Green Party of the Philippines Ignites a National Movement with "Visayas Rising" and "Mindanao Rising" Forums

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Green Party of the Philippines (GPP), in a groundbreaking series of consultations which started in Luzon specifically in Marikina city with the Environmental Leaders' Summit, has also mobilized local leaders across the Visayas and Mindanao, establishing a powerful alliance to forge a unified national green agenda. The events, part of a "Green Multi-Party Partnership," are a direct response to the urgent calls for climate justice, inclusive development, and multi-party cooperation.

The movement continued to erupt on July 6, 2025, with the "Visayas Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action" forum held atop the symbolic hills of Mt. Manunggal in Balamban, Cebu. The day began with "Earth Caring" activities and was followed by passionate calls to action from GPP Chairperson David D’Angelo and National President Joseph Ramos. Engr. Richard Peñaflor, the GPP's National Auditor, provided data-driven insights from a Green Survey, while Cebu Provincial Convenor Baltz Tribunalo grounded the discussions in local realities. The youth were at the forefront, with Tesha Arcamo of Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan leading a creative introduction. The consultation's "World Café" style focus groups allowed for intense dialogue on critical issues, from unsustainable development to the marginalization of indigenous practices. The day concluded with the establishment of Interim Visayas Officers, a strategic move to institutionalize the momentum.

The energy then surged south to Mindanao. From July 25-28, the "Mindanao Greens Environmental Forum" was a multi-day event themed "Mindanao Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action". The journey for participants began with their arrival in Cotabato City on July 25. The following day, July 26, was dedicated to a unifying "Mangrove Day Mindanao-wide Planting Activity," a tangible symbol of their shared commitment.

The main consultation on July 27 was a full-day program in Koronadal City, where participants engaged in a series of key discussions. The afternoon was devoted to a powerful Focus Group Discussion (FGD) designed to surface community-rooted issues and solutions from the ground up. Using a structured process with colored meta-cards, participants detailed the environmental and social issues they face, proposed solutions, and articulated the specific assistance they need from the GPP. These insights will serve as the bedrock for the GPP’s national green agenda. The forum also saw the election of new Mindanao Officers and a moving commitment ceremony led by Engr. Penaflor.

Both consultations, also attended by GPP External Vice President Ross Flores Del Rosario and Communications Officer Ranne Tubig, were meticulously designed to ensure fiscal transparency and prioritize grassroots voices. The outputs from both the Visayas and Mindanao forums will directly feed into a historic National Red-Green Consultation Workshop.

"Change does not trickle from the top—it erupts from the ground," said a GPP representative, capturing the spirit of the consultations. With the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao having spoken, the nation is now listening as the GPP and its allies march toward a future where nature thrives and justice prevails.

Contact and refer to the Facebook page for more details and photos/videos from the forums and consultations:

The Green Party of the Philippines

Mindanao Rising: A Comprehensive Look at the Green Party of the Philippines' Environmental Forum and Local Consultation

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a powerful four-day event, from July 25 to 28, 2025, the Green Party of the Philippines (GPP) took a decisive step towards building a national environmental agenda rooted in local experiences with the "Mindanao Greens Environmental Forum". The assembly, themed "Mindanao Rising: Empowering Local Leaders for Environmental Action," was a dynamic project designed to unite political parties and stakeholders around a common goal of a just and inclusive green transition. It was held in Koronadal City on July 27, 2025, and included a series of consultations and activities.

The journey began with the arrival of participants in Cotabato City on the afternoon of July 25. Our Internal Vice President, Emmie Cordero, was there to welcome us at the airport and even took us around to explore a bit of Cotabato including a courtesy call to the office of the city Agriculturist at the People's Palace and lunch at the ramen place of the Kutawato Greenland Initiatives (KGI). The following day, July 26, 2025, was dedicated to a "Mangrove Day Mindanao-wide Planting Activity," a hands-on demonstration of environmental commitment. After a gathering at the city plaza where the old city hall is located, all roads lead to the mangrove planting site with all the five officers from Manila of the Green Party of the Philippines composed of Chairman David D'Angelo, President Jeph Ramos, External Vice President Ross Flores Del Rosario, Auditor Reach Penaflor and Communications Officer Ranne Tubig were present to participate in the mangrove planting activity. They all rode at the back of a pickup towards just one of the destinations of this huge activity joined by several stakeholders from not just the LGUs but also from youth organizations all eager to take part in this noble effort to save and protect our environment. Afterwards, another short stopover at the grandest mosque in Cotabato, and then the participants finally traveled to Koronadal City for an overnight stay in preparation for the main event, though the road trip going to our venue was also full of trivia as our resident from Cotabato, GPP's Internal Vice President, Emmie Cordero, shared lots of information about the places we passed by.

