Distinguished Filipino Environmentalists - A continuing list

 Distinguished Filipino Environmentalists

- A continuing list

Dr Abe V Rotor

Jayme Navarro: Invented Fuel from Plastic Trash Bags

filipinoachievers

Jayme Navarro’s Pyrolysis Technology converting Trash Plastics into less sulfuric Diesel, Gasoline, LPG.

Chin-Chin Gutierrez, is a Filipino actress and environmentalist. She has won several awards, received a National Commission for Culture and the Arts grant, featured as one of TIME Asia's "Asian Heroes". 

Von Hernandez 
Von Hernandez drew the line at another lucrative export from the developed world: mountains of trash. Across Asia, waste incinerators pump out clouds of dioxin and other harmful chemicals that come from processing …

Antonio Oposa Jr. 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee from the Philippines. Antonio Oposa Jr. believes that the worsening situation of the marine ecosystem, particularly in the Visayan Sea eco-region, can be reversed, for the sake of future generations.

Ma. Lourdes “Joy” Martinez Onozawa: Architectural Environmentalist
Today, the environment is one of the world’s biggest concerns. We are constantly reminded to recycle, to dispose our wastes properly, and to preserve our environment in countless other ways. Joy Onozawa takes this advocacy to heart and applies it.

Illac Diaz, founder of Liter of Light initiative that provide low-cost sustainable lighting solution to thousands  of  homes in 15 countries (PHOTO, left).

Gina Lopez fought against open-pit mining, led the rehabilitation of Pasig River, transformed a once threatened portion of La Mesa watershed into an open park (PHOTO, right)

Anna Oposa, co-founder of Save the Philippine Seas to protect the country's marine resources.

Vincent Perez, proponent of clean energy and renewable energy 

Chit Juan, proponent of organic farming and preservation of heritage food (PHOTO left)

Anselmo S Cabigan, PhD - biologist, naturalist, writer, professor, director for research, National Food Authority.

PHOTO, right

Abraham Tadeja - pioneer in organic fertilizer manufacturing, recycling of organic waste in commercial scale. 

Environmental heroes: those who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s environment. (DENR)

• Melania Dirain, Forest Specialist.
• Jojo Malinao, Forest Guard
• Logendrin Aranca, Forest Ranger
• Bernabe Malijao, Tree Maker
• Wilfredo Bayucot, Forest Ranger
• Isidro de la Peña, Forester
• Jaime Diez, Tree Maker ~

SIX FALLEN 'ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES' HONORED ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY Five workers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with a diocesan priest deputized as a forest protection officer, were inducted into the roster of environmental heroes by the Environmental Heroes Foundation Inc. (EHFI) during the World Environment Day celebration on June 5, 2021.

Those honored were DENR workers Joselyn Aleste Bugaring, officer-in-charge of the Kalinga Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office; Norberto Mabini, Land Inspector I in Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Rolando Sinday, tree marker in Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Isidro Roluna, tree marker in Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Jessie Comendador, a laborer in Los Baños, Laguna; and deputized forest protection officer in Bukidnon Fr. Nerilito Dazo Sator.

News + Features People
Part 2 - Top 10 Pinoy Eco-Warriors
Apr 22, 2010
SPOT.ph puts the spotlight on eco-advocates out to save the Earth one (or more) green thought at a time.

1. Bernarditas de Castro Muller

Who she is: Bernarditas de Castro Muller was, until recently, the coordinator of the G77 group of 130 developing countries and China. She played a key role in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol negotiations that bound certain developed countries to reduce carbon emissions. She had been the Philippine representative in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since its inception in 1994 until she was dropped from the official delegation in the 2009 convention for reasons unknown. (Sudan later adopted her.)

Eco-warrior tactic: Dubbed the "dragon woman," she is one of the first Filipinos that comes to mind when speaking of eco-warriors. With her sharp memory and fearless questioning, she negotiates hard such that a Westerner who asked not to be named told The Guardian, "Even the Americans quake in fear of her. She terrifies them."

She says: "I don’t live up to their prejudices of what is a third-world woman. That’s what they don’t like about me," she told The Guardian in reaction to what an unnamed British diplomat said about the climate change negotiations being like a 1960s ideological war.

2. Jurgenne Honculada-Primavera

Who she is: Dr. Jurgenne (pronounced "Georgine") Honculada-Primavera was awarded the 2008 TIME Magazine Hero of the Environment for campaigning for sustainable fish farming to protect the lessening multi-useful mangrove forests.

