The celebration of the National Youth Day in the Philippines, which was set to take place in Naga City next year, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Father Conegundo Garganta, executive secretary of the Commission on Youth, said the pandemic continues to be a major concern in holding the activity.
“The Archdiocese of Caceres continues to commit to host a physical gathering of [the National Youth Day] not in May 2021 but in 2022,” said Father Garganta.
“We pray that things will improve and that 2022 will be a better year for our young people to come together,” he said.
It will be the first time that the Archdiocese of Caceres will host the national youth event.
In 1986, the bishops’ conference of the Philippines declared every December 16 “National Youth Day.”
The last National Youth Day was held in Cebu City in April 2019 and was attended by more than 20,000 pilgrims from across the country.
Church leaders have earlier decided to move the grand celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines from April 2021 to April 2022.
