WWF-Philippines marks 25 years as a ‘Force For Nature’

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

WWF-Philippines awarded Filipinos who have demonstrated a passion for conserving the environment and for playing a significant role in being forces for nature over the past years. 

From left: Dr. Deo Onda, Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan, Janice Paglinawan, Mikee Cojuanco-Jaworski, Chef Reggie Aspiras, and the members of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council. Photo: WWF-Philippines/Matikas Santos

WWF-Philippines celebrated its 25th year this month by looking back at its journey, milestones and challenges in the past quarter of a century.

A Partners’ Night with the theme “Force For Nature” held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City on November 29, honored long-time employees, community partners and private donors, as well as leaders in conservation.

WWF-Philippines recognized conservation champions outside of the organization whose contributions made a significant impact in promoting and scaling WWF’s advocacy of protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainability.

The Force of Nature Award recipients were marine biology professor and Br. Alfred Shields Ocean Research Center founding director Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan, Zamboanga del Sur-based social enterprise AgriBata founder Janice Paglinawan and microbial oceanographer and associate professor Dr. Deo Onda.

Special awards were given to WWF-Philippines National Youth Council (NYC), long-time ambassador Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and Chef Reggie Aspiras for their dedication to the organization.

The NYC is WWF’s youth arm that has led successful campaigns such as the Earth Hour Camp and the Youth Environment Summit for Oceans. Cojuangco-Jaworski was the first female Earth Hour Ambassador in the Philippines, while Chef Reggie helped secure additional livelihood for partner tuna fishing communities in Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait.

WWF-Philippines also acknowledged partners in the private sector for supporting its projects throughout the years. The corporate awardees included GCash, BPI and BPI Foundation, Globe, Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Foundation, HSBC and NEO.

Former DOE Secretary, WWF-Chairman Vince Perez, one of the founders of WWF-Philippines in 1996, was honored for his leadership and significant contributions to WWF’s advocacy on biodiversity protection and climate change. By leading Asia’s first debt-for-nature swap in 1996, Mr. Perez helped create the El Nido Marine Sanctuary, the St. Paul Underground River National Park, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and Management Office, and other protected areas in the country. A special commemorative marker was dedicated to Mr. Perez in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Ranger Station. Atty. Ana Melissa Lichaytoo was also awarded for her contribution, and dedicated service as the organization’s Corporate Secretary since it was founded in 1996.

Leading up to Partners’ Night, WWF-Philippines also prepared a commemorative Impact Report which chronicles its 25-year journey from the perspectives of WWF members, leaders, and conservation workers who have witnessed the impact of the organization throughout the years. It outlines the various narratives and change stories as told by advocates and individuals who are all part of the work and advocacy on conservation. It talks about the collective accomplishments of conservation work in the Philippines and the key lessons learned which may serve to inspire other organizations and other countries, in pursuit of a future where nature and humans thrive.

The night closed with the reciting of a pledge to nature or the Panata sa Kalikasan and Kinabukasan to seal WWF-Philippines’ commitment to conservation in the years to come.



About WWF-Philippines:

The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines is an environmental non-government organization committed to create an impact on biodiversity protection and responding to the climate crisis -towards a safe and just recovery. WWF-Philippines works with a host of partners including national and local governments, to co-create inclusive, innovative, and interdisciplinary solutions that emphasize the role of science in the service of life.

WWF-Philippines' focus is on scaled solutions with our partners to match the enormity of the tasks required to address the urgent environmental challenges facing the present and next generations of Filipinos. Its mission is "to stop, and eventually reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment – to build a future where Filipinos live in harmony with nature."



Photos:

Dr. Deo Onda (right) of the UP Marine Science Institute receives his Force of Nature Award from WWF-Philippines’ Board of Trustees Chairperson Maribel Garcia (left) and National Advisory Council member Vincent Perez (center). Photo: WWF-Philippines/Matikas Santos

Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan receives his Force of Nature Award from WWF-Philippines for his more than 25 years of work in studying and monitoring coral reefs in the Philippines. Photo: WWF-Philippines/Matikas Santos

Janice Paglinawan, founder of AgriBata social enterprise from Zamboanga del Sur, received WWF-Philippines’ Force of Nature Award for dedicating her work to the advocacy of food security and production. Photo: WWF-Philippines/Matikas Santos

WWF-Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio (first from left) gave special recognition to the National Youth Council for their dedication in spreading awareness about environmental conservation among the youth since their founding in 2016. Photo: WWF-Philippines/Matikas Santos

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.