For the thirteenth episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic on “Easy Backyard Birding,” backyard birdwatchers and professionals will share their experiences and insights in bird watching, discuss urban bird biodiversity, and highlight the role of birds in our ecosystems, particularly as pollinators of plants. House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda will host the episode, which will air on Thursday, 13 August 2020, 10 AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl. Members of the Wild Bird Club, including Mr. Mike Lu, a club founding member; Ms. Jelaine Gan; Mr. Bayani Barcenas, club secretary; Ms. Cristina Cinco, who is also a food entrepreneur; and Ms. Gina Mapua, an organizer of the annual bird fair conducted by the club, will share easy, replicable, and sustainable techniques of backyard bird watching.

For the 12th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic on “Millennial Farmers and Gardeners,” House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda will discuss with millennial farmers their stories and experiences in venturing into agribusiness and the importance of sustainable farming. The episode will air on Thursday, August 6, 2020, 10 AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl/. Joining the online conversation are young farm managers and “agripreneurs”, including: Ms. Karmila Rose Dimamay, farm owner of Milay’s Garden in Tibiao, Antique and incumbent Board Member of the Province; Mr. Enzo Pinga, founder of Earthbeat farms in San Pablo City, Laguna; Mr. Raphael Dacones, chief farming officer of Teraoka Family Farm in Pangasinan; and Ms. Stephanie Mendiola, founder of Indie Farms in Silang, Cavite. Meanwhile, Atty Paula Aberasturi of Down to Earth PH will join as reactor. 

To facilitate discussions on the current and future state of climate and sea level change in the Philippines, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and its National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), in collaboration with the Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center, will conduct an online forum entitled “Taking stock: Why should we be concerned about the climate and sea level changes?” on 5 August 2020, Wednesday, 9:45 AM, via Facebook Live.   The online forum will examine how the impacts of climate change, specifically sea level rise, is affecting the Philippines as an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, with 822 coastal municipalities, and one of the longest coastlines in the world estimated at 36,289 kilometers.   Members of the NPTE who will join the virtual forum include Dr. Carlos Primo David, current chairperson; Dr. Laura David and Dr. Fernando Siringan of the UP Marine Science Institute; and Dr. Rodel Lasco, Executive Director of the OML Center.   Other leading climate experts and scientists who will also participate include Dr. Benjamin Horton, Director of Earth Observatory of Singapore; Dr. Ma. Laurice Jamero, Head Resilience Collaboratory, Manila Observatory; and Dr. Enrico Paringit, Executive Director of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development.   A distinguished roster of reactors from different agencies and organizations have also been invited. They are: Dr. Eulito Casas, Associate Professor from  UP Visayas Tacloban College; Atty. Josine Alexandra Gamboa, Manager of Government Initiatives of Rare, Inc.; and Dr. Bjoern Surborg, Principal Advisor and Cluster Coordinator for Climate Change of the GIZ.  CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman, Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, Representative from the Lone District of Antique, and Representative Edgar Chatto, Chair of the House Special Committee on Climate Change, will deliver special messages.  

For the 11th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders including House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda will gather for a special episode on “Youth Climate Activism” and discuss how youth leaders are driving and sustaining their climate initiatives, even during the pandemic. 

For the 10th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways” on the topic, “Culinary Heritage (Part 2),” culinary heritage experts and advocates will underscore the continuing efforts to document and map out local Filipino food to revitalize culinary heritage in the Philippines.  The episode will air on Thursday, 23 July 2020, 10:00 AM, via Facebook at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl/, to be hosted by House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda. Resource speakers include Chef Gaita Fores, 2016 Asia’s Best Female Chef and owner of several restaurants, including Cibo, Lusso, and Grace Park; food writer Ige Ramos; Rectito Melquiades, Coordinator of the Guiuan Recovery and Sustainable Group for Resilience in Eastern Samar; and Gatchi Gatchalian, restaurateur and President of the Davao Tourism Association.  Arvin Villalon, National Cultural Mapping Facilitator from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), will be a reactor for this episode.

