Young leaders from various localities in Negros Occidental gathered in Bacolod City for the two-day Lead for Hope (LFH) grassroots leadership training on September 26-27, 2025.
The Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Incorporated (HBONI) initiated the program to equip emerging youth leaders with essential leadership skills, values, and an innovative mindset.
Now on its latest run, LFH engaged twenty-five (25) participants in partnership with the Provincial Youth Development Council (PYDC) of Negros Occidental, the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) of Kabankalan City, and 99.7 Brigada News FM Kabankalan.
Provincial Youth Development Officer Mardy Mae Javier said that investing in youth through training is also an investment in the province’s future.
“We believed that young people are the key to the nation’s progress and that they should be educated and empowered to serve the country,” she said.
She added that the LFH would add to the many platforms available that are “dedicated to developing and empowering grassroots young leaders across Negros Island”.
Meanwhile, HBONI founder Kenneth Bacala told Brigada News FM Philippines that the event faced significant challenges as it coincided with the crossing of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, which placed the communities of some participants under signal numbers 1 and 2.
“I am more grateful for the implementation of Lead for Hope, despite the circumstances, and this LFH is a venue for the youth to rediscover their values in community work, especially in grassroots leadership,” he said.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.