This Earth Day 2026 also marks a milestone year for the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council (NYC), as it continues its 10th year of youth engagement in environmental action. To mark the occasion, the NYC brought together young leaders from across the country for a two-leg workshop series, Building Connections for a Sustainable Future, held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Cagayan de Oro City. The initiative created spaces for learning, reflection, and action, grounding environmental leadership in practical experience.  

WWF-Philippines National Youth Council and Palawan youth leaders aboard the M/Y Navorca during the Earth Day 2026 Youth Leadership Workshop. 

Learning at Sea: Palawan  

The first leg, held on April 18–19 aboard the WWF research vessel M/Y Navorca, brought sixteen youth participants into a setting focused on environmental education and practical field experience.  

Surrounded by the waters of Palawan, discussions on environmental leadership extended beyond ocean conservation, exploring the links between environmental issues, public health, and population dynamics. This reflected the workshop’s theme, Building Connections for a Sustainable Future, highlighting sustainability as an interconnected system rather than isolated concerns.  

WWF-NYC facilitators guided youth participants through reflections on environmental leadership and action. 

Facilitated by NYC members Gab Mejia, Mina Lim, Giselle Lapid, and Renz Luyao, and organized together with the WWF Palawan Seascape Program headed by Joan Pecson and the Navorca Crew, the sessions moved beyond lectures. Participants exchanged ideas, reflected on their advocacies, and began developing their own approach to environmental leadership  

WWF-NYC’s Gab Mejia and Mina Lim led the discussion on Youth Leadership and the Environment, encouraging participants to reflect on their advocacies and develop their own approach to environmental leadership aboard the M/Y Navorca. 

A key part of the “Youth in Action” segment guided participants in reflecting on what they should change, sustain, and begin doing after the workshop. This exercise encouraged them to connect environmental action with broader social contexts, including health and population pressures, and translate reflection into responsibility.  

By the end of the sessions, these insights had become concrete commitments, ranging from community-based education efforts to conservation initiatives that could be implemented in their households and local communities.  

NYC’s Giselle Lapid, Renz Luyao, Mina Lim, and Gab Mejia together with the WWF Palawan Seascapes Program team, including Overall Lead Joan Binondo, Project Manager Joann Pecson, and the Navorca Crew. 

Learning was further enriched during an early morning study tour in Honda Bay, where NYC members observed marine biodiversity firsthand and engaged directly with the marine environment. For some, it was their first time experiencing Palawan’s coastal ecosystems up close, deepening their appreciation of the environments they are working to protect.  

Pods of dolphins in Honda Bay during an early morning study tour, with NYC members gaining firsthand appreciation of Palawan’s rich marine ecosystems. 

Community in Action: Cagayan de Oro  

The second leg gathered thirty young participants from the local community at the Nazareth Barangay Hall in Cagayan de Oro City. The session focused on urban sustainability challenges, including waste management, community engagement, and everyday environmental practices.  

In coordination with WWF site projects, the Circular Operations for a Plastic Pollution-free Environment (COPE) and Marine Litter (ML) led by Juls Guirjen and Ricky Biyo, NYC members Ron Caguliodo, Mirus Ponon, Shri Macaumbao, and Ricky Asuncion facilitated interactive discussions and collaborative activities that encouraged participants to share their experiences and local perspectives.  

WWF-Project Leads Ricky Biyo and Juls Guirjen presented with the NYC toolkit to support young people in translating learning into action.

A key highlight of the workshop was the presentation of group outputs, where participants translated discussions into community-based action plans.  

The outputs reflected interconnected concerns around waste management, public health, and climate awareness. The Ocean Defenders, Biodiversity Brigade, and Waste Warriors each examined different dimensions of improper waste disposal from coastal and household-level pollution to illegal dumping linking these to flooding, health risks, and environmental degradation. Their proposed actions complemented one another, ranging from strengthening education campaigns and enforcing local ordinances to improving awareness of waste systems and conducting targeted community discussions to better understand behavioral gaps. Meanwhile, the Climate Champions focused on climate change awareness and air pollution, proposing the use of digital platforms such as social media campaigns and short-form content to expand outreach and engagement.  

WWF-NYC led the group session with CDO youth participants, who presented community-driven action plans on ocean protection, waste management, and climate awareness. 

Across all groups, a common thread emerged: environmental challenges are deeply local, and solutions are most effective when they are participatory, informed, and sustained by the community.  

Learning extended beyond the workshop through a visit to the PACAFACO Materials Recovery Facility in Barangay Pagatpat, where participants observed community-led waste management systems and the realities of local environmental action.  

Study tour and field visit to the PACAFACO Materials Recovery Facility with the National Youth Council and WWF’s Circular Operations for a Plastic Pollution-free Environment and Marine Litter Project teams. 

The workshop also included a mural painting activity in collaboration with conservationist and muralist AG Saño. Through this activity, participants translated environmental messages into public visual expression rooted in community engagement.  

WWF-NYC’s Shri Macaumbao, Ricky Asuncion, Ron Caguliodo, and Mirus Ponon together with artist AG Saño at Cagayan de Oro National High School during the Earth Day 2026 mural painting activity. 

Building a Network of Young Leaders  

Central to both workshop legs was the WWF-Philippines NYC Youth Toolkit, developed to support young people in translating learning into action.  

The toolkit introduced key environmental issues, provided practical approaches, and guided participants in developing personal pledges and action plans. Supporting materials such as advocacy posters, stickers, and activity guides reinforced the message that meaningful change begins with everyday actions and must be sustained over time.  

Across both Palawan and Cagayan de Oro, one thing became evident: while environmental challenges differ across contexts, from marine ecosystems to urban waste systems, the role of youth remains vital.  

The workshops provided a shared space for young leaders to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. Through discussions, reflection, and group planning, participants developed not only knowledge, but clearer directions for concrete local environmental action.  

Moving Forward  

Earth Day 2026 marks a decade of WWF-Philippines NYC youth engagement, it serves not only as a milestone but a commitment to sustained work with young leaders across the country.

As participants return to their communities, they bring with them the insights, commitments, and action plans developed during the workshops.  

From the waters of Honda Bay to the communities of Cagayan de Oro, these young leaders remain part of ongoing efforts to strengthen environmental action grounded not only in awareness, but in practice.  

And for many of them, that action has already begun.