Youth ‘Feel Blessed’ After Uplifting Concert in Davao City

More than 2,000 youth in Davao City, Philippines, gathered on August 2, 2025, for Festival 2025: A Youth Concert, the first event of its kind in the country to feature music from the Strive to Be 2025 album.

Despite hot weather, youth and young single adults from across the Davao region filled the Waterfront Insular Hotel grounds to participate in the culminating activity of the 2025 For the Strength of Youth (FSY) Conferences in the Philippines.

Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong, First Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, presided over the event. He and his wife, Sister Carol Wong, expressed their love for the youth and reminded them that the purpose of FSY and the concert is to prepare them for the return of the Savior Jesus Christ.

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“We love you. The Church and the whole world will need people like you, the rising generation, to help prepare the people and the earth for the return of our Savior Jesus Christ,” Elder Wong said.

“You are all incredible. I am so happy to meet you all here today,” Sister Wong expressed.

Festival 2025: A Youth Concert was created to uplift and inspire youth and young single adults of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their friends through a spiritually focused global music celebration.

Guests included local government officials such as Ms. Sittie Norsahaya A. Tiana, representative and council member for the Child Basic Sector under the National Anti-Poverty Commission in the Office of the President, and Hon. Atty. Luna Acosta, Davao City councilor and chair of the Committee on Peace and Public Safety and Anti-Terrorism.

Leaders from other faiths also attended, including Dr. Deepak Kataria of Ori-El Shalom Ministries and Sister Nerissa B. Batiao of the Archdiocesan Nourishment Center. Additional guests included Ms. Dahema A. Jamblang, community coordinator of Batang ASTIG Moro (Adopting a System Towards Independent Growth), and Dr. Cres Gabijan, representing the Focolare Movement for Interreligious Dialogue.

In addition to those who attended in person, more than 15,000 viewers participated through livestreams on YouTube and Facebook from their homes and meetinghouses. Many stakes and districts hosted pre-concert activities, including talent shows and open mic sessions, before the 2:00 p.m. broadcast.

Featured performers included Chanty Videla of the K-pop group LAPILLUS, singer-songwriter Ysabelle Cuevas, actress Xia Vigor, and The Voice Kids 2024 grand winner Nevin Garceniego. They were joined by Latter-day Saint performers Brandon Sorilla, Daniel Costales, Noreen Nivera, and Davao native Sariah Gayola.

“It was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience for me,” Nevin said. “I got to share my talents with my fellow youth. Using my voice to inspire and uplift everyone is a humbling experience.”

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“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be one of the guest artists,” he added. “I enjoyed spending time with the other performers and the bond we created through music.”

The performers led the audience in singing 12 songs from past and current Strive to Be albums, including favorites such as “If You Believe,” “Look Unto Christ,” “I Can Do All Things,” and “Carry Me.”

“I feel really blessed for the opportunity to sing and perform,” Brandon shared. “Helping to inspire Filipino youth through music gave me the motivation to do this.”

“Through this experience, I learned to trust the Lord Jesus Christ more,” he continued. “He sees us. He knows us. He knows exactly what we need at exactly the right time.”