More Than 4,100 Gather for ‘Walk With Me’ Youth Concert in Cagayan de Oro

A total of 4,109 youth and young single adults from across Northern Mindanao gathered at Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for Walk With Me: The 2026 Youth Concert. The program combined music, messages and a devotional focused on Jesus Christ and the 2026 youth theme, “Walk With Me.”

A recording of the concert was broadcast nationwide a week later, on September 26, extending the event to thousands of youth and young single adults who gathered at watch parties across the Philippines.

Organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the event marked the second large-scale youth music concert held by the Church in the Philippines. More than 2,000 young people attended the first, Festival 2025: A Youth Concert, in Davao City in August 2025.

The gathering also drew government, interfaith and community leaders, including Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; Joey Pelaez, senior vice president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and former vice governor of Misamis Oriental; Dr. Maria Bebina Casiño, provincial health officer of Misamis Oriental; Reynante S. Lorono, district fire marshal of Cagayan de Oro; and Dr. Kharen Jane S. Ungab, president of Tagoloan Community College.

The Cagayan de Oro concert took its name from the 2026 youth theme, “Walk with Me,” drawn from the Lord’s invitation in Moses 6:34.

Before the music began, participants attended a devotional led by Elder Steven D. Shumway, a counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency.

Elder Shumway encouraged the young people to center their lives on Jesus Christ as they face distractions, challenges and feelings of inadequacy.

“When you choose to make Jesus Christ your partner, to really walk with Him, He will make more of you and do more with you than you could ever dream,” Elder Shumway said.

He also encouraged those who feel unable to meet a challenge to turn to the Savior for help. “When you feel like you can’t do something, that’s the best opportunity for God to step in to help you do something that is so miraculous and so great,” he added.

Sharing Testimonies Through Music

With lyrics displayed on screens throughout the venue, performers invited the audience to sing along to selections from Walk With Me, the 13-track 2026 Strive to Be youth album. Songs included “Walk With Me,” “Your Presence,” “All for Me” and “Stand Strong.”

Featured artists included Nevin Adam Garceniego, grand champion of The Voice Kids Philippines 2024; teen actress Xia Vigor; and American Idol alumni and Utah-based sibling singer-songwriters Liahona and Ammon Olayan.
 

Liahona said the spiritual experience of performing stood out to her.

“I enjoyed so many things about performing today, but the most important thing was feeling the Spirit,” she said. “It was so amazing, and it filled the room with all the youth and young adults who were there. What a gift and a blessing.”

Xia said the response of the young people helped her feel at ease onstage.

“I feel so happy. I really felt the love of the audience, and I could really see that the youth enjoyed this. … Surprisingly, hindi ako kinabahan at all kasi mas nangingibabaw yung saya ko and yung love ko for the audience [I wasn’t nervous at all because the joy I felt and my love for the audience were stronger],” Xia said.

For Nevin, preparing for the concert brought a different challenge. After focusing on singing and storytelling at last year’s youth concert, he added dance to his performance in Cagayan de Oro.

“There were moments during rehearsals when I struggled with the choreography, so I prayed and asked for help,” Nevin said. “The next day, I was able to practice it better. This experience reminds me to trust that Jesus has a plan for me and has strengthened my faith in Him and Heavenly Father.”

They were joined by fellow Filipino Latter-day Saint singers and performers Brandon Sorilla, Noreen Nivera, Daniel Costales, Ace Baquiran, Sam Gabuyo and Oscar Tino. Cagayan de Oro native Precian Escabarte also made her concert debut before a hometown audience.

Precian said the experience reminded her of her desire to be close to Jesus Christ.

“Jesus’ presence can calm us, help us, and guide us in all our endeavors,” Precian said. “Mao gyud na something nga I think kitang tanan would really love to have sa atong kinabuhi: nga makauban nato Siya [That is something I think all of us would really love to have in our lives: to be with Him]. I really would love to be in His presence someday.”

Brandon, who studied music at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, said performing with a choir reminded him why he chose to pursue music.

“The concert brought back many memories and reminded me of my purpose, why I pursued a music degree in the first place: to serve the Lord’s children through my singing and through our talents,” Brandon said.
 

The concert left a lasting impression for many of the youth and the young adults who watched in person.

For Vinz Pedrano, a young single adult from the Iligan 3rd Ward of the Iligan Philippines Stake, the concert reinforced his desire to serve a full-time mission and help others come to know Jesus Christ.

“This concert naka-inspire sa akoa to continue and move forward sa life, even though there are challenges and adversities along the way [This concert inspired me to continue and move forward in life, even though there are challenges and adversities along the way],” Vinz said. “It helped me slow down and remember Him, to put my faith in Jesus Christ always.”

The concert also welcomed guests from other faiths. Reinhard “Rain” Tagab, a born-again Christian, attended with Monica “Nika” Orate, a Latter-day Saint from the Camague Ward of the Iligan Philippines Stake whom he is courting.

For Rain, the concert offered an opportunity to attend a Latter-day Saint youth gathering with Nika.

“It was fun and uplifting. The crowd was very cheerful, and we enjoyed it. The presence of Jesus Christ was very enlightening. Overall, we really enjoyed the concert,” Rain said.

Nika described a similar feeling. “It made my heart happy. While listening to the music, I could feel the Spirit, and I felt like Jesus Christ was beside me as I listened,” she said.