Stories

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…

Almost a thousand Filipino youth across thirteen cities in the country took to the streets their demands for climate justice last Friday, May 24, as part of the global movement of climate youth strikes. The rallies come shortly after the recently concluded Philippine midterm elections where over 18,000 national and local positions were filled for…

To sustain and deliver the concept of zero waste, youth advocates and schools in Negros Oriental and Siquijor merged during the Zero Waste Youth Convergence at Sofia Soller Sinco Hall, Foundation University (FU) last January 27. Organized by Zero Waste Youth-Negros Oriental, War on Waste-Break Free from Plastic Negros Oriental and ADUNA, the union gathered…

The world is facing a 30,000 sq.km seagrass area damage crisis, and the Philippines already lost half of its seagrass ecosystem in just six decades and is rapidly losing more. To help address the issue and promote the importance of its protection, Caus Planet Creative Studio, led by Egveniya Spiridonova, came up with an artistic…

Curating at least 40 art pieces from all over the Philippines that tell stories of the current climate crisis, the first environmental journalism organization of Negros Oriental launched a revolutionary art exhibit to a crowd of more than 100 at Robinson’s Place Dumaguete last May 4-6. The Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ), in partnership…

To urge the government to transition into a clean, sustainable, and coal-free province, environmental organizations around Dumaguete City converged March 6 for a silent protest in front of the Provincial Capitol. The Youth STrike for Climate was also a move in support of Negros Occidental which is under threat by plans for a coal-fired power…

Bayawan, Bacolod, and Sipalay City, along with the municipalities of Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Basay, Sta. Catalina, and Siaton have declared their commitment to reduce plastic waste in their communities by the year 2020. This declaration, also known as the “Bayawan Agreement”, was signed by representatives of the mentioned Local Government Units (LGU) and all guests present…

A formal dialogue between Foundation University (FU) festival organizers and concerned environmental advocates was held on Tuesday after an event sparked online controversy on its environmental impacts. Last July 6, FU celebrated it’s founding anniversary through the “Dal-Uy Festival,” an annual tradition of the university where floating lanterns inscribed with dreams and aspirations are symbolically…