Ahead of the return of the iconic youth-oriented program, the YSpeak 2.0 hosts reflected on the advocacies close to their hearts, offering a glimpse of the conversations they hope to bring closer to a wider audience.
During the media conference of YSpeak 2.0, its new generation hosts Elijah Canlas, Aya Fernandez, River Joseph, and Robbie Jaworski, were formally introduced, and each shared the causes they are passionate about. Also present at the event were director Alco Guerrero and Fr. Tito Caluag.
Elijah’s advocacies feel deeply rooted in both personal experience and the communities he continues to encounter.
“The things that I’m really passionate to advocate for are mental health awareness and wellness…My family and I have a non-profit organization dedicated to that. Also, awareness with the Autism community, and also Safe Spaces is one. Also, the struggles ng mga indigenous people natin. Those are what I really want to tackle [in the show].”
Driven by a desire to honor his late brother, JM Canlas, Elijah and his family founded a non-profit organization called KULIT (Kalinga, Unawa at Linang sa Isip at Taglay) that aims to support those in need and help save more lives.
Robbie, meanwhile, traces his advocacy back to his early exposure to on-the-ground communities during election seasons and times of crisis, as he comes from a politically inclined family.
“Six years old pa lang po ako, every election year at kung may crisis also, bumababa kami ng dad ko sa [community]. It was at a young age na naranasan ko and I learned the reality that we have here in the Philippines na it’s not as good compared to the other countries. So my advocacy for the last three years has been community development and education, because I believe that we will be able to ascend from poverty as a nation if we develop the minds of our youth.”
His journey did not stop with early exposure; it evolved into active participation in a non-governmental organization working on the ground. Through these experiences, Robbie said he has found himself gaining not just insight, but a deeper responsibility to contribute meaningfully to discussions on national issues.
“I am hoping that my experience will allow me to give me a little more added insight pagdating sa mga topics ng economics, community development, and educational programs, and so on,” he expressed.
On the other hand, River shared that his advocacies are rooted in personal loss. The passing of his brother, Richard, became a turning point, shaping his voice into one that seeks to raise awareness and create conversations around mental health, while also nurturing a commitment to environmental causes.
“This show will be tackling a lot of topics. But me personally, I’ve been an advocate of mental health [awareness], any chance I get to talk about mental health I will [do it] since I lost my brother to it.”
“I’ve also been an advocate of the environment,” he added, saying that even before joining showbiz, he has already made sustainable entrepreneurial efforts by selling bags made from cassava.
“Hopefully with this show, we can go deeper on topics about social enterprises which are better for the environment…The people that we are trying to move here are the youth so by moving them, maybe we could also touch the other generations,” River maintained.
Meanwhile, Aya has built her advocacy through spending time with rural communities and understanding their realities firsthand. Her work with farmers and indigenous groups is a constant presence in her life, shaping how she views both sustainability and social responsibility.
“Yung malapit sa puso ko ay social enterprises,” said Aya, who is also the woman behind Eco-Uling, a social enterprise dedicated to battling deforestation, offering waste management solutions, and empowering communities by making briquettes using coconut shells.
“We are working closely sa mga koprahan, coconut farmers, and mga indigenous communities sa Sierra Madre at the moment. Lagi akong nasa bundok actually kapag wala kami sa taping.”
Through her work, Aya has come to understand the deeper challenges faced by those at the heart of local industries. Her advocacy centers on creating sustainable systems that not only support livelihoods but also ensure fairness for those who sustain them.
“Malapit sa puso ko ang community development, in fact, majority of the work that I do is ang pagpapatakbo ng social enterprise. Malapit sa puso ko yung sustainable livelihood sa ating mga magsasaka at yung fair trade on the ground... malapit sa puso ko yung mga rural communities.”
Apart from them, KD Estrada and Ralph De Leon are also set to lead YSpeak 2.0, but were unable to attend the conference. It was also revealed that two more female hosts will soon be joining the lineup.
YSpeak 2.0 is set to premiere on May 9.