Carmela Marie Santos
“To fall in love with Creation is to experience God’s love” was the parting message to young scholars by Archbishop Jose Cabantan of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. The young scholars were a mix of students who identify as indigenous (or of indigenous parents) supported by Caritas Philippines through the archdiocese, and the Higaonon youth of Malitbog, Bukidnon. Pulangiyēn youth from Bendum, Bukidnon were also invited to the formation activity on 4 January 2026.
To welcome 2026 and by way of gathering the fruits of 2025, the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro facilitated the formation session with the youth scholars at the Immaculate Conception Parish (in Aluba Subdivision, Upper Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City) with the theme: “Grateful for the past year’s journey and hopeful with God’s grace for 2026.”
In his inspirational message, Archbishop Cabantan encouraged the youth to touch the Earth again. For it is in touching the Earth and renewing one’s relations with the Earth that God is seen and His love experienced.
Youth shared their deep gratitude in friendships formed, in community life, in the blessings of family. They also shared their struggles and challenges encountered in the family as well as in their studies. These challenges brought out the grace and desire for constant prayer and strengthening the faith.
There was much energy among the youth to gain more focus on studies, to manage their time and be more conscious and conscientious for self-care, for connecting with God in the faith, and for renewing Creation or Earthcare.
The youth encouraged one another to carry on in prayer, despite challenges faced. There was also a recognition of the distraction of social media that not only affects time management for studies, but also mental and emotional wellness, thus the invitation for conscious use of time and for self-care.
One of the COP30 delegates from Bendum shared the common message from Indigenous youth, From Ancestral Wisdom to Global Hope: A Call for Ecological Conversion and Intergenerational Solidarity that was delivered in Belém, Brazil in November 2025 during the COP30 side event on Integral Ecology and Climate Justice, and the young scholars responded and connected from personal experience and insights.
Some shared their experience from their community about losing their natural source of drinking water to a government project that affected the volume and quality. Others were disturbed by the burgeoning use and overconsumption of plastics that are not managed, as well as the apparent lack of care seen in the littering of these plastics anywhere, including in the parish grounds.
Many youth felt that if they are indeed the future, the change has to begin from them and that if they are to demand for a “seat at the table” of climate talks and discussions, that demand begins with their own discipline and care for resources and what is happening to the Earth.
Sister Nimfa Seranias SSpS posed the question: “If we are to go beyond tree planting and learn tree growing and restoring the land including ourselves, are we ready to educate ourselves, not just in mind but in our hearts?”
The participants expressed willingness and excitement towards learning more about the Earth and with one another, beginning with the exchange of community visits and formation in integral ecology.
RAOEN continues to support and grow the ecclesial network among the indigenous youth in Southeast Asia, beginning with the young leaders of Mindanao, Philippines as they recognize the key roles they play both in climate action, cultural interaction, and faith. In honoring spaces for synodality among the youth, their indigenous identity and belongingness is nurtured and they grow in their culture and faith.
Carmela Marie Santos is RAOEN’s Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia.