day-to-day discussions in class is not the rigid memorization of facts, but rather sensible critique of the readings, and reasonable questions or pushback [from students] about policies are not taken personally, but as intended for the common good,” she described.
Upon being asked if such a change is possible within the current school system in the country, Atty. Robredo answered “This [systemic change in educational mindset] is possible, but it has to start at the basic education level so that the critical thinking of students is well-developed. It will take time to achieve that kind of progressive education system, but even though it will be a time-consuming journey, it needs to be started, considering that the international educational assessments have seen the Philippines at low ranks.”
She also shared her observations of schools abroad, particularly in Helsinki, Finland, which consistently top the international educational assessments, such as the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for Education. She noted that their focus on having greater autonomy and adaptability in schools, lessening bureaucracy, starting formal schooling at a slightly later age (seven years old) so the children can maximize their early development years at home, establishing less strenuous schooldays with only a few academic units in a given week, and giving multiple opportunities and free time for students to pursue their advocacies and interests are the best practices to study and emulate.
“We also have to look at education from a more holistic standpoint, not just focusing on academics. If we look at how they are faring, it seems like a good standpoint since they develop and produce students who are confident and empowered to contribute to social change,” emphasized Atty. Robredo, who reminded the youth of their vital role by saying, “If you look at our history, nearly all the changes that happened were brought about by the initiative of young people.”
ACUP Participants and SLU students queue for the chance to ask Atty. Robredo a question.
On the topic of prioritizing sustainability, Atty. Robredo was asked how to enjoin people from all walks of life, particularly when for many struggling and under-served Filipinos, the “sustainable option” is unreachable or impractical because that costs more.
“The biggest mistake that we commit when we talk about sustainability is to look at it as a separate matter [from inequity], but we need to view it as part of a larger problem. Ideally, ones who make sustainability policies would also be immersed and
“The challenge especially with limited influence—is those spaces. spaces are we can fill It’s true that problems are let us not with the weight that problem. efforts you today, begin
challenge for us— those of us
limited spheres of influence—is to look for spaces. Whichever available, fill that up… that certain are heavy, but not be paralyzed weight of problem. Whatever you can start begin now.”
Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo
Chairperson and President, Angat Buhay 14th Vice President of the Philippines
well-informed about the day-to-day struggles faced at the grassroots level, and would have the foresight to integrate sustainability policies into larger social welfare initiatives and programs,” shared Atty. Robredo.
“For example, if people have no access to clean water at home, then we can’t fault people for buying bottled water. Potable water is a right, and they have no other choice. It’s easy to say, just save money [to avoid ‘tingî-tingî’ and single-use plastic consumption like sachets], but these people either have no job, or are working three simultaneous jobs with barely any sleep just to provide for their families, so for me, you cannot talk about sustainability without first attacking the many causes of inequity in society,” said Atty. Robredo.
She added, “Before we talk of sustainability, we have to search for solutions to the more immediate issues our less privileged citizens face [like hunger, housing, healthcare]. Once these daily struggles are resolved, then they could have the means to turn their focus on sustainability efforts. But if we don’t first focus on meeting their immediate needs for survival and livelihood, then complying would not be important for them and you can’t even fault them for that.”
For students who want to work toward alleviating the nation’s hardships, Atty. Robredo advised, “Drown out the noise, because there is so much that needs to be done. Look for the spaces that are available for us and fill out these spaces. All of us have ambitions to change the world, right? But if we just look at it from a macro-level, it may seem hopeless, so the challenge for us—especially those of us with limited spheres of influence—is to look for those spaces. Whichever spaces are available, we can fill that up… It’s true that certain problems are heavy, but let us not be paralyzed with the weight of that problem. Whatever efforts you can start today, begin now.”
Atty. Robredo (third from left) receives a plaque and token of appreciation from ACUP and SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, Ph.D., (second from left) ACUP Treasurer and DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca, FSC, EdD (rightmost), and Saint Louis College of San Fernando President Rev. Fr. Roderick Villamar, CICM, PhD
Following the fireside chat was the plenary discussion on “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Journey of the Louisian Community’’ by the 2022 Catholic Heroes Awardee of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and SLU Executive Assistant to the President Prof. Joselito C. Gutierrez, Ph.D., who is also the Officerin-Charge of the SDG and Laudato Si’ Center of SLU. He discussed programs to uplift people and promote the missionary spirit among Louisians, which are attuned to the needs of the people since they truly immerse themselves and journey with their partner community.
In the afternoon, a workshop on Missionary Discipleship was led by Mr. John Rhey Espinoza, with breakout sessions focusing on the environment, social transformation, and technology.
The two-day youth gathering concluded with a collaborative cultural presentation. The CCA Performing Groups of Saint Louis University, composed of Tanghalang SLU, SLU Glee Club, and the SLU Dance Troupe, represented Luzon with their performances of “Tayong Mga Pilipino”, “Pumalakpak” from the musical Higit sa Pagibig, Koyu no Tebulul, and Piliin mo ang Pilipinas. Holy Name University represented Visayas with their lively performance of the celebratory group dance Kuradang, and the University of the Immaculate Conception represented Mindanao with their spoken word poem that invited youth to listen and participate in creating a more sustainable community titled, “Tayo at Kalikasan”. For dinner, the SLU Concert Orchestra’s String Quartet enriched the ambiance.
Plenary speaker and SDG and Laudato Si’ Center Officer-In-Charge Dr. Joselito Gutierrez with ACUP Secretary-General and UST-OPA Director Ms. Michaella O. Lagniton.
Students join the workshop activities in the afternoon
ACUP President Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD presents hosts Mr. John Rhey Espinoza and Ms. Hazel Lorraine Icalia with certificates and tokens of appreciation.
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, ACUP is currently led by its President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, Ph.D., who also serves as the President of Saint Louis University in Baguio City. Its Secretariat is under the care of the University of Santo Tomas Office of Public Affairs, led by the ACUP Secretary-General and UST-Office of Public Affairs Director Ms. Michaella O. Lagniton.
For more information and photos on the Youth SeminarWorkshop and other upcoming ACUP activities, please like and follow the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/ACUP1973
The CCA Performing Groups of Saint Louis University in Luzon perform Koyu no Tebulul, and Piliin mo ang Pilipinas
