Ecological defenders, Church leaders, labor groups, and civil society organizations came together at the start of the year for Hayuma: Mending the Broken, a Church-led convergence responding to the intertwined crises of ecology, economy, and governance in the Philippines. The gathering reflected the growing urgency to confront what many Church leaders and advocates describe as “tolerated evils”—conditions of injustice that have become familiar, normalized, and largely unchallenged.

The convergence was framed within the synodal vision promoted by Pope Francis, emphasizing the process of listening together, discerning together, and acting together. Participants were reminded that synodality is not only a method of consultation but a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the Church to walk more closely with the poor and the marginalized.

Discussions unmasked the realities shaping the country today. On the economic front, speakers pointed to patronage-driven budgeting, opaque decision-making processes, and development models that favor political and corporate interests over people’s needs. Aid programs, while extensive, were critically examined as tools that often fail to reduce vulnerability and, at times, reinforce dependency. The absence of a coherent industrial policy and the continued exploitation of natural resources further exposed the fragility of livelihoods, particularly among workers and rural communities.

Governance concerns centered on the concentration of power among political elites, oligarchs, and corporate actors. Participants highlighted how corruption, lack of transparency, and limited public participation deepen social inequality and erode trust in institutions. In this context, the Church’s prophetic responsibility was underscored—not to replace political structures, but to serve as a moral conscience that calls out injustice and defends the common good.

Ecological discussions emphasized the worsening environmental crisis marked by deforestation, destructive mining, climate vulnerability, and freshwater scarcity. These were described not as isolated environmental problems but as moral and social issues that disproportionately affect the poor. Drawing from the framework of integral ecology articulated in Laudato Si’, participants stressed that environmental degradation and human suffering are inseparable.

Faith reflection during the gathering returned repeatedly to the identity of the Church as a Church of the Poor, a vision long articulated in pastoral teachings of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Speakers challenged the tendency to manage injustice rather than confront it, warning that silence and indifference allow suffering to persist. True worship, they noted, cannot be separated from justice, participation, and accountability in social life.

The Young Christian Workers (YCW) took part in the convergence, contributing perspectives grounded in the lived realities of young workers. Through the movement’s SEE–JUDGE–ACT method, YCW helped articulate how economic insecurity, labor exploitation, and ecological damage intersect in workplaces and communities. Their participation reinforced the call for organized, collective responses rather than isolated acts of charity.

The gathering concluded with a shared commitment to action. Participants affirmed the need to strengthen ecological defense, pursue people-centered economic policies, and deepen participatory and transparent governance. More importantly, Hayuma underscored that love, when rooted in faith, must move beyond compassion toward transformation—organizing communities, challenging unjust systems, and patiently mending what has been broken.

In this spirit, Hayuma stood as a reminder that the Church’s mission today is not neutrality but accompaniment—walking with the poor, listening to their cries, and daring to act together for life, justice, and hope.