Mindanao Rising: A Call to Action for Environmental Leaders as Mindanao Hosts Landmark Red-Green Forum

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KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — A powerful wave of green political momentum is about to surge across Mindanao as the Green Party of the Philippines (GPP) prepare to gather local leaders, community advocates, and civil society movers for a groundbreaking regional event that could shape the environmental future of the Philippines.

Set to take place on July 27, 2025, the Mindanao Greens Environmental Forum will serve as the regional leg of the larger Red-Green Multi-Party Partnership initiative—an ambitious movement to unify political parties and grassroots organizations under one banner: a just, inclusive, and community-rooted green transition.

A Forum for the People, Powered by the People

Under the theme “Mindanao Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action,” this upcoming consultation aims to ignite a bottom-up transformation of national environmental policy. With climate change intensifying and ecological degradation worsening, the event comes at a critical time when national strategies must evolve from the realities and wisdom of communities on the frontlines.

Participants from local political chapters, community leaders, NGOs, and environmental defenders are expected to converge in Koronadal City to voice their concerns, share lived experiences, and help craft a shared Red-Green agenda that will influence the upcoming National Consultation.

From Mangrove Roots to Movement Goals

The event activities kick off on July 26, when delegates will participate in National Mangrove Day alongside 42 grassroots organizations in Cotabato City—a symbolic act of rooting the movement in both action and advocacy.

By afternoon, participants will travel to Koronadal City, setting the stage for the full-day consultation on July 27.

A Powerful Line-Up of Speakers and Stakeholders

The program promises dynamic sessions with key figures from the Green Party of the Philippines, including:

David D’Angelo, GPP National Chairperson

Joseph Ramos, GPP National President

Ross Flores Del Rosario, GPP National Vice President – External Affairs and founder of Wazzup Pilipinas

Engr. Richard Peñaflor, GPP National Auditor

Lexi Acosta, Mindanao Island Convenor

Emmie Lee Cordero, GPP Vice President for Internal Affairs

Paul Montecino, GPP Regional Convenor for Tagum City

From an opening creative introduction of participants to Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), green survey results, and a commitment ceremony, every moment is designed to surface real solutions from the ground up. A significant highlight will be the election of Mindanao Officers for the Green Party of the Philippines, further anchoring the movement’s presence in the region.

Building a Movement, Not Just a Moment

This forum is not just about discussion—it’s about mobilization, coalition-building, and empowerment. The Red-Green initiative envisions multi-party cooperation that goes beyond politics. It’s about facing the climate crisis together, with the marginalized and local voices at the helm.

“We are no longer waiting for change from the top—we are building it from the ground,” said Ross Flores Del Rosario, who is set to represent the National Capital Region and contribute insights from both media and policy perspectives.

The results of the Mindanao consultation will feed directly into the upcoming National Red-Green Consultation Workshop, where a united policy platform will be finalized by GPP, Akbayan, and aligned green advocates. It will serve as the foundation for lobbying, campaigning, and legislating a people-powered environmental agenda.

The Future Is Green—And It Starts in Mindanao

As Mindanao prepares to rise with purpose and unity, the anticipation grows—not just among environmentalists, but among every Filipino hoping for a more sustainable, just, and livable future.

This is more than an event. It’s a declaration: the grassroots are ready, and the time to act is now.

Follow Wazzup Pilipinas for updates before, during, and after the forum. We’ll be bringing you on-the-ground coverage, exclusive interviews, and the voices that matter most—yours.

Red-Green Revolution: A Bold Vision for Philippines' Environmental Future

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In a groundbreaking political development that could reshape the Philippines' environmental landscape, former adversaries are setting aside partisan differences to forge an unprecedented alliance. The Red-Green Multi-Party Partnership has emerged as a beacon of hope in a nation grappling with the urgent realities of climate change, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation.

The Cebu Declaration: Where Politics Meets Purpose

On July 6, 2025, the serene barangay of Sunog in Balamban, Cebu, became the unlikely epicenter of a political revolution. Here, in the humble confines of a local House of Prayer, representatives from the Green Party of the Philippines gathered under the compelling theme: "Visayas Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action."

This wasn't just another political meeting—it was a declaration of war against environmental complacency and a bold step toward what organizers call a "just and inclusive green transition."

