PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez is part of an esteemed roster of environmental and sustainability advocates such as Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, Ana Patricia Non, Illac Diaz, Ann Dumaliang and Leeroy New.
Veteran journalist and PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez was among six accomplished Filipinos recently recognized by Conrad Manila as “Champions of Sustainability” for their commitment and meaningful contribution to the social, environmental and sustainable welfare of various communities all over the country. The hybrid recognition coincided with the hotel’s celebration of the coming Mid-Autumn Festival. With “Prosperity” as its theme, the festival also pays homage to the awardees’ accomplishments in line with the hotel’s “Travel with Purpose” advocacy.
“As we will soon welcome the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, we would like to give tribute to six ‘Champions of Sustainability.’ They all represent prosperity–through inspiring others and contributing to various sustainable endeavors throughout the country. They have shown how we can all be purposive now and in the future. We celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival or Lunar Reunion through Filipino elements and Chinese traditions,” said Linda Pecoraro, Conrad Manila’s general manager.
The program cited the following “Champions of Sustainability” with these individual tributes:
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez:
She is the newly elected mayor of the city of Ormoc, Leyte, after serving as congresswoman of Leyte Province for over a decade. Among her significant accomplishments as the chairperson of the House committee on tourism include filing House Bill No. 7229 seeking to integrate and establish pertinent policies and regulations to ensure sustainability in the tourism industry. She spearheaded the protection and restoration of the Banaue Rice Terraces; 6200: Mission Possible Project of Leyte IV, supporting relief efforts, boosting tourism, and adopting sustainability principles. The mayor has renewed her commitment to pursue her advocacies as a local executive in sustainable tourism, infrastructure development, and energizing communities to be self-sustainable through livelihood programs.
Joanne Rae Ramirez:
She is an award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of People Asia magazine and one of the founders behind such prestigious awards as People of the Year, Men Who Matter and Women of Style and Substance. The said recognitions continue to have an outstanding impact on industry leaders to steer sustainable economic growth in their respective fields. Having served at Malacañang as editor of the Presidential Press Staff during the administration of then President Corazon Aquino, Joanne is recognized as a respected professional and zealous advocate. Her body of work as editor, columnist and book author reflects a genuine passion for re-purposing, re-inventing and re-aligning lives for the betterment of sustainable communities. She has also earned the distinction of being a Rotary Club of Manila tourism awardee for her significant support and contributions to the development and promotion of sustainable tourism in the country.
Ana Patricia Non:
By now, Ana Patricia, or “Patreng” to family and friends, is a household name. A remarkable woman, Patreng is an entrepreneur whose operations were also challenged by the ongoing pandemic. She made the headlines as the founder of what is arguably the country’s first community pantry during the height of the pandemic as well as a US Ambassador’s Woman of Courage Awardee. Her Maginhawa Community Pantry initiative sparked a nationwide movement among Filipinos in 2021 to help one another amid pandemic-related economic dislocation and quarantine restrictions. From a bamboo cart along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, her fledgling efforts has inspired many Filipinos to open their own community pantries all over the country, sharing all sorts of essential and sustainable items to help the underprivileged.
Ann Dumaliang:
Ann, a conservationist and geo-tourism advocate working in the mountains of the Philippines, is the managing trustee of the Masungi Georeserve. The foundation focuses on using geo-tourism and the geo-park model as a bottoms-up guide to conservation, development and rural growth. Masungi, which covers approximately 450 hectares, was damaged and depleted because of quarrying and deforestation. Despite the dangers it posed on their lives, Ann and her sister Billie sought to protect the land against illegal quarries and loggers. Today, Masungi has been transformed into a model for privately driven conservation, sustainable reforestation and geo-tourism, as it educates the community and benefits the local economy.
Illac Diaz:
Illac is the founder and executive director of Liter of Light Foundation, an NGO that advocates for sustainable energy while providing their own lighting solutions to communities to combat energy poverty. Liter of Light, which started in Tacloban in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda, expanded locally and, soon after, was recognized internationally, inspiring lighting projects in multiple communities around the world. To date, Liter of Light has helped over 382,000 Filipinos and 690,000 people around the world to get out of energy poverty. The foundation has shown that a new business model is possible, where ecology goes hand in hand with the economy.
Leeroy New:
Leeroy is a multi-awarded sculptor, street artist and practitioner of so-called “applied sculpture” for the environment. He challenges us to think about the waste produced from everyday materials by constructing elaborate sculptures out of discarded plastics. The artist’s large-scale works are made by cutting, twisting and tying together found objects like water jugs, film reels, tubes and bottles into forms that evoke a sense of movement or migration. Reimagining a more positive and sustainable future for his community and the planet, Leeroy explores the culture, history and mythology of his Philippine heritage to underscore the palpable impacts of the climate crisis.
During the awarding ceremony, Pecoraro was joined by Conrad Manila’s executives such as Yogeswaran Veerasarmy, director of operations and Michael Albaña, commercial director. Gracing the event virtually were guests of honor Christina Garcia-Frasco, secretary of the Department of Tourism, and Peggy Angeles, executive vice president, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation.
