WHO WE ARE

Young Life Philippines, Inc. is a non-denominational, non-sectarian Christian organization that aims to give every Filipino kid an honest introduction to Jesus Christ.

Since 1970, Young Life Philippines, Inc. has been at the forefront in the mission of bringing Filipino kids from all over the Visayas to opportunities where they can have honest introductions to Jesus Christ.

Christ is the strongest, grandest, most attractive personality ever to grace this earth, but a careless messenger with the wrong approach can reduce all this magnificence to a level of boredom.

Jim Rayburn, Founder of Young Life
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Filipino kids reached

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Staff & volunteers

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Camps this year

FROM OUR STAFF

Check out what our staff members have to say.

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“Being a part of Young Life has given me the endless desire to serve God more through ministry. I have committed more of my time to listening to kids so I can deeply understand their feelings and emotions. Now, being a staff member, I can fully say that I have gained the courage to acknowledge that I can learn from them. Through YL, I have learned that I should put these kids’ needs before mine.”

Emma "Daisy" Saladaga

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“As a YL staff, dako kaayo og impact ang ministry sa akoa. Daghan og mga panghitabo sa akong life nga makaingon ko nga I’m so blessed because of Young Life. Young Life is my answered prayer. Ang YL maoy nakapasabot nako unsa kanindot og ka importante ang relasyon sa Ginoo. Ganahan sad ko nga unsa akong na experience sa ministry kay ipasa pud nako sa mga batan-on nga wa pa kaila ni Jesus. Karon nga naa na koy pamilya, ang akong ampo kay unta makita pud sa akong anak ang akong kalipay sa pag-alagad sa Ginoo pinaagi sa Young Life.”

Jeffrey "Jeff" Luague

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“It is in Young Life that I was able to deepen my personal relationship with Jesus. As a staff for almost 5 years now, I was able to find my place where I could enjoy knowing Jesus, and be part of a greater purpose and that is, to share the Gospel. I found a family that continually cares, encourages and guides me as I walk through life—A family that helps me understand that life is hard, but it's worth living. They (staff) always make me feel that I am not alone in this journey, that I have Jesus in me and that I have them as well. I can't wait for all the kids out there to have this kind of safe place where they could grow in their faith and enjoy the family that Jesus has given them.”

Dayanara Jai "Dayan" Alpuerto

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“As a Young Life staff and a leader, YL plays a vital role in my spiritual growth. It shaped me to who I am today and who I will become in the future. Even when I strayed back in 2013, YL gave me another chance to serve the Lord by continuing to welcome me and allowing me to serve as a volunteer staff in 2016. This ministry allowed me to be a channel of blessings to kids all over my area. And finally, I am so grateful to have been given the chance to get my kids and husband involved in the ministry.”

Mary Grace "Grace" Ybañez

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“YL has been God's instrument for me to take big and daring leaps in life. Being an Area Director made me realize that there is so much more to learn about myself, about this world, about the people in it, and about my true purpose and responsibility in this temporary place. It taught me to go beyond what I thought was my capacity and calling because I realized that I was not just called, but I am chosen—chosen to be in this amazing team. This is certainly a very magical place to be. The big and daring leaps are all worth it, and will always be worth it.”

Katrina Frances "Kaykay" Yasi

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“Being a YL staff helped me become a grateful person. Grateful for the opportunities to witness what God has been doing in our community especially among the youth. Grateful for every relationship I have with the other staff, adults, supporters, parents, volunteers and contact kids. Grateful for every blessing, miracle and even circumstance I get to encounter everyday for it all makes me a better and more dependent-on-Him person. Thank you, Lord!”

Melona "Milô" Yasi

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“I’ve been with Young Life since 2010 and have been a staff member for 5 years already. Young Life impacted my life in so many ways. First, I became a better person and have been blessed to be surrounded by people who encourage me to do better in life and make wise decisions. Second, being in Young Life helped me with balancing my responsibilities in both ministry and personal life. Lastly, being on staff helps me grow closer to God. It helps me know Him more and grow my personal relationship with Him.”

Kimberly "Kim" Codera

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“The people in Young Life have always been welcoming to me and to the other newbies even when I first set foot in a Young Life Center. It has become my second home and family. It was in Young Life that I found friends for life. It was in Young Life that I grew in my knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. It was in Young Life that I experienced a "stirring" to serve God. As a staff member for more than thirty years now, this was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. When I gave up my dreams to serve Him through Young Life, I never guessed that in serving Him, I will fulfill all my dreams!”

Estela "Telay" Hernandez

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“Choosing to be part of the Young Life staff team was a life-changing moment for me. I had prayed for this and God answered my prayer. Now, I've been a Young Life staff member for almost 5 years and I can say that being on staff has been a big privilege. It has given me so many opportunities to do ministry in my own family and community. I am forever grateful because I'm doing ministry as a full-time job and I get to serve the Lord and enjoy His plan for my life. Indeed, God put me here for a great purpose. ”

Kizzy "Kiz" Ho

OUR STAFF MEMBERS

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Estela Hernandez

Metro Director Metro Bacolod
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Analie Singgit

Area Staff Tanjay
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Brenda Arra Hernandez

Area Director Bacolod Northsyd
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Joyce Villamor

Area Director Cebu-South
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LATEST NEWS & UPDATES

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Monthly Devotion: Be Still, God Works - August 2024

Passage:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ‭Romans 8:28

Devotion:
The summer camps of 2024 just ended, but the feeling of being in each of those camps still resonates in our hearts and minds. The smiles and laughter on every camper’s face, the meaningful bonds, and the relationships formed after accepting Jesus as one’s personal lord and savior…what a sight to behold!

