THE National Service Training Program (NSTP) Department, in collaboration with Eureka, Bedan Liturgical Ministries, and Rotaract, held a seminar titled “Environmental Management and Protection” last Oct. 11 at the Tugade Auditorium for NSTP students.

     The event aimed to empower students to contribute toward a better environment and highlight the importance of environmental advocacy. 

     Prof.  Mark Louis Cañete, the Prefect of Student Discipline and Character Formation, kicked off the event with his opening remarks, highlighting the seminar as an opportunity to spark real environmental change in our community. He urged the attendees to learn, engage, and be inspired to create a greener, more sustainable world.  

     The sole speaker of the event, Antoinette Taus, shared her insights and advice from her experiences as an environmentalist. Taus, a Filipino-American actress and United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador is best known as the founder of Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA), a non-profit organization focused on creating sustainable programs to help find solutions for global issues such as climate change and poverty.

     In her talk, Taus shared that CORA was born out of wanting to give back to communities and expand through partnerships, enabling the non-profit organization to undertake more environmental projects. She also noted that CORA took inspiration from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), aligning its mission with the latter.

     Notably, Taus discussed several core programs that she is currently focusing on. The Food Rescue initiative aims to address the adverse effects of food waste by distributing lunch bags across various barangays in the Philippines. At the same time, the Ocean Mission raises awareness about the impacts of plastic dumping and mitigating it through coastal cleanup initiatives. The Woman-Grove Warriors program empowers women to protect coastal infrastructure and landscape through mangroves, benefiting the environment and local communities. Finally, Eco-Ikot Sustainable Cities aims to establish stations across various locations in the country where people can drop off plastic waste and receive payment through “E-Cash,” an application that Taus is developing for future release.

     In her closing, she mentioned three key values that guided her in her environmental endeavors: love, courage, and purpose. She adds, these three words have guided me in everything I’ve done and have kept me grounded in what truly matters now.”

     She also reminds the youth that inspiration is passed on and that others inspire those who motivate us. Taus adds, “Remember that you have that special rule and that anyone can make a difference. What sets them apart is the leap of faith to believe that they have the capacity to do something.”