The core of the forum took place on July 27, a full day of activities at Villa Princessita in Koronadal City. The program was a strategic mix of presentations and interactive sessions, beginning with welcome remarks from Emmie Lee Cordero, Vice President for Internal Affairs of the GPP. Joseph Ramos, the National President, discussed the event's objectives and provided a national situationer, while GPP Chairperson David D’Angelo introduced the party to the attendees. Local situationers were delivered by convenors from various Mindanao regions like Paul Montecillo and Lexi Acosta, providing a stark look at the on-the-ground realities. The afternoon sessions included a presentation of "Green Survey and Project Study Presentation of Results" by Engr. Richard Penaflor, the GPP National Auditor. Engr. Penaflor is a respected Green Advocate and River Warrior, and a former Deputy Executive Director of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC).

A critical component of the forum was the Focus Group Discussion (FGD), a qualitative research method designed to gather in-depth, nuanced information from the grassroots. Participants were divided into small groups of 10-15 people with similar backgrounds, arranged in a circular manner to foster open interaction. Facilitated by a trained moderator, the FGD aimed to explore participants' attitudes, perceptions, and experiences through three open-ended questions.

The FGD process was meticulous. Participants first individually wrote their answers on colored "meta-cards". The three questions were:

What are the environmental and social issues and challenges affecting you and your organizations in the Mindanao Region? (answered on an orange card) 

What do you think are the solutions that need to be done by you and your organization? (answered on a pink card) 

What intervention or assistance do you need from the GPP to solve these issues? (answered on a yellow card) 

Following the individual responses, each participant shared their views with the group. The moderator's role was crucial in keeping the discussion focused and on topic. Finally, each team presented the outcome of their discussion in a plenary session, and all outputs were collected for further analysis to inform the GPP's action plans. The forum concluded with the election of Mindanao Officers for the Green Party of the Philippines and a commitment ceremony led by Chairman David D'Angelo.

To gauge the forum's success, participants were also asked to fill out an evaluation form. They rated various aspects of the event on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. The areas for evaluation included the venue, food, program, speakers, and the overall team organization. The form also included open-ended questions asking what kept them involved, their biggest learning, and what aspects needed improvement. This dual-pronged approach of qualitative FGDs and quantitative evaluations ensured the GPP gathered comprehensive feedback to guide their future efforts.

Contact and refer to the Facebook page for more details and photos/videos from the forums and consultations:

The Green Party of the Philippines

Quiz Show or Crisis Signal? “Bilyonaryo Quiz B” and the Spectacle of Philippine Education

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a nation where primetime TV has long been the playground of singing contests, slapstick sitcoms, and romanticized celebrity houses, the quiet resurgence of a quiz bee show feels almost revolutionary—if not ironically nostalgic. “Bilyonaryo Quiz B”, a program that pits college students against each other in intellectual battles, is a throwback to a more academically idealized time in Philippine television. But beneath its gamified charm and cash prize luster lies a disturbing question: Are we celebrating intellect—or simply exposing the wounds of a broken education system?

Hosted by the ever-composed and intellectually formidable David Celdran, “Bilyonaryo Quiz B” revives a classic format many thought dead: the televised quiz bee. Each week, students face off in buzzer rounds covering six classic subjects: History, Science and Technology, Arts and Literature, Math and Logic, Geography and Nature, and General Information. It’s neat, nostalgic, and seemingly noble. A millionaire is crowned at the end. The sponsors, never verbally acknowledged, loom visually on screen—a quiet reminder that even knowledge must now play to capital.

