ONCE again reaffirming its role as the religious and cultural heart of Bicol, Naga City will host the National Youth Day (NYD) 2025 on June 10–14, a much-anticipated national gathering organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) – Episcopal Commission on Youth.
Fr. Juan Pablo Carpio, Archdiocesan Catechetical Director of the Archdiocese of Caceres, confirmed that over 10,000 young pilgrims from across the Philippines are expected to participate in this year’s celebration, with at least 7,000 already pre-registered as of press time. This marks the first time the Archdiocese of Caceres will host the NYD, after a cancelled 2021 hosting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Young pilgrims of hope, come to the pilgrim city,” the Caceres Youth Commission announced in a social media post, extending a warm welcome to Catholic youth nationwide.
The NYD is a local expression of the World Youth Day (WYD) initiated by Pope John Paul II, which was last held in the Philippines in 1995. The national version began in 1986, when the CBCP designated December 16 as National Youth Day. The event has since grown into a massive celebration of youth faith and unity, with the last major gathering held in Cebu City in 2019, drawing over 20,000 delegates.
This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment for Nation Building,” underscores the critical role of young people in shaping the nation’s future. Fr. Carpio echoed this, citing Pope John Paul II’s message: “Young people are not only the future of the Church and the world… They are its present.”
Naga City—recognized as the commercial, financial, educational, religious, and cultural center of the Bicol Region—is seen as the perfect host for this significant spiritual event. The gathering will be led by Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of the Archdiocese of Caceres, with operational coordination handled by Fr. Dan Vegas, head of the Archdiocesan Commission on Youth and Campus Ministry.
To accommodate the influx of young pilgrims, mission stations and foster homes in the city will open their doors to delegates. A highlight of the event is the culminating liturgical celebration at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Barangay Balatas, Naga City.
The Public Safety Office (PSO), has conducted a command conference to finalize deployment plans for the upcoming five-day event. PSO Executive Director Renne Gumba said the office is closely coordinating with the Naga City Police Office to ensure the safety and security of young pilgrims expected to flock to the city. He added that measures are also being prepared to minimize traffic congestion throughout the event’s duration.
As of press time on Wednesday, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), headed by Allen Reondanga, is holding an initial coordination meeting with the designated focal person from the Archdiocese of Caceres to discuss preparations for the upcoming National Youth Day 2025. The meeting aims to align plans and ensure safety and logistical readiness as Naga City prepares to host thousands of young pilgrims for the landmark national event this June.
Pilgrims can also look forward to a mini-traslacion and mini-fluvial procession, patterned after the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta, a religious tradition that honors Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the beloved patroness of Bicol.
Fr. Carpio called on all parishioners and residents of Naga City to work together in ensuring the event’s success. “It is our shared obligation to support this momentous gathering of faith and youth,” he said.
With preparations in full swing, Naga City once again rises to the occasion—this time, as the pilgrim city for the youth of the nation.
Written by Jason Neola (CEPPIO). Photo by Emman Cleofe (CEPPIO).