Eco-warrior tactic: Mangroves might seem less profitable compared to the aqua farms that have replaced mangrove forests but they’re no less vital. Primavera champions mangroves because of their many uses like helping regulate floods and providing wildlife nutrition and habitat. She gives lectures not just on mangrove conservation but also on "beach forests, native trees and climate change." When she’s not deep in her mangrove advocacy, she plants at home or in a mini-forest in Miag-ao her family has been nurturing for 15 years.

She says: "To [those who will go abroad] and to those who remain but become call center employees, after you earn lots of money, go back to what you trained for and make a contribution, whether in fisheries or economics or biology or mass communications. Then you will put a lie to last year’s Hong Kong column of Chip Tsao calling the Philippines a "nation of servants" and vindicate the faith of... Jose Rizal, in you as the hope of the Mother and Fatherland."

3. Illac Diaz

 

Illac Diaz and his NGO Liter of Light has already helped over 382,000 Filipinos, and 690,000 people throughout the world to get out of energy poverty.

Who he is: This social entrepreneur helped launch Design Against the Elements, an international contest on environment-friendly and resilient urban housing, in March. A former commercial model, he is also one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World in 2006, a World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader awardee in 2008 and the only Filipino who made it to CNNgo.com’s "Hot List: 135 People to Watch" in 2009.

Eco-warrior tactic: From creating award-winning projects like affordable urban housing for seamen with his team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Diaz now helps lead the international green urban housing contest, Design Against the Elements. The contest encourages its about 3,000 architect participants to create high-rise buildings that can be duplicated. In line with the project, Diaz brought together over 40 local artists for the song, "Stand Up," which calls for people to be ready against climate change.

He says: "If we think ahead of time, we can start realizing that we have to do something proactive. The pattern of weather has been crazy and there’s nothing to stop it unless we do something ourselves."

4. Anna Meloto-Wilk

Who she is: Anna Meloto-Wilk is the president of Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. and the brain behind its social enterprise brand Human Nature, along with sister Camille and husband Dylan. Mother to three children, she is also one of Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto’s daughters and a Gawad Kalinga volunteer as well.

Eco-warrior tactic: Anna’s passion for the environment started in 2005 when she and her husband Dylan made a conscious effort to use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones that take 500 years to biodegrade. While Dylan, a Gawad Kalinga volunteer, set up a network of Gawad Kalinga volunteers in the U.S. in 2007, Anna noticed a growing trend of more affordable natural and homegrown products. When her sister Camille followed them to the U.S., they researched on how to recreate this phenomenon in the Philippines. They collaborated with a natural formulator to create the body care line, Human Nature, made from mostly natural and locally grown materials. Without the "high cost of advertising and costly retail stores," the products are relatively cheap. They launched the line on November 2008 and have recently sold their one-millionth product after just 16 months of operation.

She says: "Selling our one-millionth product... proves that businesses can be highly successful while actively loving our country, the poor and the environment."

5. Krie Reyes-Lopez and Candy Reyes

Krie Lopez (left) and Candy Reyes (right)

Who they are: Looks like green consciousness runs in the family. Krie Reyes-Lopez is the brain behind Messy Bessy, a local line of environment-friendly cleaning products, while her sister Candy Reyes leads the Pedala Bike Messengers, a pollution-free delivery service.

Eco-warrior tactic: Because of a lack of local alternatives to cleaning products, Lopez created Messy Bessy after a rigorous hunt for suppliers and chemists. Launched in 2007, the non-toxic, natural and biodegradable cleaning agents became bazaar hits, and are now available in malls, organic stores and markets. The bestsellers include the first products she made herself: the Minty Orange Surface Cleaner and Eucalyptus All-Purpose Scrub. Lopez also formed HOUSE (Helping Ourselves Through Sustainable Enterprises), which helps disadvantaged kids like the formerly abused girls who reside in Virlanie Foundation’s Elizabeth House. These girls are welcome to work for Messy Bessy.

Meanwhile, Lopez’ sister Candy Reyes, a UP Mountaineer, thought Messy Bessy’s delivery service should be just as eco-conscious as the brand so she came up with Pedala Bike Messengers. Aside from leaving almost no carbon footprints, the courier service prides its same-day pickup and delivery option. The riders range from athletes to business owners and former couriers, serving big and small business, and eco-conscious groups and individuals.

Reyes says: "I just can’t sit idly and not do anything for the environment when I can feel the effects of its degradation every day. Pedala lets me do my share and allows me to give others a chance to help save the planet too, one delivery at a time. My hope for now is simply to just have more bikes on our streets."

