The fight for freedom is one deeply known by the Filipino people: from the fight to free ourselves from colonization, to the fight of the manongs to free themselves from labor exploitation, to the fight to free our loved ones from ICE detention. It is a fight that continues to this day.

We are at a crossroads in our history. In the Philippines, millions are faced with very little opportunities to make a living, forcing almost 10,000 of our kababayan to migrate every day. The crisis of hunger and poverty has been made worse with the prices of gas and everyday needs skyrocketing from the US' war in the Middle East. And to make ends meet, some Filipinos are literally working themselves to death—whether from exhaustion after working with no rest, or from risking it all to remain in war zones where a paycheck is more guaranteed than back home in the Philippines.

All the while, rampant government corruption and state violence in both the Philippines and the US prove that while resources to sustain and improve our communities exist, they are instead being pocketed and forcefully protected for the benefit of the greedy and powerful.

But we Filipinos have never just been bystanders of history—we have taken our futures into our own hands. We must continue the legacy of our manongs and manangs, who taught us that when we come together and fight arm-in-arm, we can move one step closer to freedom. It is a legacy that lives on today, in people like Maximo "Kuya Max" Londonio who fought to free themselves and others from detention, in the migrant workers at the heart of the Justice for Filipino Caregiver Campaign who are courageously standing up to their traffickers and abusers, and in those who continue the work of Filipino-Americans like Lyle Prijoles and Kai Sorem whose lives were taken simply for choosing to serve the most marginalized communities back home in the Philippines.

"Kalayaan"—freedom—is not a distant idea. It is a reality and necessity that we Filipinos can achieve so long as we act as one people bound by our love for each other and for our homeland. To Filipinos across the US—in every city, neighborhood, workplace, school, and church—we invite you to join us in building the growing movement for freedom. Freedom from hunger and exploitation, freedom from repression and detention, freedom from unjust wars, and the freedom to return home to a free Philippines.

The Kalayaan Summit will feature keynote speakers, panel presentations, and interactive discussions covering the fight for freedom across major thematic areas: Freedom from detention & repression; Freedom from hunger, poverty, & exploitation; and Freedom from war & occupation.

From these discussions, we aim to unite on shared visions and goals for the freedom we would like to see for our community, and how we will work toward these collectively.

Our two-day summit will end with a cultural night of music, art, and performances.

Tentative schedule:
Friday, June 26, 2:00PM-7:00PM: Kalayaan Summit Day 1
Saturday, June 27: 9:00AM-5:00PM: Kalayaan Summit Day 2
Saturday, June 27: 6:30PM: Kalayaan Summit Cultural Night
Note: We invite those staying through Monday, June 29 to join us for a protest action at 1:00PM, details forthcoming.

Please register by Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the following link: tickettailor.com/events/kalayaan. The registration fee is $50. Dinner will be served on Day 1, and breakfast and lunch will be served on Day 2. Drinks and snacks will be provided throughout.