June, 10 2026
The NYC has empowered young Filipinos to step into roles as advocates, scientists, storytellers, and community leaders. From grassroots initiatives to global platforms, its members and alumni continue to shape conversations and solutions for people and nature.
In celebration of World Environment Month, we highlight NYC members Deign Soriano, Yza Nazal-Habunal, Allen Lemence, Gab Mejia, and Shri Macaumbao, and Mirus Ponon, whose journeys embody what it means to move beyond participation and into purpose.
Deign Soriano: Elevating Youth Voices in Global Environmental Governance
For Deign, advocacy has expanded into academic research. Photograph © Alexa Cancio
As a co-author of a 2026 study published in People and Nature, Deign helped examine how youth networks contribute to environmental governance across the globe. The research highlights how these networks act as “bridging actors,” connecting grassroots movements, institutions, and decision makers, while also identifying barriers that limit meaningful youth participation.
"What our research shows is that youth are not on the margins of environmental governance—we are already shaping it. Youth networks act as bridges, connecting communities to decision-makers, and local realities to global conversations. But for this to be sustained, systems must move beyond symbolic inclusion and create space for genuine collaboration and co-leadership."
Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70302
His work reinforces a powerful message: youth are not just participants in environmental action—they are essential to shaping it. By bringing the experience of the NYC into academic literature, Deign has helped position Filipino youth leadership within global conversations on sustainability.
Beyond research, his continued work as an educator reflects a commitment to grounding advocacy in science, while ensuring it remains accessible and impactful in real-world contexts.
Allen Lemuel Lemence: Innovating for a Sustainable Energy Future
Allen’s journey highlights the critical role of science and innovation in shaping sustainable systems. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
Having completed his Doctorate in Energy Science at Kyoto University, Allen represents a new generation of Filipino researchers contributing to the global energy transition. His work focuses on the intersection of pressing challenges such as climate change, energy transition, and sustainable development, where scientific advancement must intersect with policy, social benefits, and the needs of communities.
"Renewable energy is not just a technical solution—it’s a social one. The transition we’re working toward must ensure that communities are not only powered but empowered. This means active involvement, ownership, and capacity building, among others. For me, the goal has always been to bridge science with real-world impact, so that innovation translates into equitable and sustainable energy systems. We should also strive for solutions that are grounded in people’s realities and needs."
From his time as an NYC member to his work in the international academic space, Allen’s path reflects how youth leadership can evolve beyond borders, bringing local perspectives into global solutions.
Yzabela Nazal-Habunal: Leading Change in Local Environmental Governance
At the local level, Yza demonstrates how environmental leadership thrives in everyday spaces. Photograph © Josh Alibcag / WWF-Philippines
As City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of Navotas City, Yza Nazal-Habunal works at the frontline of environmental governance. Her role focuses on translating environmental policies into practical programs that communities can understand and actively participate in.
She engages directly with local stakeholders on issues such as waste management, coastal protection, and urban environmental governance, ensuring that solutions reflect on-the-ground realities. Her work demonstrates how localized action can create an immediate and meaningful impact in people's lives.
A former member of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council, Yza’s journey reflects the link between youth advocacy and long-term public service, where impact extends from campaigns to systems building and policy implementation.
“Working in the local government has taught me that environmental issues are never merely ecological—they are profoundly human. Behind every policy, every waterway restored, every waste management program implemented, are communities striving for safer, healthier, and more dignified lives. The most meaningful and lasting solutions emerge when we listen deeply to lived realities and empower people to become partners in change. I have come to see that caring for the environment is, at its core, an act of stewardship for people because the quality of our environment shapes the quality of our lives in ways both visible and unseen.”
She highlights that environmental governance becomes meaningful when its effects are visible in daily life and shaped by the people it serves. Drawing from her experience in one of the country’s most densely populated coastal cities, she emphasizes that sustainable solutions require constant engagement with communities, balancing environmental protection with social realities, and building trust that encourages collective action.
For Yza, successful environmental governance is ultimately measured not by policies written on paper, but by tangible improvements in the lives of the people and communities that policies are meant to serve.
