QUEZON CITY – On December 6, 2025, Saturday afternoon inside Gonzaga Hall at Ateneo de Manila University in Katipunan Avenue, iVolunteer Philippines held the 6^th annual event – DestiNasyon: Finding Your Advocacy. This is also in celebration of the National Volunteer Month and the Yuletide season. The theme this year, “Voices of Hope,” highlights the power of volunteers to serve as a beacon of light for the Philippines.

For this annual event, iVolunteer highlighted the discovery of different advocacies. Advocacy leaders and experts were invited as speakers and panelists, who shared their knowledge and experience with the audience on how to discover ways to make an impact on society, contribute to nation-building, and, most importantly, find the advocacy they will support from the heart.

Ms. Jhiella Pantua opened the session as this year’s DestiNasyon project lead. She emphasized to everyone that DestiNasyon was not just an event but, “It’s a journey — a space for you to discover what causes matter to you, figure out where you fit, and see how your individual actions can ripple out and make a difference in our country.”

Mr. Jay Estarez, who devoted significant time to volunteering while holding a full-time corporate job, shared his personal knowledge by discussing the different types of volunteering. While he is passionate about helping others with education and animal welfare, he also offered some helpful tips on getting started as a volunteer.

To provide a framework for the various advocacies, Ms. Eah Antonio gave an overview of Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. She grouped the 17 SGDs into 5 categories of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

Ms. Zarah Mae Navarro, a young feminist working at the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, discussed the role of civic engagement and volunteerism in bringing systemic change. She pointed out that community organizing, capacity development, policy development, and networking were essential in making a social transformation in our society.

The attendees are split into several breakout rooms to deep dive into the different pillars of sustainable development and zero in on a few issues affecting our country today. Experts and civil society leaders led each breakout room, facilitated idea exchange, and helped identify actions they could take to address current social and environmental challenges.

The breakout sessions included the following speakers:

For Planet – Neil Aldrin Mallari from Center for Conservation Innovations, Ms. Regine Joy Nayve from Mother Earth Foundation, and Ms. Marian Frances Ledesma from Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines.

For People – Ms. Vivian Villanueva from De La Salle University, Angelique Nicole Manuel from Model SK Network, and Mr. Daniel Joseph Benito from The Storytelling Project.

For Prosperity – Ms. Yana Penaga from Best Buddies Philippines, Ms. Dianna Jean Cruz from Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, and Firmo N. Bargayo, Jr., SJ from Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation.

A panel on “Voice of Hope” was composed of Ms. Milet Aquino from the Association of Foundations, Mr. Anthony Jr. Bagano from the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, Ms. Leah Czarina A. Guevarra from the Philippine Coalition for Volunteerism, and Mrs. Judith Apolinario-Follero from iVolunteer Philippines. Bel Padlan facilitated the discussion. The panel focused on the importance of volunteering and Partnership in enabling People, Planet, and Prosperity. It further emphasized the need for civic engagement, especially in the current times, when Filipinos are unsure about the nation’s future amid a difficult political climate.

And finally, the team from iVolunteer Philippines – Mr. JB Tan, Mr. Jay Estarez, and Mrs. Judith Apolinario-Follero focused on the programs of iVolunteer where each individual can participate. Through the voice of Mrs. Judith, her inspirational words echoed what iVolunteer dreams of: “I remain hopeful for the Philippines, as long as I am surrounded by people who share the same passion, values, and heart. When things become challenging, remember that hope begins with you. Trust that you have the power to make a meaningful difference for a better Philippines.”

Ms. Janielle Pantua delivered her parting words, marking the end of a momentous DestiNasyon 2025 event in Manila.