Breaking the Mold: When Red Meets Green

The partnership represents a seismic shift in Philippine politics, where ideological boundaries have traditionally created insurmountable barriers. The "Red-Green" nomenclature itself tells a story of transformation—bringing together the social justice advocacy of progressive movements with the environmental urgency of green politics.

"This is about survival. We're not just talking about policy anymore—we're talking about the future of our communities, our children, and our planet."

From Grassroots to National Stage: The Strategic Vision

The initiative's approach is both ambitious and methodical. Rather than imposing top-down solutions, the partnership is launching a series of Local Consultation Workshops designed to capture the authentic voices of communities across the archipelago. These workshops will serve as the foundation for a national red-green agenda that promises to be deeply rooted in local realities.

The strategy is revolutionary in its inclusivity. Local political party leaders, civil society groups, and community stakeholders will come together to identify urgent climate and social justice concerns. This isn't political theater—it's democracy in action, where solutions emerge from the lived experiences of those most affected by environmental challenges.

The Domino Effect: From Local Voices to National Policy

What makes this initiative particularly compelling is its cascading structure. The local consultations will feed directly into a National Red-Green Consultation Workshop, where GPP and other green advocacy-oriented formations will converge to finalize a shared policy platform.

This bottom-up approach ensures that the final agenda won't be another collection of abstract policy prescriptions, but a concrete roadmap born from the collective wisdom of communities across the Philippines.

A Vision of Unity in Diversity

The partnership's dual objectives reveal the scope of their ambition. First, they seek to surface community-rooted development priorities that both major political parties can embrace at the national level. This isn't about political conquest—it's about finding common ground in the face of existential challenges.

Second, they aim to build the foundation for a shared national agenda that encourages multi-party cooperation on climate action and social justice. In a political landscape often characterized by division and partisanship, this represents a paradigm shift toward collaborative governance.

The Stakes: More Than Politics

The urgency driving this initiative is clearly felt. Terms like "urgent climate and social justice concerns" and "lived realities" underscore that this isn't an academic exercise. For many Filipino communities, climate change isn't a future threat—it's a present reality affecting livelihoods, homes, and lives.

Environmental challenges don't respect political boundaries. Typhoons don't discriminate between districts, rising sea levels don't favor particular parties, and environmental degradation affects all communities regardless of their political affiliations.

A New Chapter in Philippine Environmental Politics

As the Red-Green Multi-Party Partnership prepares to launch its consultation workshops, it represents more than just another political initiative. It embodies a fundamental shift in how environmental challenges are approached in the Philippines—not as partisan issues to be debated, but as shared challenges requiring collective action.

The success of this initiative could establish a new model for environmental governance in the Philippines, one that prioritizes collaboration over competition, community voices over political rhetoric, and long-term sustainability over short-term gains.

In the quiet barangay of Sunog, Balamban, a conversation has begun that could echo across the entire archipelago. The question now is whether this red-green vision can translate into the transformative action that the Philippines desperately needs.

The revolution starts with a conversation. The future begins with a choice. And in Cebu, that choice is being made one consultation at a time.

Please check the official Facebook page of the Green Party of the Philippines for more details and photos/videos of the forums and consultations 

Blind Allegiance, Broken Democracy: Why Marcos Loyalists and DDS Fanatics Are Cut From the Same Dangerous Cloth

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Brace yourselves. This isn’t just another rant. This is a wake-up call.

As of this writing, we have an average of 2 million views on this platform. After this post, that number might shrink—and that’s perfectly fine. Because telling the truth in a time of tribal politics isn’t meant to be easy. It’s meant to matter.

Let’s get real: a Marcos loyalist is just as dangerous as a DDS fanatic. Not because they wear the same color or post the same memes, but because they embody the same rot: blind allegiance over informed citizenship.

You want facts? Let’s break it down.

Two Heads, Same Beast

At first glance, the Marcoses and the Dutertes might seem like political rivals. But dig deeper and you’ll find a disturbingly similar playbook:

Cultivate worship, not trust.

Replace truth with spectacle.

Use trolls and propaganda to drown dissent.

Marcos Loyalists, some of whom still call Ferdinand Marcos Sr. a hero despite a brutal dictatorship that left 3,000+ dead, 34,000+ tortured, and billions in stolen wealth, live in a fantasy scripted by state propaganda, Facebook influencers, and revisionist memes.

