Awardees

UNITED ORGANIZATION OF DIDIPIO RESIDENTS

2020

Organizational Awardee United Organization of Didipio Residents (UODR) leads the struggle in Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya against plunder of natural resources. Their advocacy also transcends outside their province as they prevent the destruction of watershed haven of Northern Luzon and echo the call for the rightful utilization of natural resources all over the country. UODR […]

SABOKAHAN UNITY OF LUMAD WOMEN

2020

Organizational Awardee Sabokahan Unity of Lumad Women (Sabokahan) is an organization of women from eight ethno-linguistic tribes across Southern Mindanao that was founded in 2003 by Abiok “Bai Bibyaon” Ligkayan Bigkay and 8 other strong-willed lumad women after the victory of their pangayaw (tribal war) against the logging concession Alcantara and Sons during the 1990s. […]

NAGPAKABANANG MANANAGAT SA TIGAO

2020

Organizational Awardee Nagpakabanang Mananagat sa Tigao (NAMATI) is an organization dedicated to voluntarily managing 57 hectares of marine protected area (MPA) for 26 years now in Barangay Tigao, Cortes, Surigao del Sur. Before NAMATI was established, the place was with rampant illegal fishing using dynamite, cyanide, and other destructive practices that destroyed fish habitats and […]

CRISTETA M. SISON

2020

Individual Awardee Cristeta Sison, also known as “Ka Tita”, is a community organizer in Central Luzon whose leadership empowers communities in Zambales and Pangasinan in fighting for their livelihood and opposing large-scale mining. She is an inspiration to many small-scale farmers and fisherfolk. Ka Tita had been for a long time one with the grassroots […]

ALBERTO ROLDAN

2020

Individual Awardee Ever since China ramped up their aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), we always hear of Filipino fisherfolk at the unfortunate end of things. In these times when the government grit goes missing, the communities and their organization becomes more important than ever. In the midst of these bureaucratic neglect, Alberto “Ka […]

Robert Chan

2020

Individual Awardee “God wants you to act on what’s in front of you; one tree at a time, one beach at a time, one politician at a time.” These are the words of Atty. Robert Chan, an environmental defender whose faith is his constant source of strength. Robert Chan is an environmental lawyer who leads […]

Roberto S. Verzola

2020

Most Distinguished Awardee (Posthumous Award) Dedicated to work for social justice, ecology, and social transformation – this is how his colleagues describe the life of Roberto Verzola. Roberto, also known as “Obet” by most people, survived incarceration and torture in the Marcos dictatorship as a young activist. After Martial Law, he strived to build a […]

REGINA PAZ “GINA” LOPEZ

2020

Most Distinguished Awardee (Posthumous Award) Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez dedicated her life in serving the people and the environment. Her environmental crusade is widely regarded through the enduring work of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. – Bantay Kalikasan and her fearless stint as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Gina […]

Bai Bibiaon Ligkaian Bigkay

2019

Hailing from the lush peaks of Pantaron Mountain Range in the Davao region, Abiok Ligkaian Bigkay, or “Bai Bibiaon”, is known as the only living woman warrior and chieftain of the Lumad people that has taken the helm in asserting the Lumad’s right to their ancestral domains and in preserving its rich biodiversity and natural resources.