One of Manila’s iconic and historic tourist attractions, Intramuros, is set to undergo a rejuvenation, thanks to the efforts of non-government organization NextGen.

In 2023, the tourism sector accounted for nearly 9% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employing 6.21 million Filipinos and contributing PHP 3.4 trillion from combined inbound and domestic tourism expenditure. Non-stock, non-government organization Next Generation Advocate Foundation PH, Inc. (NextGen) has partnered with the Intramuros Administration and the Office of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to revitalize the Walled City of Manila into a vibrant cultural hub.

NextGen, which focuses on sustainable community development, said it aims to put new life into Intramuros, one of the Philippines’ most iconic historical landmarks. The City of Manila saw a huge surge of tourist arrivals in 2023, with around 14.2 million tourists, according to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila (DTCAM). Intramuros alone drew around 1.4 million visitors last year.

Golf Event Raises PHP 30 Million in Donations

As part of its fundraising efforts, NextGen brought together a dedicated group of advocates—business leaders, community members, and philanthropists—through its Play it Forward fundraising golf tournament. The event, held recently at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Cabuyao, Laguna, drew a record pool of 180 golfers to raise over PHP 30 million in donations, which will be utilized to fund the group’s core advocacies on disaster relief, youth empowerment, and sustainable community development.“Our mission at NextGen is to help build an inclusive future where every young Filipino is empowered to reach their full potential and contribute to a sustainable and progressive nation,” NextGen President Nadia Mirani Uttamchandani said.

Aside from tourism, NextGen also advocates support for marginalized Filipino youth as it partners with international organization Life Project for Youth (LP4Y), which leads initiatives to educate young adults aged 17-24 grappling with extreme poverty and societal exclusion.