But as the show’s episodes roll out, viewers are left with more furrowed brows than awe-struck gasps. Contestants stumble on the Cavite Mutiny, bungle human chromosomes, and seem more shell-shocked than sharp. Is it just the lights and pressure? Or is this show unintentionally laying bare a national crisis that can no longer be hidden behind PowerPoints and Department of Education press releases?

Behind the Buzzer: A Crisis in Disguise

The Philippines is currently suffering from a full-blown education emergency. According to recent reports, including one published by the Inquirer, our PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results are abysmal, ranking among the lowest globally in reading, science, and math. The fallout from years of budget cuts, outdated pedagogical approaches, learning poverty, and systemic inequality is now being aired in primetime, one missed question at a time.

It’s not just about academic underperformance. The very model of education promoted in recent decades—what Brazilian philosopher Paolo Freire called the “banking model”—treats students as empty accounts waiting to be filled with data rather than empowered individuals capable of critical thought and transformation. In this light, quiz shows like Bilyonaryo Quiz B, though well-meaning, become bittersweet: a flash of hope in a dim landscape, but also a mirror reflecting everything we’ve lost.

From “Battle of the Brains” to “Brain Drain”

In the 1990s, Battle of the Brains wasn’t just a game show; it was a national event. It validated intelligence in a country often obsessed with beauty pageants and telenovela tears. It made nerds cool. And it proved that TV could be both entertaining and educational.

Fast forward to today, and the media landscape is a circus of gimmicks. Quiz shows now flirt with the absurd—Quizmosa, for instance, tests celebrity gossip rather than geography or science. Even adaptations of globally respected formats like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire are overloaded with suspenseful lights and cinematic music, more drama than data.

The digital age hasn’t helped. While we have more information than ever at our fingertips, attention spans have cratered. Intellectual curiosity is competing with viral dances, misinformation, and instant gratification. In a world of 15-second reels, how do you get anyone to care about the GDP of Laos?

Intellectual Capitalism: Is Knowledge for Sale?

The very platform producing Bilyonaryo Quiz B—the Bilyonaryo News Channel—is owned by a corporation known for profiling the lives of the ultra-wealthy. That context matters. When billionaires host quiz bees, it's not just entertainment; it's commentary. And it raises a question: Is this a genuine attempt to revive intellectual curiosity, or is knowledge simply being rebranded as a premium product—one you can monetize, gamify, and sell?

With its million-peso prize, “Bilyonaryo Quiz B” makes intelligence aspirational again. But it also commodifies it. Knowledge becomes spectacle, packaged for viewership, ratings, and sponsorship. In this sense, the show becomes both a resistance and a reinforcement: resisting ignorance, but reinforcing the idea that education, like everything else, must perform under capitalism’s spotlight to matter.

The Show Must Go On?

Let’s be clear: Bilyonaryo Quiz B is not the enemy. In fact, it may be one of the few recent efforts to restore dignity to intellectual pursuits in mainstream media. But like a bandage on a bullet wound, its presence does not cure the deeper hemorrhaging of our education system—it only conceals it momentarily.

That college students struggle to answer what were once basic questions is not a failure of the show. It is a symptom of something far graver: a generation raised on diluted curricula, underfunded schools, and a society that values fame over facts. It’s also a generation battling digital addiction, economic instability, and political disillusionment.

And yet, there’s something admirable about how Bilyonaryo Quiz B insists on intelligence in a time of noise. It insists that knowledge still has a place in the national consciousness, even if it has to fight for airtime between love teams and lip syncs.

Final Answer?

In a world where education is both politicized and privatized, Bilyonaryo Quiz B is less a savior and more a symbol. A symbol of what we once had, what we desperately need, and what we risk losing entirely. It is a love letter to a country that once revered its scholars and a warning to a future that might forget them.

So while it may never overhaul a system plagued by inequality, corruption, and pedagogical decay, perhaps this show can spark something small—curiosity, conversation, even conviction. Because before you change a nation, you must first ask it questions.

And maybe, just maybe, it will start buzzing back.