The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area and a rustic rock garden tucked in the rainforests of Baras, Rizal. The landscape of the area is surrounded by different species of plants, flowers, and wildlife. Thus, the name derives from the word “masungki” which translated to “spiked” that describes its amazing sprawling limestones and rock formations in the area.
Through conservation efforts, advocacy, and collective action that began in 1996, young people today continue to uphold and strengthen this legacy. Just like any living things in a thriving ecosystem, each of us has a role to play, our own environmental niche where we contribute to the balance and protection of our shared home.
But this landscape is just one of the many protected areas in the country that has been long in threat against private destructive projects that allowed by the Philippine Government. Therefore, the rising demand for environmental protection and resisting against destructive projects has been long happening in the Philippines that led to different movement and coalitions led by different sector especially the youth and indigenous people.
Image from Masungi Georeserve
Environmental defense in the Philippines often feels uncertain as the country yet one of the most dangerous in Asia for this job (Global Witness Report, 2024), and fear has become a familiar companion for many who choose this path, especially the youth. Yet when the planet calls for us to stand, urgency takes the lead.
But how can we continue protecting our planet when we, too, face our own vulnerabilities and personal circumstances? This is what we seek to understand, explore, and put it into practice at Paglago: A Resilience Retreat for Environmental Defendersorganized by the Masungi Georeserve in partnership with UMI Foundation and Ateneo Bulatao Center for Psychological Services.
The three-day retreat aims to provide a safe and reflective space for young environmental advocates to understand their own dynamics, emotions, feelings, and especially their mental health. It includes sessions on learning and practice, mindful exercises, and opportunities to reconnect with nature; to know when to push forward and when to pause.
To reset, rest, and regenerate.
During the first day of the retreat, we got to know one another and the cause we are all fighting for. We met delegates from environmental student-led organizations, community-based youth formations, institutions for marine life and biodiversity, the mobility and transportation sector, and the climate justice alliance. Different causes, yet united by one reason: to protect what’s left and to let it bloom for the generations yet to come.
But it’s a huge responsibility, isn’t it?
Sometimes, taking on such a responsibility is not a choice but an urgent call. Each of us carries different motivations for doing what we do for a cause. It can be the land we grew up defending, the child who fell in love with nature and grew up to be an environmental defender, or the person who has witnessed the brutal destruction of our environment and could no longer stay silent.
Whatever the reason behind our activism and revolutionary spirit, it all converges into one truth: we must do it, anyway.
Moreover, on the next day, we discussed how we can process important things when we are faced with huge challenges such as climate change and environmental protection. It is never easy, and there is no simplest path for every step we take.
So, we learned to take it slowly through mindful breathing. For some, it may seem like a simple act, but it is often the most forgotten one. To step back for a while and just breathe, even for a moment.
I took note of everything. I wrote and drew important points during the retreat, and while listening carefully, there was one thing I realized: I need to put myself into the urgent matters that require healing. Prioritizing the campaign also means not losing myself in the process.
I learned to take a step back and remind myself that I am also part of what I am fighting for.
The last day was a moment of hope and revival. We witnessed the beauty of what we have been fighting for all this time. The clouds touched the mountain range, the rainforests, the fungi, the wildlife, the plants, the trees, the rocks, and the soil. We breathed deeply once again and reminded ourselves that this is what they are trying to destroy.
But we resist yet again, this time with our healing hearts, grounded selves, and collective care.
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines 