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John Angelico “Lycoh” Pinlac, a Haribon member thinks that many
modern day people have forgotten that we are living in one big
ecosystem and what affects one affects all. This kind of
understanding has the potential to cultivate a greater sense of
responsibility among people and encourages them to take a proactive
stance in environmental conservation efforts. What he does is to
help people rediscover and realize that special link they share with
Mother Earth, Gaia.
Also known by the name Ishilta, his pen name, he
is a sacred ecologist who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Geography at the University of the Philippines Diliman; is a
freelance writer, holistic healer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.
Through the years, he has been invited to speak in a number of
conferences about queer geography and Philippine earth-based
spiritualities.
When asked how he became a member, he replied: “I’ve
been hearing about Haribon way back college. I had an innate
interest in environmental conservation but had no opportunity to
involve myself. After I graduated, I started job-hunting for job
placements that have something to do with environmental conservation
then I stumbled on Haribon. I luckily had a chance to attend one of
Haribon’s seminars in Ortigas. And then a few months later, I
filled up the membership form in the website and finally decided to
give my passion a concrete form.”
“In addition, my skills and knowledge as a
geographer, I believe, have great potentials to be utilized in areas
such as resource management, mapping species distribution, land use
planning, and integrated urban planning. “
As a member, Ishilta does not dwell on how great
or small his contribution is to the organizations he joins. What is
really important for him is that he is able to help in the
implementation of the organization’s goals to the best of his
abilities.
“I can say that in my small humble ways, I am
able to contribute to the fulfillment of Haribon’s mission and
objectives. First of all, the mere act of becoming a member is,
already in itself, an act of supporting the organization’s cause.
Secondly, by educating my self on pressing environmental issues and
equipping my self with the necessary knowledge, I believe I can
become a better and effective campaigner of Haribon’s
environmental advocacies. Finally, by helping people become aware of
their profound relationship with the natural environment encourages
them to work hand in hand with Haribon’s mission-vision, directly
or indirectly. “
Ishilta believes that change starts within an
individual. “The best thing I could do as an individual, I
believe, is by becoming a living example to many others out there.
This way, through my works and examples, I can inspire people to
become better stewards of nature and help increase their level of
awareness of how empowering it could be for every one to conserve
biodiversity and live in harmony with the natural world.”
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