Pasig City Named Philippine Winner of WWF’s One Planet City Challenge 2018

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Leading experts within the field of urban sustainability around the world have proclaimed Pasig City as the Philippine National Capital of the 2017-2017 edition of World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), a biennial global challenge that recognizes cities for developing infrastructure, housing, transport and mobility solutions to power the global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. This edition saw 133 cities representing 23 countries accepting the Challenge. 

Pasig’s concrete and comprehensive actions to reduce its carbon emissions, particularly its plan to reduce traffic emissions and congestions as well as its targeted actions around renewable energy and energy efficiency, truly reflected the “sustainable transport and mobility” theme of this run of the OPCC and have made the city eligible for the Global OPCC Prize, which will be awarded in September. The jury also particularly appreciated the city’s strong community engagement and its adaptation actions, such as the cleaning of the Pasig River and its strong alignment of actions to emissions reduction and execution of said actions. 

Seven other Philippine cities, namely Batangas, Catbalogan, Makati, Parañaque, San Carlos, Tagum, and Zamboanga have successfully qualified to join the 2017-2018 OPCC based on the criteria announced early in 2017. The cities of Makati, Pasig, and San Carlos went on to become national finalists and participated in the “We Love Cities” global campaign from May 7 until the end of June 2018. 

The City of Jakarta bagged the top plum in the campaign, which is a social media contest that is aimed at inspiring and engaging the respective citizens of the national finalists across the globe for support, votes, and ideas for improvement while Pasig came in second. 

Launched in 2011 as the Earth Hour City Challenge, the OPCC highlights the crucial role that cities play in the transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable future. Since then, over 400 countries from 5 continents have heeded the call to sustainably address fast and large transformations in population, consumption patterns, resource use, and waste management. The Philippines joined the Challenge in its 2015-2016 run. 

The awarding ceremony for the OPCC national winner, finalists, and qualifiers of the Philippines was held at Marco Polo Ortigas as part of WWF-Philippines’ two-day workshop entitled One Planet Cities: Raising Climate Ambitions and Sustainability Actions for 1.5°C. 

Said workshop brought together cities from all over the country to further discuss ways in which they can work together towards the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to 1.5°C. Updates on the progress of the Philippine government on its commitment to the Paris Agreement, as well as other framework plans addressing climate change and sustainable urban development. 

Insights from panelists coming from various sectors steered the tackling of the status of the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) compliance of local government units, especially in the urban setting. Challenges being faced by both the national government and the cities in the implementation of their respective LCCAPs were also mapped out with the help of workshop facilitators from WWF-Philippines.

Visit www.panda.org/opcc and http://www.welovecities.org/ for further details on the One Planet City Challenge and We Love Cities.

With Visual Art Ambassadors, WWF Ph Opens Exhibit - "Art, Heart, Earth"

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Five top visual artists join World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines as art ambassadors to support its biodiversity conservation efforts.

For their very first project, BenCab, Elmer Borlongan, Geraldine Javier, Mark O. Justiniani, and José Santos III created limited-edition sculptures, inspired by the organization’s iconic panda logo. Done in collaboration with Tin-aw Art Management Inc. and Secret Fresh, the show is the initial project of “Art, Heart, Earth,” a WWF-Philippines campaign to work with the cultural sector.

WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma says, “The Philippines is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, home to more than half of the world’s species. We are very excited to have five of the nation’s top artists join our battle to conserve nature in the face of climate change. We hope that through art, we continue to raise awareness on the urgent need to step up environmental action to protect earth’s biodiversity.”

Living in harmony with nature, man’s role in conservation and the concept of sustainability and home were just some of the themes explored in the pieces created for the collection.

BenCab

BenCab’s “Kapit-Bisig” and Borlongan’s “Wildlife Rehabilitator” highlight the importance of man living in consonance with nature. Justiniani’s “Kugos” (Carry) presents a caretaker donning a suit in the panda’s likeness to care for and protect the orphans of the species. Santos’ idea of saving and salvaging materials through his art is reflected in his piece titled “Natural Selection” while Javier’s work entitled “Home” is inspired by her community in the province, stressing the importance of a sustainable environment.

