Gervy James Gumarit

24/09/2026

A seat at the table doesn’t mean much if youth engagement is treated like a photo op instead of actual governance.

Yesterday at the ASEAN Peace Education High-Level Conference, I sat on the panel discussing "Youth as Catalysts for Peace: Engaging ASEAN’s Next Generation in Peace Education." My takeaway was straightforward: if we want young people to build lasting peace, we have to move past tokenism.

For too long, regional strategy has relied on event-based youth gatherings, like a single summit here or a photo call there. But real peacebuilding requires structural power, not just a stage.

Under our ASEAN Work Plan on Youth (2026–2030), we are pushing for a fundamental shift away from one-off programs and toward permanent, results-based institutional mechanisms. That means securing formal decision-making power by tracking and increasing the actual number of youth representatives inside regional policy-making bodies. It means establishing standing dialogue platforms to ensure young voices go straight to regional leaders without being filtered out. And it means building intergenerational mentorship to bridge the gap between active grassroots changemakers and current decision-makers.

Young people across ASEAN are already leading conflict prevention, intercultural dialogue, and community resilience on the ground. The job of our institutions isn't to simply invite youth to the conversation, but to institutionalize their power to shape policy.

Peace isn’t handed down from the top. It’s co-created. Let’s make sure our policies actually reflect that. ✊🏽🌏

07/09/2026

NAKARANRANIAG, LAOAG!

Today, as Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid gave his First State of the City Address (SOCA), we saw not just a report, we saw a masterclass in resilient local leadership. In keeping with his brand of “Alisto, Asenso, Progreso” governance, the Alcid administration is proving that the paradox of the “weak state” can be overcome with decisive, localised action.

ALISTO (Swift & Alert). For a city often beset with “administrative crises” and “metropolitan noise,” Mayor Alcid remains “Alisto. His administration’s pace and responsiveness have provided the “territorial stability” and efficient handling of resources, which are the foundation of successful governance. He has demonstrated that a leader must be “adept in handling state funds” to ensure the city is safe and prepared.

ASENSO (Prosperous). The true “Asenso” is the product of a “developmentalist will”. While national politics may sometimes be a “cesspool of patronage,” Laoag is turning devolved powers into “remarkable growth.” With the Mayor’s emphasis on prosperity, Laoag is not merely surviving, but thriving as a center of economic opportunity, showing that “all politics is local.”

PROGRESO (Progress). The Mayor’s “Progreso” agenda is focused on his youth-centric initiatives. Here, I might be biased on my comments as a National Youth Commissioner. Nevertheless, history will remind us that “political movements need deep organization, not moments of mobilization." Mayor Alcid is investing in the youth to build that “parallel networks” and “grassroots depth” needed for nation-building in the long term. He is training a new generation to look beyond ‘Manila’s media noise’ and focus on the substantive growth of our own community.

Laoag City is no longer a mere “participant” in the national narrative; we are now the authors of our own progressive future under Mayor Alcid.

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My warmest congratulations to Mayor Bryan, his dedicated team, and the entire City Government of Laoag City! 🙌🏼🙏🏼✨

28/08/2026

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng anibersaryo ng Pambansang Komisyon ng Kabataang Pilipino at ng Pambansang Araw ng Kabataan, imulat nawa natin sa ating puso’t isipan na ang kabataan ay hindi lamang simpleng tagatanggap ng pagbabago, kundi ang mismong tagapagtaguyod nito.

Ang tunay na Demokratikong Rebolusyon mula sa Gitna, na naaayon sa ideolohiyang Pilipinismo ng dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., ay hindi nagmumula sa gulo o sa iilang makapangyarihan lamang; ito ay nag-uumpisa sa bawat kabataang naggigiit ng mas malinis na pamamahala, nakikilahok sa mga barangay at komunidad, at gumagamit ng kanilang talino upang baguhin ang sistema mula sa loob—pagbabagong kasalukuyang ginagawa at pinaghihirapan ng administrasyon ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr.

