Church of Jesus Christ Deepens Collaborations for World Humanitarian Day Event

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deepened its relationship with friends and collaborators in the humanitarian sector during a special World Humanitarian Day Friendship Luncheon held at the Philippines Missionary Training Center (MTC) Activity Center on September 10, 2026. 

Elder Steven D. Shumway of the Philippines Area presidency welcomed guests from government agencies, humanitarian and development organizations, faith-based institutions, civil society, and other friends at the event, which gathered under the call-to-action hashtag #ActForHumanity.

“Each of us in this room are really brothers and sisters,” Elder Shumway shared in his message, “and that's important, because it changes the way we interact with each other.”

“We believe that God has put us together, that it's not just our own choice that has caused us to say “We'd like to work with you,” but the reality is, we all want to do good,” Elder Shumway also expressed. “We want to do good for God's children. We want to live the two great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor.”

Brother Abenir Pajaro, Philippines Area Director for Welfare and Self-Reliance Services, thanked representatives of the organizations in attendance for their collaboration in the various humanitarian projects the Church has either initiated, carried out, or supported throughout the country.

Guests also listened to messages from former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, currently Representative of the 2nd District of Pampanga; Hero S. Hernandez, Director IV, External Partnerships Service, Department of Education (DepEd); Major General Victor Bayani, Executive Director, HERO Foundation; Kyungsun Kim, Representative to the Philippines, UNICEF Philippines; and Menchie Silvestre, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI).

Representative Macapagal-Arroyo, who also chairs the Committee on Poverty Alleviation in the House of Representatives, lauded the Church for its humanitarian assistance in her home province. 

“You are a global church with humanitarian projects across 200 countries and territories,” the former chief executive noted, “and Pampanga is blessed to be one of the communities where that mission has found concrete local expression.”

Director Hernandez expressed his gratitude for initiatives such as Colega, a human rights education curriculum supported by the Church, and the digital infrastructure program in select schools. “When we pool our expertise and resources,” he observed, “we nurture not only smart minds, but compassionate, resilient citizens who care for their nation.

Major General Bayani thanked the Church for its yearly Giving Machine initiative, wherein people can donate humanitarian aid through unique vending machines which are then received by organizations helping people in need, such as the HERO Foundation.

UNICEF Philippines Representative Kyungsun Kim highlighted the importance of partnerships that help reach children and families facing vulnerability, emergencies, and other humanitarian challenges.

The luncheon was also marked by the announcement of a donation that would provide assistance to 2,000 families in Pampanga affected by monsoon flooding. Immediately following the announcement, a deed of donation was signed by Representative Macapagal-Arroyo and Brother Anthony John Balledos, representing the humanitarian arm of the Church.

World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on August 19 to recognize humanitarian workers and organizations serving people affected by emergencies, disasters, conflict, displacement, poverty, and other difficult circumstances. 

In line with its mission of helping others, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes the yearly observance as an opportunity to strengthen support for humanitarian action and reaffirm the shared responsibility to protect human dignity and care for those in need.