Though they had different approaches in creating their pieces for the collection, WWF’s Art Ambassadors are united in their call for people to save the environment.

Elmer Borlongan

Borlongan shared that his particular concern is the destruction of our oceans. Living 10 minutes away from the West Philippine Sea, he has been a witness to how acts like dynamite fishing can harmboth the environment and fisherfolk who have lost limbs due to this practice; and hasalready created art pieces tackling this issue. 

Both BenCab and Javier shared that plastic waste is among their most urgent concerns.They stressed the importance of setting a good example when it comes to conservation.

“We have to have discipline in cleaning up our surroundings and planting trees,” said BenCab. He shared that among one of his contributions is in his museum in Baguio, where he has planted many indigenous trees in the area. 

Geraldine Javier

Meanwhile, Javier has started planting vegetables in her home to help provide food and additional income for the community living near her. She also tries to instill practices in her household that will lessen plastic consumption such as bringing reusable containers,baskets or eco-bags when she goes shopping or does her groceries at the market. 

José Santos III

Santos shared that he sees parallels in his work and that of WWF-Philippines. He makes his pieces from discarded materials turning them into something that is meaningful. 

“I view this process as saving and salvaging these materials from their eventual death or uselessness. And this is where I see a certain parallel with the concerns of WWF in saving nature, saving wildlife, and saving the world as a more general concern,” he shared.

Mark O. Justiniani

Justiniani posed, “If you think about the world, it will survive… so the environmental issue is actually a human issue. If we don't take care of it, we will lose ourselves. We know we need to take care of the environment because that is our future, the future of human beings."

At the end of it all, WWF-Philippines’ Art Ambassadors hope that their pieces provoke questions and discourse among viewers on environmental issues.

The WWF-Philippines Art Ambassadors’ exhibition opens to the public on April 24 and runs until May 6, at Ronac Lifestyle Center, Magallanes.

To know more about WWF-Philippines and the “Art, Heart, Earth” project, you may visit https://www.facebook.com/WWF.Philippines/.

WWF-Philippines: #EarthHourPh2018 to push for intensified environmental actions

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Every action we take makes a difference for our planet. Let's unite and connect to to help and save the nature. It is our social responsibility to protect and save our mother Earth.

Supporting global calls to protect earth’s biodiversity, thousands trooped to the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ front lawn in Pasay City to take part in the official Earth Hour switch-off event led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines. 

WWF-Philippines’ CEO and President Joel M. Palma said, “The Philippines will continue to play an important role in sending a message to the rest of the world that we can tread the path to sustainable development and help protect our people and planet’s health and wellbeing. Thriving biodiversity serves as our lifeline, as it holds us all together.”

This year’s Earth Hour theme, #Connect2Earth, recognizes the role of maintaining earth’s biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change. Biodiversity-rich Philippines is one of the 17 “mega-diverse countries,” home to more than half of the world’s species, but WWF also sees the urgent need to step up environmental action to counter the Philippines’ record as a “biodiversity hotspot” and address worsening threats to its forests, oceans, and wildlife.

Earth Hour onsite and online highlights

Around 1,000 Filipino scouts were mobilized during the event as part of a global partnership to engage the World Organization of Scout Movement (WOSM) through its Environmental Education program tapping young scouts as environmental stewards who are eager to earn the new Panda badge. 

Up to 500 bikers from 21 bike groups under the Hataw Padyak federation also joined the event and cycled more than 15 kilometers from Malabon City to CCP to promote low-carbon mobility through cycling.

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s official written message was read during the program in support of WWF and people’s efforts to “take strides in finding solutions to climate change, ecological degradation, and other pressing environmental problems.”  

Participants were joined by WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Iza Calzado, Marc Nelson, and Rovilson Fernandez, together with Earth Hour National Ambassador Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez. 

With the Cultural Center of the Philippines as co-presenter, cultural performances and immersive activities highlighted this year’s Earth Hour activities onsite. Featuring the indigenous artistry of Sanghabi and folksinger-activist Lolita Carbon, local performances were inspired by nature at the heart of Philippines’ rich culture and heritage. 

