From Witnesses to Warriors: Mindanao Youth Rise as Climate Champions in Camiguin

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Camiguin, Philippines — July 15, 2025

On the volcanic island of Camiguin, where mountains meet the sea and typhoons brush past with quiet fury, 40 young hearts from across Mindanao came face-to-face with the silent emergency gripping the planet—climate change.

For ten days, from May 30 to June 7, the Climate Science Youth Camp (CSYC) 2025 transformed high school students and teachers into environmental warriors armed not just with scientific knowledge but with a deep, soul-shaking understanding of what it means to fight for the future.

“Lumaki kami sa kwentong puro doktor, pulis, o firefighters ang bida. But what we didn’t realize until this camp was that there are other heroes, too—those who silently worked behind the scenes. They understood the climate, protected the oceans, and cared for our future.”

— Sylldhea Jaireh B. Bayud, General Santos City SPED Integrated School

This was no ordinary camp. It was a crucible—blending science, service, and a sense of stewardship to mold the next generation of Filipino climate leaders.

Camiguin: Nature’s Classroom, Crisis’ Frontline

Camiguin, long celebrated for its biodiversity and microclimates, provided the perfect canvas for this scientific and emotional awakening.

From sunrise reef explorations to afternoon lectures on weather systems, students walked in the footsteps of scientists from the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) and DOST-PAGASA. They learned how thermohaline currents dictate climate shifts and how mangrove forests act as nature’s defense line.

Inside DOST-PAGASA’s Synoptic Weather Station, the youth watched barometers tick and anemometers spin—suddenly realizing that these cold instruments spell out warm warnings that save lives.

Meteorology sessions exposed them to forecasting, hydrometeorological hazards, and the vital work of disaster prevention. In oceanography modules, they unraveled how the oceans breathe life into the planet—and how that breath is now gasping.

“Before this camp, climate change was just a topic in class. Now, it’s a face. It’s the face of a farmer who lost his crops to floods. The face of a child who can’t go to school when storms hit.”

— Student participant from Davao del Sur

Learning Empathy, Practicing Leadership

But knowledge alone is never enough. In a moving turn, the campers were also immersed in the stories of those living at the frontline.

Under the guidance of DOST-SEI Director Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio, a noted sociologist turned policymaker, the students learned to listen—not just with their ears but with their hearts. They were trained in community-based research and how to conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).

With notebooks in hand and sincerity in their voices, they engaged with the people of Sagay, a coastal town braving the consequences of climate change daily. They heard fishermen speak of dwindling catch. Farmers shared stories of failing crops. Barangay leaders narrated how rising tides now rewrite evacuation maps.

And then, something shifted.

Students stopped asking, "What can we learn?" and began asking, "What can we do?"

Action Plans: Seeds of Change

Fueled by real stories and raw truths, the youth designed their own climate action plans—not hypothetical school projects, but passionate blueprints for change.

One group envisioned eco-friendly fashion shows to make climate conversations cool and creative.

Another proposed waste segregation and recycling initiatives that begin in schools and ripple into barangays.

A team designed a community-wide plastic barter program, turning trash into teaching tools.

“This camp didn’t just teach science. It awakened responsibility.”

— Teacher delegate from Bukidnon

The Camp Ends. The Mission Begins.

As the final boat pulled away from Camiguin’s coast, there were no tearful goodbyes—only determined promises.

These students are no longer just learners. They are now leaders. Witnesses turned warriors. Equipped with knowledge, inspired by compassion, and bonded by a shared dream—a future where the Philippines not only survives climate change but leads the fight against it.

Thanks to the efforts of DOST-SEI, UP MSI, and DOST-PAGASA, and the vision behind CSYC, a new generation of heroes is rising—not in capes or uniforms, but in rubber boots, lab coats, and grassroots action.

And the story of Filipino resilience gains new protagonists—braver, bolder, and burning with the will to change the world.

For more stories of climate action and Filipino youth leadership, follow Wazzup Pilipinas and stay inspired by the change that begins with us.

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