YIFI National

19TH NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION
Statement on Ecological Justice

We, the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (YIFI), raise our collective voice in response to the ecological crisis that has heavily affected our beloved country. This crisis does not only harm our environment. It also threatens the safety of our communities, the stability of our livelihoods, and the future we hope to build as a nation.

Across our islands, we see forests disappearing, rivers and seas becoming polluted, and communities being forced to leave their homes because of irresponsible mining, deforestation, and uncontrolled development. These situations are not isolated events. They reflect deeper problems where profit is often placed above people and above the care for God’s Creation. In many cases, it is the most vulnerable communities who suffer the most.

As young people of faith, we believe that this crisis is not only environmental but also moral and spiritual. Our Christian calling reminds us that we are stewards of God’s Creation, entrusted with the responsibility to protect and care for the earth. At the same time, our love for our nation calls us to defend our natural resources, recognizing that they are part of our identity, dignity, and shared future.

We cannot remain silent while our land suffers. We strongly oppose the continued exploitation of our natural resources and the neglect of environmental responsibility. We call on leaders to create and enforce policies that promote sustainability and justice. We call on corporations to be accountable for the damage they cause, and to cease from seeking profit from industries that damage Creation. And we call on our fellow Filipinos, especially the youth, to take part in protecting the environment through responsible action and collective effort.

In the face of destruction, silence only allows injustice to grow. Doing nothing dims the future we hope to leave behind. That is why we commit ourselves to promoting ecojustice through education, advocacy, and united action. We stand in solidarity with communities who continue to fight for the protection of their land and livelihood, and we dedicate our voices and efforts to restoring and caring for our common home.

With faith, courage and love for our nation and all Creation, we will continue to serve, speak and act until justice is fully realized for our environment and for our people.

May 4, 2026
Culasi, Antique

STATEMENT OF THE 19TH NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION on Labor Day

On this Labor Day, the Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (YIFI), the youth organization of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, stands in firm solidarity with Filipino workers who continue to struggle for just wages, humane working conditions, and dignified lives. As a Christian movement, we are guided by the Gospel’s call to uphold the dignity of every human person. Work is not merely a means of survival but a sacred participation in God’s ongoing creation. Yet, we witness how many workers are denied this dignity through exploitation, unjust compensation,
and insecure employment. We affirm that faith demands action—standing with the oppressed, amplifying their voices, and challenging systems that perpetuate inequality.

As a Nationalist movement, we assert that the Filipino worker deserves a living wage that reflects the true cost of living across the nation. We strongly call for the establishment of a national minimum wage that ensures equitable and sufficient income for all workers, regardless of region. The current system of fragmented wage-setting through regional wage boards has institutionalized inequality and division among workers. Thus, we call for the abolition of regional wage boards, replacing them with a unified national wage policy that upholds fairness, justice, and national development. A nation cannot progress if its workers remain impoverished.

As a Progressive movement, we challenge exploitative labor practices that undermine workers’ rights and security. We strongly condemn anddemand the end of ENDO (End of Contractualization), a system that deprives workers of stability, benefits, and the right to organize. Contractualization perpetuates a cycle of insecurity and vulnerability, especially among the youth who are entering the workforce. We advocate for regularization, just benefits, and the protection of workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain. True progress is measured not by economic growth alone, but by how it uplifts the most marginalized sectors of society.

In unity with workers, labor groups, and advocates, YIFI calls on the government, private sector, and all institutions to enact policies that uphold labor rights and promote social justice. We urge the youth to become active participants in this struggle—organizing, educating, and mobilizing for change. Our faith calls us not to passive observance but to active transformation. On this Labor Day, we recommit ourselves to building a society where every worker is valued, every family lives with dignity, and justice reigns for all.

Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino! Mabuhay ang makatarungang pakikibaka!

May 4, 2026
Culasi, Antique

Congratulations, to our very own Kuya Koko! on your election as the new Chairperson of the National Lay Council!

Your dedication, humility, and unwavering commitment to service have inspired many within the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. As you begin this new chapter of leadership, may God continue to guide you with wisdom, strength, and compassion as you serve the lay people and the entire Church community.

Wishing you a meaningful and blessed journey in this important ministry. 🙏