Gab Mejia: Storytelling for Environmental Change
For Gab, storytelling is a form of environmental action. Photograph © Dennis Sulit
A celebrated youth advocate and one of the 2025 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the Year, Gab uses photography and exploration to bring environmental issues closer to people. His work documents not just landscapes, but also human stories intertwined with them—making complex challenges both relatable and urgent.
Through his storytelling, he works closely with indigenous and frontline communities, documenting their knowledge systems, cultural practices, and lived experiences at the frontlines of the climate crisis. From collaborating with the Talaandig community in Bukidnon to amplifying the voices of wetland and coastal communities, his work highlights how environmental protection is deeply connected to culture, identity, and survival.
"Stories are beings that shape ourselves and the world around us in ways data alone cannot. It is our shared universal language passed down generation after generation, from our ancestors to our closest kin. And it is through photography and storytelling, where I hope to create these stories of the very places and people that have made these stories come to life, to give justice for the people who protect and conserve our planet, and to inspire others to deeply care about our only home."
A member of WWF-Philippines’ NYC Batch 2 and 3 and now serving on its Board of Trustees, he is also a recipient of the WWF International President’s Youth Award, recognizing his contributions to youth-led environmental action. His work continues to amplify often unheard voices, particularly those of indigenous peoples and marginalized communities, demonstrating that narratives can be just as powerful as policies in driving change.
Shri Macaumbao: Championing Resilience and Inclusive Conservation
Shri Macaumbao’s work is rooted in community, culture, and resilience. Photograph © Isobel Resurreccion
As a recipient of the 2025 Philippine Resilience Youth Award, she has been recognized for her efforts in advancing environmental protection while uplifting voices from the Bangsamoro region. Her advocacy highlights the importance of inclusive conservation, where solutions are shaped by those most connected to the ecosystems they protect.
“Youth leadership becomes more meaningful when it is rooted in inclusivity, empathy, and genuine community engagement. In the Bangsamoro context, environmental work cannot be separated from culture, identity, and lived experiences. For me, community-centered leadership means listening first, learning from the people, and creating solutions alongside them rather than for them. Protecting the environment also means protecting the stories, traditions, and resilience of the communities who have long cared for these ecosystems.”
Her work reflects the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council’s broader efforts to engage communities across regions such as Marawi, where youth-led initiatives in environmental stewardship, education, and community resilience continue to take root. Through her leadership, Shri demonstrates that environmental action must be both equitable and deeply grounded in local realities.
Mirus Ponon: Advancing Youth-Led Climate Action on the Regional and Global Stage
Mirus’ journey reflects how youth leadership can bridge advocacy, policy engagement, and cross-border collaboration in addressing climate challenges. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
A WWF-Philippines National Youth Council Batch 3 & 4 member, Mirus is the founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN), a regional youth-led organization advancing youth participation in governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development across Southeast Asia.
His leadership in youth-driven climate and social impact work has been recognized through his inclusion in the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, highlighting his growing influence in regional conversations on sustainability and governance.
Mirus advocates for more meaningful youth participation in decision-making spaces, emphasizing that young people should be recognized not only as stakeholders but as active contributors to policy and systems change.
“In many spaces, youth participation is acknowledged, but not always meaningfully integrated. What I’ve learned is that young people bring grounded perspectives shaped by lived experience and community realities. The challenge is ensuring that these voices are embedded in decision-making processes, not treated as symbolic.”
Through his continued work across regional and international platforms, Mirus demonstrates how NYC members extend their impact beyond program engagement, contributing to more inclusive and youth-centered approaches to climate action and governance.
A Decade of Stories, A Future of Possibilities
Across research, governance, science, storytelling, and community leadership, these young individuals reflect the evolving identity of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council. They show that youth leadership extends beyond a phase and has real impact.
Ten years on, the NYC stands not only as a platform, but as a movement shaped by the people within it—and by the futures they are helping build. At its core, the NYC is a story of impact: of voices that move, lead, and shape a better future for people and nature.