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Gretchen Ho
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For our Eco-Warriors series, broadcast journalist Gretchen Ho shares advocacy work of donating bicycles to Filipinos at the peak of COVID-19
In 2021, more than a thousand bicycles were donated through Ho’s Donate A Bike, Save A Job project. At the time, the athlete-turned-TV reporter sought to aid people who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Since I didn’t want to give out food or anything consumable, I decided to focus my resources on procuring and giving away bicycles,” she says.
During her stint as a journalist, Ho met Nanay Claire, a woman who endured an eight-hour walk from San Mateo, Rizal, to Fairview for work. Due to the long commute, Nanay Claire struggled to feed her children. When Ho’s team provided her with a bicycle, the relief was palpable. “She was in tears as if we gave her a lifeline,” Ho recalls, underscoring the profound impact a simple bicycle can have on someone’s life.
“If one bicycle can make that much of a difference, if it can give someone an opportunity, just imagine what 50 bicycles can do. My initial project was just for 50 units, but the effort went viral and we were able to raise donations for 1000 bicycles in 2020. We gave those out to ten cities all over Metro Manila, the province of Cagayan, and Naga,” she adds.
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In 2021, Ho and her team recognised that the impact of their bicycle donations could be amplified with the proper infrastructure. They shifted their focus from solely distributing bicycles to collaborating with the LGUs of various cities to establish bike lanes and parking spaces. This shift in strategy attracted the attention of their boss, Manny V Pangilinan, who donated an additional 700 bicycles to the cause. “With the MVP Group, the project became a larger movement with a bigger pull,” Ho explains, highlighting the power of collective action.
A sustainable principle guides Ho’s advocacy work: for any initiative to be truly effective, it must benefit all parties involved. She believes in the importance of maintaining a balance in her work, ensuring that all aspects of the project are taken care of. “That’s why I take good care of all sides of the equation,” she says, emphasising the need to prevent donor fatigue and ensure the longterm success of her initiatives.
The show Woman In Action (WIA) was born from her bicycle drive. Here, Ho travels to provide a tour of the Philippines while providing social and cultural content about its people, food, infrastructure, etc. “In each episode we do, we make it a point to inject the element of public service. When we highlight the problems in a community, we don’t stop at just telling that story. We try to help bring sustainable solutions in whatever way we can,” she explains.
The late Gina Lopez of ABS-CBN Foundation and Lingkod Kapamilya largely influenced Ho’s work. The objective was to promote ecotourism in established tourist destinations. The foundation had already been established, communities had been organised and trained, and people were willing to welcome tourists. The show’s purpose was to showcase these sites and attract visitors. Ho explains, “Our role was to feature these sites through the show to bring people in.”
Above Gretchen Ho
Gretchen Ho
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For Ho, climate change is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed immediately. “The problem is we lack proper knowledge of changing our lifestyles. Even locals still burn leaves in their backyard, even if it’s been declared illegal and dangerous to the environment. We will never change our course if we stick to how things used to be done.”
In the coming days, Ho will dedicate much of her time to learning about farming, solar energy, livelihood and community involvement. “I bought myself a small farm lot in Rizal. I feel like a student again. There is huge potential for tourism in that area, but the locals are getting left behind in the development. It’s a new challenge for me, but I particularly enjoy addressing it on weekends, right after my weekdays in the newsroom. I hope I can be a positive force there.”
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Credits
Photography: Patrick Diokno
Content Direction: Anton San Diego
Styling: Kring Mallari
Hair: Nizel Reduta
Make-Up: Nizel Reduta
Grooming: Johnson Estrella
Set Design: Jagger Studios
Production: (Logistics) Dorynna Untivero and James Mayo
Production: (Assistants) Michelle Soriano and Johannah Reglos
Location: Bulb Studios
Topics
Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