Drawing attention to how biodiversity loss affects wildlife, immersive activities like “whale shark dive” and “iceberg path” gave a glimpse of what it is like for some of the world’s climate-vulnerable species like whale sharks and polar bears to struggle and survive amidst plastic-filled oceans and thinning sea ice. 

#Connect2Earth video pledges were collected to form a call to action video which was played after the 60-minute lights out encouraging people to adopt a “one planet lifestyle” and make sustainable choices to protect the environment. Online solidarity throughout the globe was captured using connect2earth.org, a social listening and sharing platform featuring Earth Hour commitments and conversations around biodiversity and climate solutions.

Representatives from the government, businesses, and organizations also signified their support for Earth Hour. Nationwide, several schools, government facilities, and business establishments like malls and hotels also held their own Earth Hour activities and switch-off events in their communities. 

Earth Hour government and institution partners – Climate Change Commission, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Department of Interior and Local Government, League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, City of Pasay, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Laguna Lake Development Authority, and the Philippine Red Cross – all issued circulars urging their constituents to support WWF-Philippines’ Earth Hour celebration. 

Corporate partners and sponsors who share Earth Hour’s vision – Sun Life Foundation, Avolution, BDO Unibank, Rockwell Land Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Stores Specialists Inc., McDonald’s, Quorn, Summit, Locally, and Mr. Softy – pooled together resources for the main switch-off event. 

ANC, CNN Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Play 99.5 FM, Radyo Veritas, LS 97.5, WhenInManila.com, together with the Eagle Broadcasting Corporation’s Net25, DZEC 1062, Pinas FM 95.5, and eaglenews.ph, served as the official media partners of the 2018 run of the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment.

https://www.facebook.com/myrns.roman/videos/10213342187842189/

Going Beyond the Hour

#Connect2Earth will serve as Earth Hour and WWF’s battle cry to galvanize public support for more earnest and decisive actions to protect the planet. For more than a decade, the global lights-out event remains an impactful visual call-out since it started in Sydney, Australia. But more than the one-hour switch off, WWF-Philippines urges Filipinos to observe sustainable living and support advocacies pushing for low-carbon cities, renewable energy development, sustainable food production and consumption, forest and water conservation, and wildlife protection, among others.

Atty. Angela Consuelo S. Ibay, Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director and Head of WWF-Philippines’ Climate and Energy Program shares :

“Working together with the government, businesses and communities, we strive to build on the gains of Earth Hour to help drive policies, awareness and actions that would support local, national and global initiatives to halt negative climate impact and biodiversity loss.”

Earth Hour 2018 tackles biodiversity in a changing climate

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Countdown is set for March 24 as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines urges Filipinos to join the much-anticipated Earth Hour 2018 with the theme #Connect2Earth, which calls on the urgent need to care for our planet’s biodiversity. 

The WWF Ambassadors together with WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay. In photo are (from left): Mr. Rovilson Fernandez - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador; Ms. Janine Gutierrez - WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador; Atty. Gia Ibay - Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director; Mr. Joel Palma - WWF-Philippines President and CEO; Ms. Iza Calzado - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador and Mr. Marc Nelson - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador

This year, Earth Hour’s Manila staging will come home to the iconic Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, the venue of the Philippines’ first Earth Hour switch-off event 10 years ago. Annually, Earth Hour attracts millions of people around the world to converge around major world landmarks, cities, and communities to hold switch-off events for 60 minutes – starting at 8:30pm, as a sign of commitment to address the plight of our planet and our people. 

WWF-Philippines’ President and CEO Joel Palma shares his thoughts on Earth Hour’s global theme, “Collectively, we must now look deeper and see how our water, food and energy consumption is endangering our planet’s biodiversity. It’s time to connect to Earth and rekindle our role as stewards of the environment.”

From a symbolic moment to a social movement

Earth Hour started as a symbolic lights out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has since grown into one of the biggest global open-source movement for the protection of the environment in more than 7,000 cities and 180 countries.