Lopez says: "I think people should start understanding that environmental consciousness is more than just something cool to have; it’s really simply the commonsensical way to go, nothing more."

6. Chit Juan, Jeannie Javelosa and Reena Francisco

Reena Francisco, Jeannie Javelosa and Chit Juan

Who they are: Restaurant and cafe expert Reena Francisco, writer-artist Jeannie Javelosa and marketing specialist Chit Juan came together to form ECHOStore (ECHO stands for Environment & Community Hope Organization), a line of retail stores that carry organic and locally sourced products.

Eco-warrior tactic: Espousing sustainable lifestyle, the trio put up ECHOstore to connect those that can provide and those that hunt for healthier and eco-friendly alternatives. It brings products from the provinces like wild honey from Ifugao to Manila, and at the same time, helps provide income for indigenous and marginalized communities. Their products range �from food and supplements to body care products and fashion accessories.

Under ECHOstore are yoga wellness program ECHOyoga, product design and development program ECHOdesign Lab, and mentoring program ECHOteach, among others.

Francisco says: "Environmental apathy in this day and age is borne out of simple ignorance. With political will of a strong and intelligent leadership in the Philippines, we can still reverse any damage that occurred in our land... If everyone does their share, I believe the Philippines can be a nature haven someday."

Juan says: "I think we are positively moving towards a more eco-friendly future. The awareness for going green has started to pick up and I know the Philippines will soon be one of the top green places in the world!"

Javelosa says: "[In five years,] I see a people taking responsibility in the little acts of daily life to bring green awareness to actions both personal and collaborative. I see a responsible government trying its best to inspire the people toward ecologically sound living since there would be no other direction to take as Mother Earth will speak even louder than she does now."

7. Ann Wizer

 

Who she is: Founder of the non-government organization, Invisible, which makes must-haves out of trash. She says: "I have chosen to work with debris. If you listen, trash speaks of our values; each object and substance speaks of its origin."

Eco-warrior tactic: Manila-based artist and environmentalist Ann Wizer leads Invisible, an organization that teaches marginalized women to crochet and knit accessories like jewelry and bags from plastic, computer wires and other undesirables. The finished products are sold locally and even abroad through the Invisible Institute’s recent partnership with international accessories designer Rafe Totengco’s Rafe New York, breathing new life into trash and generating income for the women. The Invisible Sisters is similar to Wizer’s XSProject Foundation in Jakarta that she established in 2004. The foundation buys waste materials from trash pickers and turns the materials into laptop sleeves, document wallets, pencil cases, shoulder bags and more.

8. Chin Chin Gutierrez

Who she is: Actress, one of TIME Magazine’s Asian Heroes in 2003, and The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service awardee in 2004.

Eco-warrior tactic: Aside from being a stage, TV and movie actress, Chin Chin Gutierrez is also a staunch environmentalist. She landed the cover of TIME Magazine’s Asian Heroes Special Issue in 2003 for her Mother Earth Foundation’s workshops, tree-planting sessions and cleanups. In 2004, she appeared in a vegetarian advertisement for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) with the tagline "Try to Relate to who is on your Plate." She also gives environmental lectures to the youth, non-government units, civic leaders and government officials.

Gutierrez on skeptics: "Siguro I wouldn’t be given the recognition [as one of the Asian heroes in 2003] ng TIME magazine kung ganun-ganun lang ako. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa ’yung hirap ng advocacy, kasi mahirap na maging malabo ’yung cause. Kasi people would think na napakababaw ’pag hinaluan ng mga ganyang kuwento. Ang pinag-uusapan dito, buhay na ng tao."

9. Dale Diaz, Francis Mendoza and Andrew Sarinas

Who they are: Associates of Environmental Ventures Marketing Inc. (EVMI), which gets rid of waste the natural way by using microorganisms.

Andrew Sarinas, Dale Diaz and Francis Mendoza

Eco-warrior tactic: To put it simply, the enterprising trio "deploy microbes in powder or liquid form that ’eat and digest’ waste," Town & Country wrote in their May 2009 issue. No harmful chemicals, just natural and healthy disposal. In their early days in 2000, the company was hard-pressed for clients since microbial cleaning agents were far from the norm then. Diaz recalled how they offered a water company a free demonstration: "We literally emptied pails and pails of bacteria down [their] main line. It worked though it took months for the company to call us back and sign us on as partners in its other businesses’ cleanup jobs."

