24 Apr 2019 | 10:18 AM UTC
Philippines: National Youth Day celebrations April 23-28
National Youth Day celebrations in Cebu province April 23-28; heightened security presence and traffic disruptions expected
Event
National Youth Day (NYD) celebrations which began on Tuesday, April 23 in Cebu province will be held until Sunday, April 28. Thousands of pilgrims are expected to attend the celebrations, concentrated around several festival sites in the cities of Naga, Mandaue and Talisay, as well as the towns of Consolacion and Liloan (Cebu province). The opening ceremony will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) on Wednesday, April 24. Philippine authorities issued a 'red alert' for the event, following the targeting of catholic sites in Sri Lanka during Easter celebrations on Sunday, April 21. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are expected around all protest sites.
Context
The National Youth Day is an event organized annually by the Catholic Church in the Philippines since 1986, to encourage the participation of young pilgrims to church activities. Cebu province will host the celebrations for the first time this year.
Advice
Individuals in the Philippines, notably in Cebu, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.
