Advocacy

At the National Museum of Natural History in Manila, Philippines

During the Sarbay-anihan event organized by Project Lawud in General Santos City, Mindanao.

My advocacy story

I have always been fascinated with the natural world ever since. When I was young, I kept watching animals (extinct, endangered, whatever category there was) in Top10s on Youtube and this began to spark my interest how these organisms interact within their own ecosystem, even until now.

With my background in Marine Biology, I advocate for the protection of our coasts that provide paramount and valuable ecosystem services to the people and to the environment. It was only during the pandemic in 2020 when I founded Mangrove Matters PH (MMPH) as a science communication platform on Twitter to amplify awareness about this coastal habitat. Currently, MMPH is now among the leading youth organizations in the country dedicated to conserving the remaining mangrove forests in the country. I am beyond proud of everyone involved in our campaigns.

Mangrove Matters PH

Mangrove Matters PH (MMPH) is a youth organization dedicated to conserving and advocating for the remaining mangrove forests in the Philippines. I founded this organization along with a close friend, Myron Baring, during the pandemic in 2021 as a science communication platform to mainstream awareness of mangroves digitally. We started on Twitter, inspired by many science communicators there.

Currently, MMPH is a leading youth organization in mangrove advocacy in the country and its initiatives include science communication, policy-lobbying, and youth and community engagement. Leo Castro is now managing the organization as its Executive Director!

Youth Engaged in Wetlands

The Youth Engaged in Wetlands or "YEW" is an international youth team of volunteers committed to the conservation, protection, and wise-use of wetlands. YEW provides a global platform for young people to enable and empower them to help support the mission of The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Our Mission

Youth Engaged in Wetlands will provide a global platform for young people to enable and empower them to help protect and promote our wetlands through: raising awareness, building capacity, fostering partnerships, campaigning for action, and exchanging information.

Our Vision

Youth Engaged in Wetlands is identified as the leading youth network for wetlands, and is recognized as a key stakeholder for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands through meaningful engagement in the processes of the Convention, ensuring intergenerational cooperation.

2026 ENGAGEMENTS AND STORIES

Intact Mangroves, Protected Future Webinar

I remember receiving an email from the DENR Office of Region 6, inviting me to speak at the World Mangrove Day Webinar, "Intact Mangroves, Protected Future".

In this webinar, I presented my environmental advocacies as a Filipino youth. There I explained how Mangrove Matters PH was formed and how a youth movement dedicated to mainstreaming mangrove advocacy and protection is crucial in this climate crisis we are encountering.

During the Q&A section, I kept emphasizing the need to protect our mangroves because of the ecological and socioeconomic services they provide to people and the environment. I also underscored how reclamation projects can be irreversible and how such anthropogenic threats continue to endanger our remaining mangrove forests in the country.

MMPH as a Science Communication Awardee

Beyond proud to say that MMPH was among the Science Communication Awardees of the College of Science, University of Santo Tomas during its Centennial Celebration.

This recognition highlights our organization's continued efforts. I would like to immensely congratulate everyone involved in this milestone. Kudos as well to Leo for taking the leadership as the Executive Director of the youth organization.

We hope to inspire more people with our genuine and meaningful causes. Our efforts are not only for the mangroves but also for the communities that depend on this ecosystem as critical sources of livelihood, food, protection, and resilience.

Blue Wave Conference in Xiamen, People's Republic of China

I recently participated in the 2026 Blue Wave Conference in Xiamen, China where I was invited to be a panelist, representing Youth Engaged in Wetlands - YEW, during the Outstanding Young Ocean Scholars Forum: Youth Empowering Transformative Ocean Science on June 6, 2026. I highlighted the importance of youth engagement and the resources and support needed to sustain youth-led marine conservation initiatives.

I am beyond grateful for the invitation from Shenghui Li of Guangdong Ocean University, who is among the event organizers.

We also celebrated the 5th year anniversary of the ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professionals) Programme and World Oceans Day.

Sarbay-anihan in General Santos City, Mindanao

I started my year traveling to General Santos City from Negros Occidental to participate for the Sarbay-anihan event organized by Project Lawud, a dynamic youth organization based in Mindanao advocating for the conservation and protection of dugongs through research, advocacy, and community and youth engagements.

During my talk, I presented my environmental advocacies and my motivation in pursuing them. There, I mentioned that I wanted to become a medical doctor but my fear of blood redirected me to a path towards marine biology. Further, I also showcased my local, national, and international initiatives to spark inspiration for everyone.

A call to action was to keep ourselves grounded and help each other out in this triple planetary crisis that we are now facing.

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