For the ninth episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic on “Culinary Heritage,” House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, together with culinary experts and culinary heritage advocates, will discuss the importance of preserving local food and culinary heritage through sustainable diet. The episode will air on Thursday, 16 July 2020, 10 AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl/. Joining Legarda are Chef Jam Melchor, founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement; Ms. Louella Eslao-Alix, culinary heritage author; Ms. Luth Camiña from Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo; Datu Shariff Pendatun III, chef and author of “On The Cuisine of Muslim Mindanao"; Ms. Amy Besa, restaurateur and author; and Mr. Arvin Villalon, National Cultural Mapping Facilitator from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

On our 8th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic, “Nutrition, Diet, and Culinary Heritage,” let's watch House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda and our resource persons share the traditional and healthy ways of preparing and cooking food, and discuss the importance of preserving local food heritage through a sustainable diet. The episode will stream on Facebook Live on Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:00 a.m. at facebook.com/CCCPhl/ . Joining Rep. Legarda are nutritionists and food experts, including Ms. Zenaida Velasco, National President of the Nutritionist-Dietitians' Association of the Philippines; Ms. Virgith Buena, Chairperson of the Board of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); Chef Jam Melchor, Founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement: Manuel Onalan, a traditional rice farmer in Kalinga: Prof. Sashah Dioso of UP Visayas; and Asha Peri, a plant-based diet chef and holistic wellness consultant.

On the seventh episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic, “Saving Seeds and Growing with Nature,” House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda, together with resource persons, will discuss the basics and benefits of permaculture and the importance of saving seeds in ensuring food self-sufficiency.  The episode will stream on Facebook Live on Thursday, July 2, 2020, 10:00 a.m. at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and facebook.com/CCCPhl/. Joining Legarda are permaculture and seed saving experts and advocates, including Karen Hizola, Executive Director of Global Seed Savers Philippines; Dr. Blesilda Calub from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños; Bert Peeters, founder of the Philippine Permaculture Association; Jabez Flores of the Permaculture Research PH; and Rina Papio, founder of Green Space Pilipinas. Reactors will include Karla Delgado from Kai Farms and Atty. Paula Aberasturi of Down to Earth PH.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected economies, it has also affected the mental health and well-being of many of us. Join us on the sixth episode of Stories For A Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways, where Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and guest experts share practical strategies to cope with stress and heightened anxiety in this time of crises. This episode on "Mental Health and Wellness: Coping in the Time of COVID-19 and Disasters" will be on Facebook Live this Thursday, June 25 at 10AM.

In the fifth episode of Stories For A Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways titled "Growing Your Own Food (Part 2)," join Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda as she discusses urban farming for climate adaptation in the new normal, together with young urban farmers. Learn the affordable, easy, and sustainable ways to build your own food gardens this Thursday, June 18, 10am via Facebook Live!

The fourth episode will air this Thursday, June 11, 10AM, via Facebook Live at facebook.com/conglorenlegarda or facebook.com/CCCPhl.

The online forum, which will be livestreamed via Facebook Live on Friday, June 5, 10:00 am, is organized in celebration of World Environment Day, and the Philippine Environment Month this June.   It will feature ten landmark Philippine laws for environmental protection and climate risk governance, as well as ten exemplary adaptation solutions by local communities in adapting to climate impacts.

This Thursday, catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with co-anchor Red Constantino of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities in the third episode of "Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways" tackling the topic – Sustainable Urban Mobility. The series is organized in partnership with the Climate Change Commission. See you this May 28, 2020 at 10 AM onwards via Facebook Live!

Tuesday | 26 May 2020 | 1PM In celebration of the Month of the Ocean, the Climate Change Commission, in partnership with RARE Philippines, invites you to a webinar on the importance of oceans and the marine ecosystem as we address climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.   Experts Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay, a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist and Director of Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology of the University of San Agustin; Dr. Jonel P. Saludes, Associate Vice President and Research and Global Relations Director of the Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3) of the University of San Agustin; and Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos from the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, will join Climate Change Commissioner Noel Antonio Gaerlan and Atty. Alexandra Gamboa of RARE Philippines today at 1PM.   The Great Web: COVID-19, Climate Change, and The Ocean will be on livestream on Rare Philippines Facebook Page [https://www.facebook.com/RareOrgPH].

Thursday, 21 May 2020 | 10:00 AM The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of food supply chains that serve the food and nutritional security of Filipinos. Growing food at home and in communities is one way to secure and ensure a steady supply of safe and nutritious food even in the most challenging of times. Catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with guest experts in a morning conversation on Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 10:00 AM, and learn the basics of urban or backyard farming as they give useful practical advice for starting an urban garden. This knowledge-for-action webinar is brought to you by the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and the Climate Change Commission.

Thursday, 14 May 2020 | 10:00-10:30 AM The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and ushered a new normal for all. Know the challenges in promoting the health of people and planet, and the practical ways the Filipino family and community could survive and thrive amid the crisis. Catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with guest experts in a morning conversation on this subject on Facebook Live, Thursday, 14 May 2020 | 10:00-10:30 AM. This knowledge-for-action webinar is brought to you by the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and the Climate Change Commission.