EVMI now takes care of the waste of Alabang Town Center, Market! Market!, Greenhills Shopping Center, Petron, Pancake House, San Miguel Pure Foods and Enchanted Kingdom, among others according to their website.

Mendoza says: "We took up the challenge because we somehow knew that this was the way to go. And I guess we were right. More and more companies are now aware of how bacteria--which always had a negative connotation--help clean the environment safely and naturally," he told Town & Country.

Sarinas says: "Why not make [wastewater] potable? A lot of people, we guess, still have this diri factor. Where do you think water from La Mesa Dam comes from? When the water is treated properly, one can actually drink it. Hopefully, ten years down the line, this would be realized," he told Town & Country.

10. Odette Alcantara

Who she was: Alcantara was an activist and environmentalist who introduced zero waste management with systems for composting and recycling in Blue Ridge, Quezon City about a decade ago. Blue Ridge has since become a model for zero waste management and even a training center for other communities, reports GMANews.tv. This Earth Day Network Philippines founder also fought for the passage of the Clean Air Act and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act that banned incineration, among others, in the late 1990s. Inquirer.net reports one of her eco "gimmicks": On the late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay’s 100th birth anniversary on August 2007, Alcantara had over a hundred men named Ramon plant trees.

Alcantara was fearless and unstoppable in her advocacy. Environmentalist Leonor "Inday" Berroya told Inquirer.net how Alcantara "[stopped] motorists spewing noxious fumes and [lectured] them," while painter Ivi Avellano Cosio recalled an instance when Alcantara cursed and told off utilities staff who said a pile of burning garbage is not their responsibility, not caring about the armed guard with the staff.

In memory of an eco-warrior: So known was she as an environmental advocate that when she passed away in 2009 due to aneurysm, a circulating text message read: "In lieu of flowers, Tita Odette would most likely prefer donations of saplings and seedlings."

Her motto: "L-A-H-A-T: Lupa, Araw, Hangin, Ako, Tubig. Lahat magkaugnay."

Jurgenne Primavera’s photo by W. (Japoi) Cequina, courtesy of FemaleNetwork.com. Anna Wilk’s photo courtesy of Human Nature. Krie Lopez’ photo by Style Bible Digital. Candy Reyes’ photo by Kai Huang for Preview. Chit Juan, Jeannie Javelosa and Reena Francisco’s photo from ECHOstore’s website. Ann Wizer’s photo from XSProject.com.au. Chin Chin Gutierrez’ photo by Noel Orsal of PEP.ph. Dale Diaz, Francis Mendoza and Andrew Sarinas photo by Lilen Uy for Town & Country.Odette Alcantara’s photo by Ramon Flores for GMANews.tv. ~

Part 3 - Meet our country’s environmental heroes

AUG 29, 2016 1:06 PM PHT
GWEN DE LA CRUZ
As we celebrate the National Heroes Day, here are some of the stories of our environmental heroes, those who sacrificed their lives to protect the Philippines' environment

MANILA, Philippines – While heroes can be found anywhere, not everyone becomes famous.

There are those who quietly do their job with excellence, honesty, and integrity, and are still considered heroes. Sometimes, because of their dedication, they even risk their lives. And a lot of them are serving in government.

With a known environment activist at the helm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the agency has been making headlines for its fight against illegal environmental practices such as the back-to-back shutdown of mining operations in different parts of the country. She has also urged the DENR officials to “inspire people and be proactive.“

As we celebrate the National Heroes Day, here are some of the stories of our environmental heroes: those who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s environment.

National Heroes Day.  Celebrated as early as 1931, the holiday honors and remembers all Philippine national heroes. Here are a few facts related to this occasion.

Melania Dirain, The Forest Specialist

As a forest specialist, part of Dirain’s job was the enforcement of foreign protection laws, including policies against illegal logging.

Just a month after she assumed her post as officer in charge of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan, she apprehended illegal loggers and confiscated a number of illegal forest products already.

Because of this, Dirain received death threats for months, but she still continued on her crusade.

On February 7, 2012, Dirain was shot to death while talking to an office messenger. A report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer said Dirain was talking to Isaias Cereniado inside her office, when a man barged in and shot 5 five times in the chest. Her 3 sons suddenly became orphans (she was a widow; her husband died a few years before).

That same year, Dirain was given the Dangal ng Bayan award by the Civil Service Commission. She was also given the “Bayani ng Kalikasan” award by the Center for Environmental Concerns.

According to Rare, a partner international conservation organization of the DENR, Dirain “pioneered the use of cell phones to anonymously report illegal forest activities.”