Over the years Filipinos have embraced Earth Hour, inspiring climate action within our government, communities, businesses, and organizations. “Beyond the Hour” initiatives have inspired national advocacies pushing for low-carbon cities, renewable energy development, sustainable food production and consumption, forest and water conservation, and wildlife protection of endangered tamaraws, whale sharks and Irrawaddy dolphins among others.

The WWF Ambassadors together with WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay answering questions about the Earth Hour 2018. In photo are (from left): Mr. Rovilson Fernandez - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador; Atty. Gia Ibay - Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director; Mr. Marc Nelson - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador; Mr. Joel Palma - WWF-Philippines President and CEO; Ms. Janine Gutierrez - WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador and Ms. Iza Calzado - WWF-Philippines National Ambassador

Together possible

Earth Hour aims to raise awareness on the crucial importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon. Understanding this interconnectedness is key in solving Earth’s most pressing challenges. 

Supporting Earth Hour’s vision, WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Iza Calzado, Rovilson Fernandez and Marc Nelson led the campaign’s kick-off at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas last February 27, together with National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez to help build public engagement. 

Earth Hour highlights this year will include activity booths, exhibits and cultural performances by local artists to amplify #Connect2Earth messages creating a meaningful celebration to honor our planet. Earth Hour do-it-yourself (DIY) activities and partnerships with businesses and organizations are also encouraged to promote and further strengthen the grassroots movement here in the country. 

Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay talks about the Earth Hour 2018 #Connect2Earth.

Using this year’s official hashtag #Connect2Earth, WWF-Philippines is encouraging everyone to harness the power of social media and help share their commitment to a “one planet lifestyle” by sharing stories and photos of their sustainable living actions to care for our planet’s biodiversity via Earth Hour Philippines’ Facebook event page – http://bit.ly/EarthHourPH2018 that will go live by March 1, 2018.

WWF-Philippines’ Head of Climate and Energy Program and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay reiterates, “Sustained and concerted efforts are needed to help solve the planet’s deteriorating biodiversity that is further threatened by our changing climate. Governments, businesses and communities all win significant gains when we all work together and bring positive change for the planet.”

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of the WWF network since 1997. As the 26th national organization in the WWF network, WWF-Philippines is successfully implementing various conservation projects to help protect some of the most biologically-significant ecosystems in Asia.

WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez leads Fundraising Hour at Lucky Chinatown

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World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, a passionate advocate of proper waste management and garbage disposal, became an actual on-ground fundraiser for a day for WWF-Philippines’ “Fundraising Hour” activity at the Lucky Chinatown in Manila.

This fundraising event is one of the activities of WWF-Philippines’ celebrity ambassadors to spread awareness on pressing environmental issues and introduce the Individual Donor Program (IDP) to the public. Through the IDP, everyone is encouraged to directly contribute in the conservation efforts of WWF-Philippines all over the country by signing up at booths in selected malls and venues all over the country or online.

As one of the newest celebrity ambassadors of WWF-Philippines, Janine has already supported several WWF-Philippines activities the past year, including Earth Hour, Sustainable Food, Sustainable Future Fundraising Dinner, Partners’ Night 2017, and a WWF-Philippines site visit in Donsol, Sorsogon.

“I am so glad that I am doing a lot more now to protect our environment. Our activities here in WWF-Philippines encourage everyone, especially the youth, to take an active role in protecting and preserving our planet because together we can make everything possible,” Janine said. 

Lucky Chinatown served as the perfect venue for the fundraising event as it has partnered up with WWF-Philippines for its Panda-themed holidays. 

The festivities feature the “Adopt-a-Panda” campaign, which allows shoppers to take home a panda stuffed toy, a WWF pin, and an official adoption certificate for PhP500. Those who choose to symbolically adopt pandas can easily sustain the environment as all proceeds will go to WWF-Philippines’ conservation programs. The “Adopt-a-Panda” campaign will run until December 31, 2017.

Each and every contribution will help WWF-Philippines’ campaigns and projects in conserving natural habitats, resources and ecosystems in the country as it carries out its mission to build a future where Filipinos live in harmony with nature. 

To know more about WWF or to donate online, you may visit www.wwf.org.ph.

