We have our own climate change champion here in the Philippines, Sen. Loren Legarda who was among the people in this part of the world to congratulate DiCaprio through her official Twitter account: “Climate change is real. Congrats #LeoDiCaprio! #oscars2016 #bestactor #Revenant. A former broadcaster before she turned to politics, and multi-awarded as a journalist, Legarda has taken to heart the issue of climate change. As someone who grew up in flood-prone Malabon, she was exposed early to the importance of taking care of one’s environment. She saw for herself how irresponsible garbage disposal added to the problem of low-lying areas in Metro Manila and contributed to severe flooding, especially during typhoon season.
Muhon: Traces of an Adolescent City, the selected exhibit for the country’s National Pavilion at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition in the Venice Biennale, has gathered the country’s foremost architects and contemporary visual artists to be part of the historic first participation of the Philippines to the Architecture Venice Biennale under the auspices of the National Comission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
The Philippine Pavilion will hold its vernissage on May 27 and will open from May 28 to November 27, 2016 at Palazzo Mora in Venice, Italy.
Senator Loren, Thank you so much for gracing Ani ng Dangal with your inspiring presence. The keynote message that you gave was very empowering to the artists. No other senator or high government official before you had understood how much culture, especially the arts, can contribute to a nation’s development. Best regards!
— Chairman Jun De Leon, National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Senator Loren Legarda hailed the establishment of the country’s first indigenous peoples resource center (IPRC) housed at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) – Center for West Visayan Studies (CWVS).
“I salute the UP Visayas and its Center for West Visayan Studies for taking the lead in establishing an IP Resource Center in the Panay Region, my beloved home region. Your initiative is a concrete demonstration of what we can achieve if we have the sense of urgency to translate our passion and commitment into action,” said Legarda in her speech read by Former Antique Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez during the inauguration of the Center last February 24.
In celebration of National Women’s Month this March, Senator Loren Legarda today encouraged women to lead and be actively involved in climate change adaptation and mitigation as she called on the government to empower women by addressing their vulnerabilities.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, said that while statistics show that women are more vulnerable to disaster and climate change impacts than men, this vulnerability can turn into strengths with gender-sensitive government programs that address the special needs of women.