Jojo Malinao, The Forest Guard
Malinao was a forest guard at the Makiling Forest Reserve in Laguna. His job included diligently patrolling the forest and protecting it against destructive activities such as timber poaching, illegal occupancy, kaingin (slash-and-burn agriculture), and littering. He also served as a witness in cases involving these illegal practices.

On the day of his death on May 9, 2011, he testified during the hearing of Armando Javier and Napoleon Oliveros, who were both charged with violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, according to a report from the Inquirer.

After the hearing, he went to a tarpaulin shop in Bay, Laguna, where he was shot to death by a man on a motorcycle.

According to testaments of those close to him, he was once offered P100,000 ($2,153) for bribe but rejected it and said, “Patayin na lang nila ako.” (They can kill me instead.)

Logendrin Aranca, The Forest Ranger and Bernabe Malijao, The Tree Maker

Aranca, a Forest Ranger, and Malijao, a Tree Marker, were both tasked to man a checkpoint along the main highway going to Real, Infanta, and General Nakar towns in the province of Quezon.

In the evening of August 22, 1995, a resident of Barangay Maragondon in Real, Quezon, whose passenger jeepney was loaded with Narra lumber, requested for a clearance pass. The two, however, denied the request because of lack of transport documents. The resident then rode on his jeepney again and drove through the barricade.

Onboard a motorcycle, Aranca and Malijao followed the jeepney for 4 to 5 kilometers. When they reached Barangay Paagahan in Mabitac, Laguna, the two overtook the jeepney, but unfortunately, the jeepney rammed the rear end of the motorcycle.

Aranca and Malijao fell on the ground, their bodies crossed on top of each other. The driver put the car in reverse and ran over the bodies of the two men.

The resident later surrendered to the police and was jailed for double murder.

Wilfredo Bayucot, The Forest Ranger

Bayucot, a forest ranger, was the team leader of the monitoring station of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.

In the evening of March 23, 2003, during his duty, Bayucot flagged down an Isuzu Elf truck loaded with Gmelina lumber. When the car didn’t stop, Bayucot followed by riding on a motorcycle driven by a scaler named Marslou Bonita.

The driver of the truck then deliberately bumped Bayucot’s motorcycle, causing him and the driver to fall off the motorcycle. Bayucot died 3 days later.

Isidro de la Peña, The Forester
De la Peña is a forester in DENR’s Region XI office.

In 2003, de la Peña, along with a DENR staff member and a coast guard officer, apprehended the owners of 4 container vans at Davao City’s Sasa Wharf that were already being readied to be loaded to a vessel. The van, carrying illegally cut lumber, did not have the necessary documents.

De la Peña was sued for robbery instead. With the case dismissed later on, he revealed to one of his team members that “someone called him up and threatened him”. He responded by saying “Gawin ninyo, wala naman akong kasalanan.” (Do it. I am innocent.)

Almost a year after the incident, on September 28, 2004, de la Peña was shot to death 3 times at the intersection of Balusong and McArthur Hi-way in Matina, Davao City. His team members then received anonymous death threats like, “You will be the next.”

Jaime Diez, The Tree Maker
Diez is a tree maker at DENR – CENRO in Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur.

During his stint, he was responsible for the confiscation of about 6,695 pieces of lumber and 951 pieces of mixed dipterocarp logs at the Ojot Monitoring Station in 2011, with an estimated value of over P2.4 million (approximately $51,600 in the current exchange rate).

Because of this, Diez received death threats until he was gunned down inside his bedroom, beside his wife, on February 22, 2012 – just 15 days after Melania Dirain was also killed. Meanwhile, the gunman was able to escape. His wife and friends, however, continued to receive death threats after the shooting incident.

Opportunities for families left behind

In June 2016, the Environmental Heroes Foundation Incorporated gave 5 of the slain employees the Environmental Heroes award. The families they left behind were given livelihood assistance worth P300,000 ($6,457).

EHFI is a non-profit organization established to promote the welfare of DENR officials who lost their lives or are permanently disabled while on duty, in the course of implementing environmental laws and policies.

In 2013, the orphaned children of the awardees were also offered scholarship program by the DENR.

During its 111th anniversary, the Civil Service Commission generated P300,000 ($6,457) from a fun run it organized. The proceeds from the event were donated to the families of the victims as well.

According to DENR, the awardees were killed during missions against suspected illegal loggers operating in so-called illegal logging “hotspots” identified by the agency. – Rappler.com

Sources: Civil Service Commission and Department of Environment and Natural Resources