Responsible travel and surfing highlighted at Reef‘s Free the Sea Movement 2

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Reef promotes responsible travel through “Free the Sea Movement 2” held in Nalu Surf Camp in Baler, Aurora, Quezon Province. 

Reef, a surf and lifestyle brand known worldwide in partnership with WWF Philippines as it hosts Free the Sea Movement 2 this September 29 until October 1 , 2017 as it continues promoting responsible travel and environmental conservation.

Baler, Aurora is one of the country’s top hotspots for surfing. Aurora is a paradise for surfers, with its long coastline exposed to the Pacific Ocean.

The exciting three-day event treated guests to a slew of fun activities that had them riding the waves while helping to preserve the beauty of Sabang Beach. 

Free the Sea 2 opened with a coastal clean-up and talk from WWF Philippines on sustainable tourism, a cause near and dear to Reef’s heart as it is in line with Reef’s global humanitarian outreach campaign “We Heart.” 

“As travelers, we may be just passing through other beaches and cities but through our We Heart campaign, we want to educate people on the importance of leaving a positive impact on the local communities we visit,” 

“With more and more travelers discovering the beauty of our islands and with the rise of local tourism, now is a good time for us to educate people on the environmental impact tourism has and how we all need to work together maintain our beaches so people can continue to enjoy them for years to come,” Marnelli Gaerlan, Marketing Head for Reef, shared. 

Together with WWF, Surfari Philippines and volunteers, Reef spearheaded the coastal clean-up that aims to restore and preserve the beauty of Sabang Beach. 

Afterwards, guests then got to enjoy what Sabang Beach was famous for – amazing waves and surfing! 

Volunteers got the chance to reconnect with nature and learn how to surf with free surfing lessons conducted by Nalu Surf Camp. 

In the evening, they were also treated to laid-back beachside music with performances from Soundcloud Philippines’ Ann Clerigo, the soulful music of Banna Harbera, and an open mic show which include the turnover of Reef’s donation to WWF, amounting to P30,000, which would go towards WWF’s environmental programs.

The next day opened with even more to offer surfing enthusiasts, as they witness the Surfari Beginners’ Competition, followed by a festive After Party which capped the weekend. 

Aside from receiving their well-earned awards, surfers alongside the volunteers jammed to the sound of indie rapper Eazyhead, party-starter remixes and originals from DJ Doms Badwolf & DJ CC – the perfect end to a beautiful beach day in Baler!

“We are really excited for this year’s Free the Sea Movement. Baler is the perfect setting for us to promote responsible travel and environmental conservation, while at the same time, giving everyone a taste of what they can enjoy if we remember to care of our beaches – which is delicious local food and music, white beaches, clear water and of course, gigantic waves and surfing like no other!” Gaerlan said.

Reef’s ‘Free the Sea Movement: Baler” was sponsored by Juan Light Studio, Bike King’s Kitchen, Madison’s Cafe Baler, La Patricia Hotel, Baler and The Shack, Baler with music partners Ann Clerigo, Banna Harbera, Eazyhead, DJ Domes Badwolf and DJ CC.

WWF-Philippines holds benefit dinner to promote sustainable food for a sustainable future

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The changing climate and the uncontrolled and wasteful consumption have resulted in concerns on how to continue feeding the planet today and in the future.

This is why the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, with the mission of “Transforming Lives,” has gathered food connoisseurs and environmental advocates to support Sustainable Food Sustainable Future, a benefit dinner created to educate Filipinos on the importance of sustainable consumption and supporting our local farmers and fishermen by eating local.

WWF officials with Myrza Sison, Andrej Wisniewski, Margaux Salcedo,
Patti Javier and Pepper Teehankee

Proceeds of the Sustainable Food, Sustainable Future dinner will go to WWF-Philippines’ campaigns and efforts to secure food sources of the future, aid the livelihood of local farmers and fishermen, and promote eco-friendly means of food production and consumption.

Sustainable food consumption and production involves looking at how resources are used in growing food and taking into account their impact on the environment and the community. This not only results in environmental benefits but also social and economic support such as increased competitiveness of local products, increased employment, and consequently reduced poverty. For consumers, it can mean fresher food with less chemicals and improved health.

