Forty-nine young Sipalaynons from seven barangays gathered for the three-day Sipalay Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) 2026, May 20-22, at Driftwood Village in Brgy. Nauhang, on the theme “Building Peaceful Communities Through Youth Leadership”.
Organized by the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry (Molave Warrior) Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army, in partnership with the city government of Sipalay through the Executive Programs Action Unit and the Local Youth Development Office, the summit served as a platform to cultivate leadership, civic responsibility, and peace-building among Sipalay’s youth.
Participants came from the barangays of Cabadiangan, Camindangan, Nabulao, Manlucahon, Mambaroto, San Jose, and Nauhang, representing diverse communities across the city.
The opening and key activities of the summit were graced by Mayor Maria Gina Lizares, alongside officers of the 15IB, including Commanding Officer LTC Roberto Maduli, Battalion Executive Officer Major Dorsicemo Cuyag Jr., and 2LT Kestrel Irin Delmonte. Also present were Local Youth Development Officer IV Katherine Maguad-Jocame, CLGOO III Celso Nunez, and Sipalay Youth Leadership Summit alumni 2009 Nore Ann Porle, who returned to share her testimony and reflections on how the program shaped her personal and leadership journey.
The YLS is part of the Philippine Army’s continuing initiative to empower young people as primary stakeholders in achieving the goals of the Peace, Law Enforcement, and Development Support Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, its press release said May 27.
Through the YLS Program, the 15th Infantry Battalion seeks to promote the general welfare, development, and empowerment of the youth while strengthening their role in community and nation-building.
Throughout the three-day activity, participants engaged in a series of sessions, workshops, and discussions facilitated by invited speakers and resource persons from various fields. The learning sessions were anchored on the summit’s central theme and explored issues affecting both local communities and the nation.
Anchored on both learning and engagement, the summit featured sessions on good governance, environmental stewardship, sustainable development, mental health, leadership development, values formation and cultural appreciation, healthy lifestyles, and anti-drug advocacy
Beyond the discussions, participants also immersed themselves in recreational and team-building activities including kite-making and flying, beach volleyball, swimming, and flag-making. The program likewise sought to deepen participants’ understanding of government and citizenship.
Guided by its core objectives, the Youth Leadership Summit aimed to educate the youth on the constitutional mandates and functions of national and local governments, develop character and leadership potential, and strengthen awareness of the youth’s vital role in nation-building through patriotism, nationalism, and social responsibility.
Equally important, the summit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reaching young people, including those from geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), by providing opportunities that capacitate community leaders and selected youth participants with knowledge, leadership skills, and meaningful engagement.
As the three-day gathering concluded, the message of YLS 2026 remained clear: peaceful and progressive communities are built not only through policies and institutions, but also through empowered young leaders willing to serve, lead, and become active partners in shaping Sipalay’s future, the press release added. ||
