Stories

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we will be featuring 5 local Environmental Defenders who tirelessly fought and championed their respective environmental causes in the last 5 decades. Von Hernandez is a decorated Asia’s leading activist against waste incineration. He helped make history in 1999 when the Philippines became the first country…

“What can we do?” For a team of only 6 people, it was a question we constantly asked ourselves. Our options were limited due to factors such as fewer manpower, strict implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), and limited monetary resources to start with, yet we knew for sure that we needed to do…

Rays of sunlight peek through the walls of a modest household near La Preza, Sibulan to highlight the beginning of a new day. Within the four walls of this household, Emma Tuting is seen readying herself for the day that awaits her. Almost every morning, Emma hears the familiar sound of footsteps walking on the…

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we will be featuring 5 local Environmental Defenders who tirelessly fought and championed their respective environmental causes in the last 5 decades. Dr. Romana de los Reyes is from Bago City, Negros Occidental. She has been an anti- coal plant activist since 1997 and convened the…

Busy streets, people buzzing about, and an overflowing supply of vegetables and rice delicacies. These were the images that described normal Thursdays in the markets of Maitum, the farthest municipality in the province of Sarangani. But everything changed when COVID-19 came into the picture. Just weeks before the Enhanced Community Quarantine, I went out to…

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we will be featuring 5 local Environmental Defenders who tirelessly fought and championed their respective environmental causes in the last 5 decades. Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan is a Filipino journalist and activist, born and raised in Baguio City, Benguet. He is currently the Director of the…

The Association of Young Environmental Journalists decries the cease and desist order filed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to the Philippines’ largest broadcasting network, ABS-CBN. The events that led to its shutdown from the airwaves on May 5 have been targeted attacks on press freedom and democracy, and as young journalists committed to upholding…

Mr. Macud is a pedicab driver, or sikad, as it is locally called in the community of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte.  At the age of 40, Mr. Macud is more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. But being the sole provider of his family of two, he has no choice but  to work. They don’t…

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we will be featuring 5 local Environmental Defenders who tirelessly fought and championed their respective environmental causes in the last 5 decades. Angel C. Alcala was born and raised in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. He is a Filipino biologist who was proclaimed a National Scientist of the…

Around 500 people joined the Zero Waste Month Walk held last January 18 at Quezon Park, Dumaguete City to celebrate the achievements of the zero waste movement, raise awareness on how individuals can live sustainably, and to hold the government and corporations accountable. With the theme, “Zero Waste: a Solution to the Climate Crisis,” the…