Visayas Youth Redefine Resilience at LCOY 2025: From Survival to Transformation

‎TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental — The sound of rain on palm leaves blended with the hum of voices at Nature’s Village Resort as youth climate advocates from across the Visayas gathered on October 4–5 for the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Visayas 2025.

The two-day regional event brought together passionate individuals — from student leaders to community organizers and indigenous youth — to redefine what resilience means in a time when climate change continues to threaten lives, livelihoods, and the very identity of the Visayan people.

‎Organized in partnership with PAMANA, NICE, Reboot PH, JCI Philippines (Mangroves), Project Earth Day, CORE (Kids for Climate), and the WVSU Development Communicators Society, the conference served as both a platform and movement, amplifying youth voices and building bridges across islands for collective climate action.

‎“The Visayas have long faced significant environmental challenges—from stronger typhoons to rising sea levels that threaten our coasts and livelihoods,” said Saulo Lizares during his opening remarks. “Yet today, surrounded by passionate young people, I see hope, leadership, and a collective determination to rise above these challenges.”

‎For many participants, the gathering was more than a meeting of minds — it was a space for solidarity, reflection, and resistance.

‎Celebration: Youth at the Frontlines of Change

‎Across panel discussions, storytelling circles, and advocacy workshops, participants explored how grassroots action and systemic accountability can coexist in the fight for climate justice. From Cebu to Iloilo to Negros, the message was clear: resilience is no longer about enduring, but transforming.

‎In the plenary on Children, Youth, and Climate Justice, Ms. Kamille Ruiz, an advocate and representative of UNICEF, reminded participants that while young people are often excluded from major policy spaces, they remain the most affected by the climate crisis.

‎“Yung mga kabataan, you are the least responsible for this climate crisis, but you’re also the most affected by the consequences — but you also hold the power to shape your future,” she said.

‎The session became a reflection on intergenerational responsibility — a call for adults in power to recognize the agency of the youth not just as victims, but as partners in climate governance.

‎Queering the Climate Fight

‎The session “Queering the Fight for Climate Justice” provided one of the most stirring conversations of the weekend. LGBTQIA+ youth from various communities shared how queerness intersects with environmental struggles — both embodying resilience and redefining what inclusivity means in advocacy spaces.

‎Jan Andrew Gelera, one of the speakers, captured this perfectly, “As time goes by, being queer or queerness is not merely an internal aspect of ourselves but an external approach in creating platforms and solutions. Bakla nga kami, pero binabakla rin namin ang klima.”

‎The laughter and applause that followed symbolized a breakthrough — a space where queerness was not seen as separate from climate action, but as a force for creative, intersectional resistance.

‎Women, Power, and the Climate Crisis

‎In “Young Women in Climate Action,” discussions turned to gender inequality and the disproportionate impacts of climate disasters on women, especially in rural and coastal areas. 

‎Yna Ysabelle Arcenas of NICE stressed the urgency of gender-sensitive approaches in climate adaptation and policymaking, “Climate impacts are disproportionate, and they amplify existing inequalities. Wala pang krisis sa klima, meron nang existing inequalities sa kababaihan, sa bata, sa LGBTQ+.”

‎Her words reminded participants that climate justice is deeply tied to social justice — and that women’s leadership is crucial in building equitable solutions.

‎Ancestral Wisdom and Indigenous Resilience

‎Meanwhile, Indigenous representatives from Negros shared how their ancestral knowledge continues to guide their communities in living harmoniously with the environment.

‎Syreel Mata, representing a local Indigenous group, emphasized how nature is intertwined with their everyday life and spirituality: “Naniniwala kami na lahat ng pangangailangan namin sa buhay, everyday living namin, kinukuha namin sa nature.”

‎Their stories reminded participants that true resilience is not a new concept — it is rooted in the wisdom of Indigenous peoples who have long protected the balance between people and planet.

‎Each dialogue throughout the two-day event replaced the notion of “Filipinos can endure anything” with a collective awakening: Filipinos deserve better — better systems, better accountability, and better care from those in power.

‎Owning Our Future: Turning Words into Action

‎As the day transitioned from reflection to commitment, the sessions on Climate Storytelling emphasized the power of narratives in shaping advocacy and influencing policy. Participants explored how stories can go beyond awareness—becoming catalysts for action and empathy in the fight for climate justice.

‎During her discussion, Divine Caballero reflected, “I’ve realized that climate issues are deeply intersectional. If you care about women, then climate change becomes a feminist issue because women are disproportionately impacted. Storytelling can serve as a leverage point that helps us navigate and connect these overlapping struggles.”

‎Meanwhile, Grid Alila discussed the nuances of Climate Campaigns and Lobbying, differentiating between public awareness and direct policy engagement:

‎ “When you’re campaigning, you bring the issue to the public. But when you’re lobbying, you’re choosing specific people to talk to and persuade. It’s somewhat exclusive — but both are necessary.”

‎These insights reminded the participants that storytelling, campaigning, and lobbying are all essential tools in sustaining the climate movement — each one amplifying the other.

‎By the end of the workshops, delegates signed a commitment banner pledging to strengthen Visayas-wide youth networks, promote local climate education, and amplify regional stories in the upcoming National LCOY.

‎Resilience Redefined: A Call to Accountability

‎As the event drew to a close, Ms. Kamille Ruiz of UNICEF left a message that tied every discussion together — one that captured both the pain and power of redefining resilience:

‎“Resilience isn’t about just smiling kahit binabagyo tayo. It’s not about quietly enduring the things. It’s also about asking the hard questions, demanding accountability, and rebuilding the systems that actually care for the people and the planet. That’s what redefining resilience means.”

‎When the closing circle formed under the cloudy Negros sky, participants held hands and shared reflections — some with tears, others with quiet determination. What began as a conference ended as a movement of solidarity.

‎With hearts full and eyes set on the future, the youth declared: this is not the end, but the beginning of a collective journey — from mawareness to action, resilience to resistance, and hope to transformation.

‎A Generation Rising from the Islands

‎The LCOY Visayas 2025 was more than just a gathering — it was a living testament to a generation refusing to be passive in the face of crisis.

‎From the massive lands of of Negros to the classrooms of Cebu to the green seas of Panay Islands, young Visayans are proving that resilience is not about how much one can withstand, but how deeply one can transform systems for justice and sustainability.

‎As one delegate said during the closing reflection:

‎ “We are not just resilient — we are reclaiming our power to shape the world we want to live in.”

‎Under the dusky Negros sky, that declaration lingered — a promise that resilience, once tied to endurance, now breathes as resistance, accountability, and collective hope.

‎This article was written and prepared by Isiah Ligas of Likasikas the Environmental Journalism Hub of Cebu.