What We’ll Be Talking About
Our speakers come from farms, forests, coastlines, classrooms, and communities—each bringing their own story, wisdom, and practice rooted in permaculture and Filipino resilience.
Raizza Anna M. Alforja
UP Open University, FMDS Perma G.A.R.D.E.N.
TOPIC: Permaculture Design for a Sustainable Campus Environment: The Case of UPOU FMDS Perma G.A.R.D.E.N. (Growing Appreciation towards Resilience, Development, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition)
Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon
2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee
TOPIC: Cooperation and Conservation: Empowering Coastal Communities through the 3Es
Fisherfolk leader Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon shares how small-scale fishers can protect coastal resources while building stronger, more sustainable livelihoods. Through the 3Es—Environment, Economic, and Empowerment—his community has restored degraded fishing grounds, improved incomes, and strengthened local leadership. Learn how cooperation and conservation can go hand-in-hand to create lasting change for both people and the planet.
Chef Laorence Castillo
Food Heritage & Sustainability Advocate
TOPIC: Celebrating Heritage, Protecting Biodiversity, and Promoting Food Sovereignty through Community Cooking
In this talk, Chef Lawrence Castillo explores how community cooking can be a powerful act of cultural preservation, ecological stewardship, and collective nourishment. Drawing from his work with indigenous ingredients and food heritage, he highlights how local kitchens can become spaces for protecting biodiversity and reclaiming food sovereignty. Through shared meals and stories, Chef Lao invites us to rediscover the deep connections between land, culture, and community.
Sharon Cortez
Founder - Forest School Philippines
TOPIC: Playing Outside Might Just Save the World
What if letting kids play outside is one of the best ways to help them grow strong, kind, and ready for the future? In this short talk, Shawi shares stories from the forest—how children learn by climbing trees, getting muddy, and figuring things out on their own. It’s a reminder that the way we play today shapes the world we’ll live in tomorrow.
John Sherwin Felix
Founder – Lokalpedia
TOPIC: Reviving Indigenous Ingredients for Culture, Biodiversity, and Food Security
John Sherwin Felix, founder of Lokalpedia, takes us on a journey to rediscover the Philippines’ rich heritage of indigenous ingredients. By documenting and reviving these foods, he shows how preserving culinary traditions also strengthens biodiversity, enhances food security, and sustains local livelihoods. This talk invites us to see each local ingredient as a story, a solution, and a seed for a more resilient future.
Jabez Joshua Flores, PhD
Licensed Drone Pilot
TOPIC: A Decade of Permaculture Research in the Philippines — What’s next?”
Jabez Flores shares key findings from ten years of permaculture research in the Philippines—from mapping landscapes and plant diversity to understanding how practitioners apply design in real-world settings. His talk explores how we can build on this foundation through transdisciplinary collaboration, inviting farmers, researchers, educators, and community members to shape the future of permaculture together.
Joe Mari Fulgencio
Wellness Advocate
TOPIC: Permakultura para sa Komunidad, Korporasyon, Kultura, Kabataan at Kalusugan
Permaculture is a holistic approach to designing systems that nurture communities, empower corporations to act sustainably, preserve culture, and protect nature. It equips the youth with ecological literacy and provides pathways for health through traditional practices and local resources. Through permaculture, we weave together people, planet, and purpose into a regenerative future.
Nenieveh "Weng" Fortun Glinoga
Glinoga Integrated Farm School
TOPIC: GIFT : ‘Payak pero Rock’
From barren land to a thriving farm, Nenieveh “Weng” Fortun-Glinoga shows how Glinoga Integrated Farm (GIFT) grows food, empowers women, and inspires communities — proving that small, simple beginnings can lead to big, lasting change.v
Ethan Hernandez
Social Media Content Creator
TOPIC: Going viral for forests: Storytelling that puts Philippine native plants on the map
This talk explores the power of social media and influencers/vloggers in promoting biodiversity conservation, with a focus on Philippine native plants. It highlights how compelling digital storytelling can raise environmental awareness and drive engagement. Practical tips for creating relatable and impactful content on biodiversity will also be discussed.
Rina Papio
Founder - Green Space Pilipinas
TOPIC: The Soilmate Journey: Turning Food Waste into a Force for Regeneration
Join Rina Papio, Chief Soilmate of The Soilmate Collective, as she shares her inspiring journey of transforming food waste from an environmental burden into a valuable resource for building healthy soil. Discover how composting can create new destinations and purpose for what we throw away, and how small, consistent actions can make a big impact. Be part of the movement to make the change
Hubert Posadas
Risk Management Practitioner
TOPIC: Indigenous Perspective and the Use of Normative Culture in Permaculture.
The talk opens up the importance of understanding local “Permanant Culture” and “Permanent Agriculture”, as well as the challenges encountered if they are not taken to account. These challenges impinges on the success of the permaculture project and touches upon the subjects of risk management, community engagement and world view.
Teza Ramos
Champion for Sustainable Livelihoods & Biodiversity
TOPIC: Building Resilience and Ecological Integrity through Agroecology And Spatial Planning
Teza Ramos explores how agroecology and spatial planning can work together to strengthen community resilience and protect ecological integrity. Drawing from real-world applications, she will share strategies for designing landscapes that sustain biodiversity, secure food systems, and adapt to climate challenges. This talk offers practical insights for building a future where people and nature thrive in harmony.
Marjorie Riconalla
Founder – Miranalla Farm
TOPIC: Growing Sustainable Businesses in Permaculture
By applying permaculture principles to business practices, entrepreneurs can create
businesses that are not only environmentally friendly, but also economically viable and socially responsible.
Ronnie Yumang
Founder - Balika Rammed Earth Construction
TOPIC: BALIKHA: Regenerating Earth with the Wisdom of the Ancient
Balikha: Regenerating Earth with the Wisdom of the Ancient is a journey of rediscovery and reconnection with the land through Metis—ancestral, intuitive, and embodied knowledge. Blending memoir with a blueprint for change, it revives rammed earth construction and Filipino artisanship as acts of cultural memory, resilience, and ecological repair. Through stories, tools, and timeless wisdom, it invites us to rebuild not just structures, but futures rooted in dignity, reciprocity, and harmony with the living world.