DDS fanatics, meanwhile, embrace Rodrigo Duterte's “strongman” mythos, turning a blind eye to the thousands killed in his drug war, the weaponization of justice, and the death of critical thinking.

Both sides chant slogans. Both deny facts. Both dismantle democracy one post, one troll, one myth at a time.

Red Flags You Can’t Ignore

Let’s talk behavior—not beliefs.

1. They Worship, Not Watch

Loyalty in a democracy should be to the Constitution, not to a name. But for these two camps, accountability is treason. They don’t support leaders—they idolize them.

Questioning is betrayal. Doubting is “dilawan.” Thinking for yourself? Blasphemy.

2. They Rewrite History

Historical facts about Martial Law? “Fake news,” they cry.

Crimes under the drug war? “Collateral damage,” they shrug.

Marcos loyalists romanticize the “golden age” that never was. DDS diehards peddle conspiracy theories and insult survivors of state violence.

The goal is simple: blur reality until lies look like truth.

3. They Obey Faces, Not Principles

This isn’t about governance. It’s about glorification. Leaders become gods. Their words become law—even when they contradict themselves. Even when people die because of them.

Studies on personality cults confirm: followers of authoritarian figures feel “purpose” in total submission. That’s not patriotism. That’s a cult mentality.

4. They Weaponize Social Media

From Marcos troll farms to DDS echo chambers, social media is the new battlefield.

They don’t debate. They attack. They don’t correct. They cancel.

Online anonymity fuels their viciousness—what psychologists call toxic disinhibition, often linked to narcissism and lack of empathy.

The Science of Fanaticism

Research from the University of Cambridge shows that extremists—left, right, red, or green—share common traits:

Impulsiveness

Rigid worldviews

Low emotional control

Poor information processing

In short: fanaticism isn’t political. It’s psychological. And it thrives when critical thinking dies.

Democracy’s Silent Assassins

Let’s be clear. This isn’t about online noise. It’s about how fanaticism corrodes every democratic institution we rely on:

1. They Tilt the Power Balance

Democracy demands checks and balances. But Marcos and Duterte followers normalize unchecked power. One-man rule. No questions asked.

2. They Kill Dissent

Criticism becomes taboo. Media becomes “biased.” Activists become “terrorists.”

In this world, truth doesn’t matter—loyalty does.

3. They Romanticize Authoritarianism

The worst part? This behavior spreads.

One person tolerates abuse of power, and five others start doing the same. Authoritarianism becomes a trend, not a threat.

Real Talk: We’re All at Risk

Whether it’s BBM or Duterte, Marcos or Mocha, when your loyalty to a leader is greater than your loyalty to the truth, you’ve already surrendered your freedom.

Here’s what this dangerous allegiance really does:

It erases accountability

It feeds historical amnesia

It replaces logic with mob rule

It stifles truth-telling

It rots the soul of democracy

Marcos loyalists and DDS fanatics are not opposites. They are mirror images. And in those mirrors, we see the cracks forming in our nation’s foundation.

Final Words, Hard Truths

This isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about choosing sanity.

The next time someone tells you, “Wag kang makialam,” or “Move on na,” or “Respect the mandate,” ask yourself:

Are they defending democracy—or destroying it from within?

Don’t mistake noise for numbers.

Don’t confuse loyalty with love of country.

Don’t allow falsehoods to pass as patriotism.

We must challenge fanaticism wherever it comes from—be it cloaked in red shirts, green jackets, or golden nostalgia.

Because once democracy is gone, it won’t matter who you supported. It will only matter that you stayed silent while they burned the truth down.

Sources & Suggested Reading:

UP Kasarinlan Journal – On Marcos-era disinformation

Wikipedia – Davao Death Squad

The PhilBizNews – The Many Meanings of DDS

Salon – When Does a Political Movement Become a Cult?

Neuroscience News – Dark Triad Traits and Online Trolling

MedicalXpress – The Extremist Mind

Let’s keep the truth alive.

Follow Wazzup Pilipinas on YouTube for more truth-telling, perspective-breaking content.

If you’re tired of blind loyalty and desperate for honest dialogue, this is your space.

Truth stings. But silence kills.