WWF Ambassadors with Joel Palma and Gigi Montinola

WWF’s Hand Line Yellowfin Tuna initiatives in Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Sur and Albay are examples of WWF’s work in this area. Hand line fishing initiatives provide an avenue to supply selectively-caught yellow fin tuna to market actors, environmentally conscious consumers and give local fisher folk a source of livelihood.

WWF President Joel Palma

WWF President and CEO Joel Palma shared how food consumption affects not only the environment but the welfare and livelihood of the people and communities who work on food production, like farmers and fisher folk.

“We would like to emphasize that the footprint of the produce not only contributes to climate change and threaten our planet's future but can also negatively affect the future of those who grow or produce our food. We want to make sure resources are protected and sustained so that they can continue to be the source of livelihood for generations to come.”

Meanwhile, Chef Nicco Santos of Hey Handsome talked about how he partnered up with local fishermen and farmers who inspired his restaurant’s menu. “One of the biggest reasons why I shifted my cooking style is because of sustainability. For me, personally, I find it more meaningful and more fulfilling if I know who’s growing the ingredients. Aside from it tasting better because it’s direct from the source, it’s fresher,” Santos stated. 

“Aside from us feeling better about ourselves, it’s more fulfilling that it’s not about us. It’s always about someone else’s lives that we’re helping out. It’s fulfilling when you find that your truest purpose is to really help someone else to make a difference.”

Chef Margarita Forés

As Chefs are the primary influencers of food cultures and diets, their participation in developing sustainable food habits and produce consumption is a huge help on promoting food security.

“I think apart from just cooking for people as a profession, chefs of today really need to advocate the science of sustainability and using ingredients that help keep the planet sustainable and the environment clean because in the end, whatever we do is dependent on the produce,” quipped Chef Margarita Forés emphasizing on the role of chefs and restaurateurs in the campaign to help the environment.

Held at the Rizal Ballroom A of Makati Shangri-La, Manila on September 6, 2017, the benefit dinner featured delicious dishes from eight of the country’s top chefs. Chef Eric Weidmann (Sage), Chef Nicco Santos (Hey Handsome), Chef Chele Gonzalez (Gallery Vask), Chef Patrick Go (Black Sheep), Chef Sunshine Puey (Gourmandise), Chef Miko Aspiras (The Workshop), Chef Josh Boutwood (The Test Kitchen) and, Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016 Margarita Forés (Grace Park), came together to show diners how local produce can result in flavorful creations that can help communities and the environment. 

Northern Guimas Strait Blue Crab and Lemongrass Salad

Northern Guimas Strait Blue Crab

Four glorious pass around canapés paired kicked off the cocktails while the five-course dinner was started off with Weidmann’s Northern Guimaras Strait Blue Crab with Smoked Tanigue Tartare. This was followed by Santos’ Northern Guimaras Strait Blue Crab and Lemongrass Salad on Coconut-fermented Santol Crab Cracker, Gonzalez’and Go’s Yellowfin Tuna Belly with Szechuan and Adlai, Etag, Seaweed and Shiitake Congee, and Forés’and Boutwood’s Aleli’s Pork Loin, Headcheese, Sweet Potato, Humba Pineapple Glaze and Guava Gel, which is an homage to Daila Farm’s Aleli Crespo who sposored the night’s black pigs. The delectable dinner was perfectly capped off by Puey’s and Aspiras’ 64% Davao Dark Chocolate and Over-ripened Mangoes with Auro providing the chocolates used. Wines that complemented the courses were courtesy of one of the event co-presenters, Bacchus. 

Makati Shangri-La Manila, another co-presenter, has showed its all-out support for this WWF-Philippines fundraiser as it very much aligned with the Shangri-La group’s “Rooted in Nature” philosophy and corporate social responsibility for a sustainable future in the Philippines, which is a manifestation of the group’s commitment to promoting greater traceability and transparency of food sources by working with local and sustainable providers. By 2020, the group’s goal is to serve 75 per cent more sustainably sourced food on their menus and through the “Rooted in Nature” dining experience, guests are enjoined in embracing and celebrating the benefits that sustainable food brings.