From conversation to action: Jewelmer's Sustainability Forum offers valuable insights

A vocal advocate of the farm-to-table movement in the dining scene, restaurateur Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo relayed how blessed they are to be in touch with 60 farms and seven community farms directly. It is through this that she’s able to uplift the lives of countless people, even beyond her restaurants. “I really make sure that it’s not just a part of my personal lifestyle, but that I advocate it through my business. I think we have the volumes to do that,” she said.

These experiences highlight how our fight for the cause isn’t only for our benefit, but even more so for the people most affected by climate change. Perez echoed, “If our farmers and our fishermen are not valued and taken care of, then it's going to be a real issue moving forward.” He suggested a small yet actionable undertaking: raising awareness through storytelling.

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Angara agreed that this is a powerful tool in driving this message across the masses, proposing the inclusion of the subject in television shows and programmes. “We could have a conversation with the networks,” she said. Mirroring this with her work in Kaayo, she underscored the importance of keeping the weavers’ stories alive along with their traditions and craft. “It’s more than just the product. When you buy an item from the brand, you realise that there's a story, a family, and a community behind it.” Undoubtedly, the same goes for sustainability and all endeavours that support it.

There remains a disconnect between the more urban areas of the country and those that are less developed, where many Filipinos remain unaware of just how severe the issue is. “A lot of our countrymen are in survival mode. So how important is the word ‘sustainability’?” Tatler Philippines manager director Irene Martel Francisco queried the group. “The very people [in our coastal communities] are not really equipped to advocate for themselves or their livelihoods.”

Branellec dwelled on this statement by sharing the mission of the Save Palawan Seas Foundation (SPSF), a non-profit organisation established by the jewellery brand's founders Manuel Cojuangco and Jacques Branellec in 2006. SPSF supports hundreds of families across Palawan through initiating a number of livelihood projects, from organic vegetable and seaweed farming to organic chicken rearing and small backyard piggeries. Branellec shared, “You cannot expect somebody to think about what will happen ten years from now when they're thinking about what they're going to eat for lunch… But if you can find ways to marry livelihood and sustainable practices, that's really something that can carry forth for many, many years.”

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Construction mogul and philanthropist Alice Eduardo further emphasised how people cannot be taken out of the equation when talking about sustainability. “We should ensure their wellness, safety, and livelihood,” she remarked how corporations have a social responsibility to improve qualities of life, create a productive community, and ensure job stability. 

Brands like Jewelmer have long exemplified this. “Sustainability has always been something that is intrinsic to what we do because the pearl is really about protecting the marine environment, taking care of the communities and the people, so that they in turn may care for the oyster,” shared Branellec. “The reward of that is we might harvest the South Sea Pearl, which is not necessarily the end result but a tool to perpetuate that cycle.” 

“We operate ten ports in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, so I’m fully aware that our strategies and policies affect ten LGUs and thousands of families,” relayed business magnate Sheila Romero. Aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, Globalports Terminal Inc under her charge has committed to investing in solar lighting and planting over 100,000 seedlings in 15 to 20 years. She is also chairman of a rising township in Cebu called Global City Mandaue, where at least 30 per cent of the lots will be allocated for green, open spaces. 

Across different industries, it’s always admirable when massive corporations aren’t reluctant to making these changes. Huang weighed in, stating a previous experience: “In fashion, we try to bring things in as fast as possible because of seasons and all. [A multinational retailer] once asked us, ‘Is it possible for us to consolidate our shipments? If we offer it to you earlier, is it okay if we just ship it rather than flying?’ Because the carbon footprint of a plane is a lot more than a ship.”

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It's also undeniable that environmental laws are vital in enacting and maintaining these big, structural shifts. Former Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar conveyed that “Legislation would make the biggest impact.” Further weighing on the matter, Branellec argued that our country does have some of the best environmental laws globally; the challenge is in implementation and in the risks of exploitation. This is again where community engagement and awareness-raising campaigns come in, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and collaboration among citizens.

“We’ve been warned 30 years ago to take our carbon emissions seriously, but we've taken it for granted for so long. We don't realise how near we are to the point where it threatens our actual survival,” added Villar. She further shared that it won’t just take a few nips and tucks, but “a more balanced and nuanced understanding of our responsibility to the earth.” This will undoubtedly inspire countless discussions on the matter. What’s most important is turning these conversations into concrete, actionable steps to build a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.

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