Growing up, I have always enjoyed outdoor activities like biking, trekking and swimming. I have also tried swinging from a vine in the woods like Tarzan. Because of these enjoyable

experiences and adventures from my childhood, my love for the environment was realized. I believe that protecting the environment is important since it affects all of us. Everything in nature is interconnected.

Pursuing a degree in Environmental Science at Ateneo de Manila University led me to the Haribon Foundation. I am currently part of the Darwin Initiative Project, entitled, Responding to fish extirpations in the global marine biodiversity epicenter. One of the objectives of the project is to identify vulnerable marine fish species in five marine key biodiversity areas (mKBAs) in the Philippines: Lanuza Bay in Surigao del Sur, Danajon Bank in Bohol, Verde Island Passage in Batangas, Polilio Island in Quezon and Palawan. At the end of the project, policy recommendations will be made at the local, national and international levels.

For this project, I have been to Surigao del Sur and Bohol to interview fishermen regarding their catches. We were particularly curious about the marine fish species that they are no longer able to catch today. We have been hopping from one island to another just to interview fishermen. I have gained a lot of experiences from the sites that I visited. I managed to learn their dialect since I was immersed in the field for a month for each site. I met inspiring people like Nong Ben who is not a fisherman but a farmer who showed pity for the sea when dynamite fishing was rampant in his hometown which led him to put up a small organization that aims to guard one of marine sanctuaries in his hometown.

Only months have passed by since graduation but it already feels like I have already done what I really wanted to do: to travel, dive, snorkel, and work at the same time. This job gives me the privilege of affirming that the Philippines is the center of the center of marine biodiversity.

Having this as my first job after college, I can honestly say that I am genuinely happy with what I am doing. And the best part of it all is that while I am enjoying my job, I know that I am also helping the fishing community understand their current situation.