Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan mobilises Jesuit apostolates for the Trillion Peso March against the Philippines’ flood control scandal, 21 September 2025
In a time of political uncertainty, a Jesuit apostolate was born.
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (Church in Service of the Nation), the sociopolitical apostolate of the Philippine Jesuits, was founded 40 years ago by Jesuits and members of other religious congregations during the People Power Revolution that overthrew the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. It was a defining response: a concrete discernment amidst political turmoil, empowered by resolute love for God and country. This commitment has defined Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan’s (SLB) four decades of work strengthening democracy. On 21 February, SLB’s wide community of lay and clergy partners looked back at these moments as a consolation: that the grace of unwavering hope has been present in our participation in God’s mission of reconciliation and justice.
SLB’s 40th Anniversary Mass, 21 February, at its birthplace: Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University
Four decades of hope
Whether through citizen formation, disaster response, or issue advocacy, SLB has proactively read the signs of the times, seeking to live out a faith that does justice responsive to the context.
Civic education has been at the heart of SLB’s mission, guided by a way of proceeding that moulds empowered nation-builders aware of God’s call. Confronted with new political crises and greater uncertainty today, the mission of accompanying people–especially the youth–towards becoming discerning changemakers is more important than ever.
From voters’ education programmes, SLB has pivoted to interventions promoting deeper understanding of political life, grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. Its flagship programme, Kuwentuhang Bayan (Conversations on the Nation), uses engaging modules to bring ordinary people back to the centre of politics, deepening their awareness of power, politics, and advocacy.
SLB, alongside its partner organisation Hiraya, also trains young people for local governance engagement through Tara Takbo! (Let’s Run), a three-day boot camp that has produced hundreds of youth leaders nationwide. Among them, 84 serve as incumbents in local youth parliaments, with a majority defeating candidates of political dynasties and elites through issue-centred and movement-based campaigns.
Early civic education workshop on corruption, in collaboration with Fr Albert Alejo SJ.
In its early years, SLB was widely known for disaster risk reduction management through Task Force Noah, a systematic relief effort for typhoon-, earthquake-, landslide-, and even oil spill-affected areas. One of the most notable disaster relief programmes was Bangon Pilipinas (Rise Philippines), a holistic rehabilitation, relocation, and development programme for Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors in Samar, Leyte, and Palawan.
In expressing Gospel values through solidarity and courageous witness, SLB has consistently mobilised thousands of individuals and organisations to take a stand on national issues. The apostolate has always placed great importance on peaceful protest, including standing with farmer groups during their hunger strike for land ownership, joining the sequel to the People Power Revolution to oust then-President Joseph Estrada over corruption, and most recently, protesting the flood control corruption scandal.
SLB also served as secretariat for task forces that ensured clean elections nationwide, as well as for Task Force Anti-APECO (Aurora Pacific Economic Zone), which opposed development aggression affecting marginalised communities in Aurora Province.
Monitoring the 1998 Philippine General Election
Our recommitment to hope
Guided by the Catholic Church and the Jesuits’ rich social justice tradition fuelled by Ignatian Spirituality, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan holds unwavering hope for a better Philippines for the Filipino people. SLB is steadfast in its commitment to transformative social change in a nation still in progress, advancing the dignity and rights of all people. This hope enkindles a flame to light the way for the years to come through prayerful discernment, prophetic stances, and engagement in progressive social change–all encapsulated in SLB’s battle cry: Manalangin, Manindigan, Makialam! (Pray, Stand up, Engage!)
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