On April 23, 2025, stories of resistance, courage, and hope filled the digital halls of Zoom as communities across Mindanao came together for the Mindanao-Wide Online Gathering for Earth Day. United under the banner “Our Power, Our Solidarity: Strengthening the Climate Justice Movement in Mindanao,” the event brought together frontline defenders, faith leaders, youth advocates, and grassroots organizers.

Hosted by the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility Inc. (MCJ) and the Kinaiyahan Youth Network, the two-hour online event served as both a reflection and a rallying cry. Building on the momentum of the historic Mindanao Climate Justice and Solidarity Conference held in November 2024, this Earth Day gathering deepened the call for justice—not just for the environment, but for the people who defend it.

At the core of the conversations was the urgent reality confronting Indigenous and Moro communities: displacement, militarization, and the relentless expansion of extractive industries. “The climate crisis in Mindanao is not just environmental. It is deeply political, deeply rooted in injustice,” one speaker affirmed.

Voices from the ground—farmers, Lumad elders, women land defenders, and youth climate leaders—took center stage, sharing firsthand accounts of struggle and survival, but also of resistance and renewal. Archbishop Jose Cabantan, of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and a member of the MCJ Board of Trustees, opened the gathering with a stirring message of moral responsibility and solidarity from faith communities.

Rev. Jonathan Ulanday, M.Div., J.D., of the United Methodist Church, provided a sobering yet galvanizing overview of the climate situation in SOCCSKSARGEN, drawing attention to the region’s worsening vulnerabilities. He shared stories of struggle and triumphs in the region, emphasizing the vital role of faith communities working closely with indigenous communities in resistance efforts.

Dr. Jean Lindo of Panalipdan Mindanao followed with urgent insights into the climate threats facing the Davao Region, highlighting community health initiatives as a component of resistance against the destructive impacts of large-scale mining and urban development. She  called for stronger grassroots mobilization to protect biodiversity and community health.

Representing Northern Mindanao, Teacher Joan Talasan delivered a heartfelt presentation on the ecological crises affecting local farming communities in Bukidnon. She emphasized how recurring extreme weather patterns, deforestation, and extractive operations are displacing livelihoods and cultural heritage.

Balong Delgado, IP youth environmental advocate from Lanao del Sur, shared the complex and often overlooked climate challenges facing BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). He spoke on the deep intersection of environmental degradation and historical injustices in the region—particularly the impact of conflict, underdevelopment, and state neglect. His message emphasized the urgent need for culturally grounded, community-led climate solutions that uphold the rights of Moro and Indigenous peoples.

Reactors from the Kinaiyahan Youth Network, indigenous youth, and environmental advocates from the church shared their reflections and initiatives in response to the challenges faced by communities in Mindanao. 

The event spotlighted the growing influence of the Kinaiyahan Youth Network, whose members spoke passionately about climate action as a form of intergenerational justice. “We may be young,” Lynzel, Kinaiyahan youth advocate said, “but our commitment to our land and our people is rooted in centuries of ancestral wisdom and struggle.”

Fr. Raymond Ambray underscored the importance of closely journeying with communities in the fight for climate justice, echoing the call of Pope Francis’ Laudatu Si to care for our common home. Gika, Lumad youth from South Cotabato, highlighted the value of indigenous education and affirmed the youth’s continuing commitment to defending ancestral lands and the environment. 

More than just a webinar, the gathering became a space for shared strategy, grounding, and renewed energy. Calls to action echoed throughout the program: to protect ancestral domains, to resist environmental plunder, and to fortify the alliances towards making climate justice a lived reality in Mindanao.

As the event drew to a close, one message rang clear: the climate movement in Mindanao is not just alive. It is rising, grounded in community, and fueled by solidarity.

This gathering of students, faith leaders, environmentalists, indigenous leaders, and advocates this Earth Day reminded us all that the fight for the planet is inseparable from the fight for justice.

This Earth Day, Mindanao rose louder, stronger, and more united than ever.