Illac Diaz & MyShelter Foundation

Illac Diaz doing his Presentation

Former Actor/Model and now turned Social Entrepreneur Illac Diaz presented his advocacy through the Understanding Choices Forum part1: "Living on the Edge" which was made up of representatives from the government, NGOs, Academe and student to talk about the reality that we are all facing and the effects of climate change and what we can do about it.

One thing that struck me where he mentions that "We Filipinos have gained a preference to storms as if it is the same thing and we don't really have to do anything about it.We allocate millions of so-called Calamity funds but can we act before the storm? Wouldn't that be more cheaper?”

The Understanding Choices Forum of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) was held last October 29, 2010 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center. Through the talks, I was able to learn a lot about the Philippines' role in climate change, that we are in the front lines and we need to adapt and find our own local-innovative measures since what applies in the 1st world countries may not apply to our situation.

Illac with RAFI's Evelyn Nacario-Castro

GREENING is not our Focus.

Most corporate social responsibility campaigns are focused on greening, he says, which should not be the case. We should focus on protecting ourselves and let the first world countries deal with greening, he advises. “We have to be solutions-oriented” as we are the frontline of the effects of climate change like harsh winds, and extreme droughts. Typhoon Frank and Typhoon Ketsena showed our need to build adaptive communities more than ever.

“The people who are not emitting or contributing most to climate change are affected more like Philippines. We are experiencing cumulative, irreversible and global effects of climate change. We want adaptation, resiliency, less rebuilding and less deaths.”

MySHELTER FOUNDATION

He presented then the things he was working on about the MyShelter Foundation which showed the 50th school built using old Spanish techniques that have been used to build centuries old cathedrals. Together with a group of Architects and Engineers, they designed schools that could withstand up to 300 KM/hr winds with only simple materials and tools to use (new science to old technology).

What’s interesting is that what they use as one of their building materials is the1.5L bottles. Why bottles? Well, it is obviously abundant; lasts of up to 700 years of natural decomposition. An interesting substitute for hollow blocks. Another option for their bottle-school designs are what they call "Earth Bags," or use the ever resilient Bamboo.

Alternative technology doesn’t have to mean it’s risky.” They  won four prestigious international design awards including AIM Youngest Honors and Prestige, Reader’s Digest Everyday Hero, MIT’s Humphrey Awardee.

It was really amazing and interesting to have heard Illac Diaz's Advocacy from himself as to reading it over the Internet or through reading materials. His passion for his craft and his drive to excellence and international standards has makes him very admirable and that he still continues to pursue and build disaster-resilient communities in an ever-changing climate of today.

“Climate Change is certain. Survivability is not.”

Climate Change and the Global Climate Politics Forum

Climate Change and the Global Climate Politics entails a lot of thought and information that needs to be discussed, and you may have some questions:

What is global climate politics?

What has been the recent 'climate' on global climate politics?

What is the truth of the matter on the climate change reports and initiatives i.e. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) marred with contoversies and debates?

What are the impacts on the failed negotiations, i.e. the last COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark failure to agree on a binding agreement for post-Kyoto negotiations and uncertainty of the upcoming COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico on December 2010 to the country and to each and every one of us?

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) is inviting you to the second part of the Living on the Edge Series: Climate Change Focus of the RAFI-EADSC's Understanding Choices Forum entitled Climate Change and the Global Climate Politics. The forum will will be held on November 15, 2010, Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Bryant George Hall, Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. The forum will highlight inputs from two international climate change negotiators for the Philippines, Atty. Antonio La Viña and Ms. Esperanza Garcia. The forum intend to facilitate and broaden understanding on the daunting issue of climate change, particularly on the international debates on climate change and related global initiatives and its impact to the country and to each and every citizen.

About the Speakers:

La Vina is the Dean of the Ateneo School of Government and Chairman of the United Nations Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Climate Change Conferences of Parties (UNFCC COP).

Garcia, Director of the Global Warming and Climate Change Initiatives for the International Youth Council and 'Climate Voice’ writer for Oxfam covering news for the UN General Assembly and Clinton Global Initiative. She is the founder of the Philippine Youth Climate Movement.

Eco Dash: The Bottle School Run

The Eco Dash: The Bottle School Run will be on November 14, 2010 at 5:30AM, The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu. Bring plastic bottles (2L, 1.5L) for the Eco Dash: The Bottle School Run to help build cebu's first bottle school!

Pledge your support guys! Help build the first bottle school here in Cebu! For the registration, please register at the Eco Dash Booth at the Ayala Active Zone :) And pls don't forget to bring your 1.5 or 2 litres PET bottles. Thanks for all the support!! :P

RAFI holds fora on Climate Change: Living on the Edge

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will hold a two-part series of the Understanding Choices Forum on Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.

Dubbed as Living on the Edge Series: Climate Change Focus, these series of forums are designed to provide a venue to heighten awareness, deepen understanding, and inspire participation and action on climate change, one of the pressing issues affecting the world today.

On Oct. 29, the first part of the series entitled “Disaster-resilient Communities in a Changing Climate” will provide the participants with the knowledge on the current approaches in responding to the climate challenge—from innovating disaster-resilient building structures to building a responsive and resilient community to mitigate impacts of climate change.

Speakers of the first forum are Illac Diaz, a former actor- and model-turned social entrepreneur, urban green planner, and founder of My Shelter Foundation, and San Francisco, Camotes Island former Mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano.

Diaz will present his innovative design of disaster-resilient building structures that is not just green but can also withstand the harsh elements of nature consequent to the effects of climate change as well as the framework and design of a resilient community.

Arquillano will share the experience of San Francisco, Camotes Island in implementing climate and disaster risk reduction-oriented projects in the island. San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu is one of the 79 cities in the world that has adopted the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Making Cities Resilient Campaign.

