Youth organizations, student councils and publications from various universities, officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan and other organizations gathered in Manila for the national convention of the Kabataan Partylist (KPL) on September 24. This was held to announce the 10-point agenda of the youth party in the upcoming 2025 election and to introduce its nominees in the election party-list.

They highlighted the following agenda of the people: promote free, affordable and quality education for all; living wages and jobs for all; national sovereignty; genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization; mental and physical health; basic social services; justice and accountability; just and lasting peace and an end to tyranny; climate action; and ending gender-based discrimination.

Meanwhile, the party also publicly announced its nine nominees. First among them is Atty. Renee Co, former University of the Philippines student regent and one of the convenors of 1SAMBAYAN and 1SAMBAYAN Youth.

The second nominee is Paolo Echavez from Cebu City. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in BS Agriculture, Major in Agronomy, at Siliman University where he also served as a student leader in the student council. The party’s third nominee is John Peter “Jpeg” Garcia, a student leader and human rights defender from Southern Tagalog.

The other KPL nominees are Gabriel Siscar of Cordillera, Jayvie Cabajes of Davao City, Mia Simon of Nueva Ecija, Kej Andres, Hayme Galas, Crimson Labinghisa of Panay, and Lisse de Vera of Pangasinan.

The youth also passed a resolution that will strengthen the fight against and hold the Marcos and Duterte faction accountable for rotten politics, corruption and human rights violations. The party also formally declared their support for the 11 senatorial candidates of the Koalisyong Makabayan in the 2025 election.

After the gathering, the youth marched along Taft Avenue to the Philippine General Hospital for a protest. They highlighted the issues of budget cuts in education and social services, scrapping confidential funds, and to investigate and hold corrupt government officials accountable.

Our election run will be predicated on advancing a long needed alternative … that have long been dreamed of succeeding as the real voice of the people in the government,” Atty Renee Co said.