Tayong kabataang Pilipino ang buhay na patunay na ang totoong pag-unlad at pagbabago ng ating lipunan ay hindi natatapos sa mga pangako kung saan laway ang puhunan lamang, kundi nagsisimula sa aktibong pakikisangkot ng isang dakilang bagong henerasyon.

Subalit, hindi kumpleto ang ating demokrasya kung walang Pang-ekonomiyang Pagpapalaya at Panlipunang Katarungan. Ang layunin ng ating pambansang adhikain para sa kabataan ay ang putulin ang tanikala ng kahirapan, kawalan ng oportunidad, at labis na pag-asa sa labas at mga banyaga. Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng pantay at mapagkalingang access sa de-kalidad na edukasyon, teknikal na kaalaman, at disenteng pangkabuhayan, binibigyang-lakas natin ang kabataan upang maging self-reliant o may sariling sikap at kakayahan.

Sa araw na ito, sama-sama nating patunayan na ang kabataang Pilipino ay hindi lang ang pag-asa ng bayan at kinabukasan, kundi ang kasalukuyang lakas na bubuo sa isang malaya, makatarungan, at maunlad na Bagong Pilipinas.

Mabuhay ang National Youth Commission!
Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino sa isang makabagong Pilipinas!

26/08/2026

I am so happy that the debate community continues to thrive in Ilocos Norte. I am deeply thankful to all our mentors, who have tirelessly built this community from a handful of passionate young Ilokanos.

Thank you to the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office for consistently including debate in the Linggo ng Kabataan festivities, and to the Ilocos Norte Debate Union for inviting me to drop by and watch a few rounds.

It is amazing what you can learn from listening to young Ilokanos' perspectives on various global issues.

For the love of debate, may we continue to respectfully agree to disagree. 🙏🏼

24/08/2026

22/08/2026

18/08/2026

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION ON THE INCIDENT AT THE ATENEO DE ZAMBOANGA UNIVERSITY

The National Youth Commission expresses its deepest grief over the tragic loss of young lives and injuries sustained during the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) - Junior High School earlier today, August 18, 2026. We stand in full solidarity with the grieving families, students, educators, and the entire AdZU community.

The Commission is preparing immediate support for the affected individuals. We have opened official communication channels with the AdZU Administration to ensure seamless alignment and coordinated response efforts. In line with this, personnel from our Zamboanga Area Office and partners from the Mental Health Youth Hub are being mobilized for deployment to the campus as soon as possible. Our teams will provide peer-to-peer mental health support, trauma processing, and professional service referrals for students, families, and staff alongside AdZU’s guidance counselling team.

Schools must remain safe spaces. As we continue to advocate for stronger policy measures to enforce school safety protocols and training, and expanding mental health resources across all educational institutions, we urge Local Government Units and Sangguniang Kabataan Officials to allocate youth and local funds toward crisis preparedness and awareness programs to ensure our schools and communities are ready to respond to similar emergencies.

We appeal to the public and to our Filipino youth to refrain from sharing, reposting, or sensationalizing graphic videos, images, or unverified information, respecting the dignity of the victims and their grieving families.

Protecting our youth is a sacred and collective responsibility that belongs to us all. As we navigate this tragedy, the National Youth Commission reaffirms its commitment to being where young people need us most, ensuring that our response goes beyond words by turning our collective sorrow into meaningful action, strengthening our resolve to protect young lives, and upholding every school as a place of learning, safety, and hope.

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14/08/2026

The youth energy in Bukidnon is on a whole different level for ! 🙌🏼🔥🎉

12/08/2026

Celebrate the power, passion, and potential of the Filipino youth on this International Youth Day!

As we reflect on our shared journey at the National Youth Commission, from advocating for meaningful youth participation to driving community-led development and policy reforms, one truth remains clear: the future isn't just something we wait for, it's something we build together.

To every young leader, advocate, volunteer, and dream-chaser across the nation: your voices and innovative ideas shape our institutions, your energy fuels our communities, and your courage defines our movement forward. We stand with you today and every day as we continue to push for opportunities that empower, protect, and elevate every young Filipino.

Keep leading, keep innovating, and keep breaking barriers.

Happy International Youth Day! 🇵🇭✨