On Nov. 15, RAFI will hold the second part of the Living on the Edge Series entitled “Climate Change and the Global Climate Change Politics,” which will highlight inputs from two international climate change negotiators for the Philippines, Atty. Antonio La Viña and Esperanza Garcia.

La Viña is the Dean of the Ateneo School of Government and Chairman of the United Nations Collaborative initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of Parties (UNFCC COP).

He will talk about the daunting issues of climate change and how we are affected at the recent ‘climate’ of the global climate politics, particularly on the global debates and related international initiatives and negotiations being marred with controversies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Kyoto protocol to the UNFCCC-COP 15 in Copenhagen Denmark that ended in failure, and the upcoming COP16 in Cancun, Mexico.

Garcia, Founder of the Philippine Youth Climate Movement, Director of Global Warming & Climate Change Initiatives for the International Youth Council and Filipino Youth Delegate to the UNFCCC COP Conference will share her experience as a global climate youth leader, the initiatives undertaken by the rest of global youth leaders and the continuing challenges.

The Living on the Edge Series, which will start at 1 p.m., will facilitate an exchange of ideas, inputs, and experiences on climate change measures and advance a basic framework of action and inspire contribution towards climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.

Participants of the forum will include key people from government, civil society and the private sector. They will also include local chief executives, local planners, members of the academe, youth sector, media, business sector, non-government organizations, and other public sector organizations, among others.

The two fora are open to the public and do not require any registration fees. Participation will be on a first-come first-serve basis.

The Understanding Choices Forum is a Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy capability of RAFI, one of the four capabilities in RAFI’s comprehensive approach to elevating lives and communities. Its other capabilities include Grants & Awards, Institutional Development & Planning, and Services & Facilities, which contribute to delivering the programs under the five focus areas—Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education—of RAFI.

For more information about the fora, or to register, contact Catherine Margate at 418-7234 local 105.

Pledge to be Green Online

Pledge to be Green Online. A campaign of Ayala Malls via Greenology. Make your pledge online and have a chance to win exciting prizes! Do your own Pledge to be green online now!

EARTHDANCE Cebu 2010

This september, there will be a BIG Environmental Event which is Cebu EARTHDANCE 2010! The EARTHDANCE Cebu 2010 is one of the special Events in Cebu that aims to be a Global Festival for Peace and the Environment. In this local-global event, in 500 locations and 80 countries, EARTHDANCE will happen.

This Earthdance, a World Event, will be held on September 18-19, 2010 in Family Park Cebu City! If you attend Earthdance 2010, you will get to experience and know more about bike rally, environmental exhibits, green products, martial arts, yoga, art workshops, drum circles, massage, delicious whole foods, and much more!

About Earthdance:

A Global Collaboration Since 1997
Earthdance is the world's largest synchronized music and dance festival for peace. Since its inception, Earthdance has been held annually in over 500 locations in 80 countries with all events simultaneously joining together in the Prayer for Peace – a powerful moment of coherent intention. Each public Earthdance event commits 50% of its profits to a charity that falls into one of the following categories:

The Welfare of Children and Urban Youth
Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
International Relief and Development
Environmental Sustainability and Protection
Organizations that Promote Peace

Know more HERE!

Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge!

The “race for the next gen” is part of the Aboitiz Group’s information campaign on its sustainability efforts. “We are not just promoting a healthy lifestyle, we want to leave a good home for the next generation,” said Sebastian Lacson, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Chief Reputation Officer.

Aboitiz companies groupwide are participating in an ongoing Race to Reduce Challenge, which encourages employees to reduce their consumption of power, water, and paper. During the Aboitiz Group simultaneous nationwide tree planting in October 2010, a tree will be planted on behalf of every runner who participated in the race.

The Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge: A Race for the Next Gen is also a fund-raising project for the Aboitiz Annual Christmas Outreach to be held in the first week of December. During this event, employees spend time with less fortunate children to spread Christmas cheer and joy.

Aboitiz Race to Reduce Details and Online Registration details:
Starting Gun Time: 5:30 am (21K); 5:45 am (10K) and 6:00 am (5K & 3K)
Registration Period: July12- August 14, 2010
Fees: 21K w/ timing chips - P450; 10K w/ Timing Chips - P350; 5K & 3K - P250
Click here for ONLINE REGISTRATION.

Manual Registration are also done on Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu, VECO in SM, Casa Ilongga in Robinson's Fuente, Cebu City Sports Complex - Abellana, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Office. Distribution of Race Kits, Race Singlets and Race Bib will be at The Persimmon Plus, Mabolo, Cebu City from August 16 - 21, 2010.

Race for the NextGen: Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge is posted through the Event Geek's Effort for a better world, one special, local, cebu event at a time.

SM Eco Bags 2010 Launched!

SM City Cebu, simultaneously with all the other SM malls in the Philippines launched last August 6, 2010, the second edition of SM's New line of Eco Bags! The new set comes in 4 collectible designs that depict the different elements of the earth - Fire (Spark), Water (Flow), Breathe (Air) and Earth (Renew).

The new designs deliver the environmental message with a more interesting look. It has adopted a more contemporary and a more collectible design that appeals to a younger market, while still maintaining its multi-functional form and, more importantly, promotes love for Mother Earth.

SM recognizes the important role of the youth in nation-building and through the new eco bags, the company hopes to imbibed in the four simple philosophies: Renew, Spark, Flow and Breathe - simple works that inspire a life change. RENEW our earth by reducing our waste. SPARK a revolution for smarter energy. Let's make our water FLOW with life. Let's BREATHE clean, pristine air once again.

Buy your very own SM Eco Bag today!