Kudos to all the camp staff—the speakers, directors, program teams, work crew, and counselors—for offering such a fun and memorable camp experience.

We can't deny that before those camps took place, there were deep prayers. Tired and sleepless nights of preparation.

"Unsaon man ni nako para makadala ug daghang mga campers? Unsaon man ni nako nga makaigo lang gyud ang budget? Unsaon man ni nako nga mahimong successful ang camp? (What do I do to bring more campers? To fit all expenses in the budget? To make the camp a success?)”

These questions surely crossed our minds during those nights. Some even shed tears. But look, wipe your tears because the camps are finally over. God championed it all and we can celebrate!

Those successful camps were made possible because of your deep prayers, sacrifices, efforts, and, of course, God's providence and intervention. They are proof that God is faithful to those who love Him and are willing to answer His call. They are an assurance that Jesus continuously works for us and within us…that everything is under His control.

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Many times, I focused too much on my problems and I worried too much about everything going on. But God has reminded me to fully surrender everything to Him—all my worries and doubts, even the things that are yet to come. I am reminded that in every endeavor, Jesus is faithful. All I have I have to do is answer His call, serve Him, and live a Christ-centered, purpose-driven life.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me to lift everything to you and for assuring that everything is under Your power. I surrender everything to You. Take full control of my life. When times get hard, be my comfort. In all my weaknesses, be my strength. If I'm about to give up, be my source of hope. In this journey, be my everything. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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Monthly Devotion: Expand Your Storage, Subscribe To Him - July 2024

Passage:
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24

Devotion:
It has been a full, camp season for YL Philippines. We only have two more local camps left, and it’s been quite a ride. I can only imagine the stress (good stress though) every YL staff is going through as they prepare for back-to-back camps. I can say all this takes a strong mind, body, and heart.

Apart from all the preparations for camp, I’ve gone through many personal challenges. Some came at the same time. If our capacity to handle challenges had a storage capacity, I would say I'm almost full—on some days, I’d say I’m already full.

Kis-a makahambal ka na lang nga “pwede taympers anay, Lord?” Pero indi mo lang ya gali gyapon mahambal nga full ka na, kay there will always be space. (Sometimes I just want to say, “Lord, I need a break.” But I can’t bring myself to say I’m at maximum capacity, because somehow there’s always space.)

Space—where you think you can’t handle things anymore and you feel like giving up already, yet you were able to overcome it. Perhaps that’s another way of saying nga wala sang gina allow ang Ginoo sa atun nga indi ta makaya (God doesn’t give us more than we can handle).

There’s this type of strength and hope that we can get from Jesus if we seek it and ask for it.

Psalm 31:24
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Life can be very overwhelming at times, but I'm encouraged to know that there’s a way where we can expand our storage. There’s a way we can expand our capacity to face life’s challenges.

Let’s subscribe to Jesus. It’s free, for life. It’s unlimited, because streams of love, grace, strength, courage, and all other things overflow from Jesus. We can get our strength and hope from Him. We may become weary and tired, and feel like giving up, but He will sustain us with the strength that we need.

Prayer:
Lord, in times when we feel like giving up and when life feels so overwhelming, give us the strength and wisdom that we need, and let us come out stronger. Thank You because You have Your amazing ways in revealing Yourself to us, and in helping us when we need it. May You bring comfort and help, especially for those who need it at the moment. Amen.

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Monthly Devotion: First Half of 2024 - June 2024

Passage:
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Devotion:
The month of June is about to end, and half the year has gone by. This time of the season, do you feel like your cup is half full or half empty?

I think most of us are honestly discontent with how the first half of the year turned out. Some of us even feel that the cup is getting more and more empty. I have struggled with this thought for the past few weeks. A lot of things have been going on, everyone is so busy, and many things were already done, but I just couldn’t feel I had done enough. I’ve been feeling drained.

Until one ordinary afternoon, while I was with a volunteer, she randomly opened her wallet and pulled out a card. it was the card I gave her last year before she took her entrance exam at her dream university. And on that card, I wrote the verse Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What a simple but striking way for God to remind me about the obvious things I need to do as a follower of Christ. I felt very emotional as we read the verse together because I realized I’ve become comfortable worrying when I should be praying and thanking God for always being there to help me fill up my cup every day.

The verse may make the phrase “in every situation” sound so easy, but knowing what the apostle Paul went through as he was writing these verses as an encouragement made me more convinced that nothing is too big or too little to bring to our Lord. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will surely keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as we continue to fill up our cups with His promises and His greater plans for our lives.

What a great comfort, encouragement, and assurance this reminder is as we continue to fulfill our life purpose for the next half of 2024.


Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess—I am so sorry—that I often choose worry over prayer, Lord. Thank You that You never get tired of calling and inviting me to surrender all my worries to You. Thank You for the abundant first half of the year, Lord. I continue to ask for Your guidance and Your blessing as we pursue the next half. May Your peace and comfort remain and radiate in our hearts as we continue to live our lives as Your children. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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