They led a sustainable business in the Philippines before it even became a buzzword. Here they are, continuously setting an example.

In this episode of the REalTalk Podcast, we explore how a corporation that leads by example in running a sustainable business recognizes the importance of going greener and supporting its constituents in doing the same.

We're joined by three prolific individuals behind BPI's operations: Jo Ann Eala, Nathaniel Barretto, and Mark Dator. For centuries, BPI led the pack in finance. Today, they're also leading a forward-thinking approach to business that takes care of the planet as it takes care of business in return.

This episode is excellent for enterprises, big or small, that aspire to blaze a trail towards innovation and relevance in the 21st century commercial scene.

What does it actually look like when a Filipino manufacturing company commits fully to renewable energy and succeeds?

In this episode of the REalTalk Podcast, we go beyond the policy discussions and expert debates to bring you the on-the-ground reality of a business that made the switch and never looked back.

Our guest is Miss Jhannice Fababaer, Plant Manager of W Hydrocolloids Inc., a food ingredient manufacturer with over 60 years of history, and an unsurprising forward-thinking approach to sustainability. W Hydrocolloids produces semi-refined carrageenan sourced from Philippine seaweed, supplying international markets across the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

Miss Jhann walks us through the company's entire journey: from first noticing the GEOP eligibility notice on their Meralco bill, to setting stakeholder meetings, seeking expert guidance, and finally making the full transition to 100% renewable energy through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).

For business owners, sustainability advocates, and curious minds wondering whether going green is truly worth it for a small or mid-sized enterprise in the Philippines, this episode delivers the most honest, grounded, and inspiring answer yet.

Did you know that as a business owner in the Philippines, you may already have the legal right to choose exactly where your electricity comes from, and pay significantly less for it?
Most businesses don't. And that's exactly the problem this episode sets out to address.
In Episode 2 of REalTalk, we delve into the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), a government-backed initiative established under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 that enables qualified entities to escape the traditional captive energy market and source their electricity directly from 100% renewable energy suppliers.
Joining host JM is Ian Soqueño, former Energy Program Lead at the Climate Reality Project Philippines, who walks us through everything you need to know about GEOP: what it is, who qualifies, how the switching process works, and why it matters far beyond just cutting costs.
The REalTalk Podcast is a limited series co-produced by Climate Reality Philippines and SUSTAINARUMBLE! In this ten-part series, we explore the numerous critical issues and trends within the renewable energy (RE) sector. Join us as we talk to energy policy stakeholders championing RE in the country.

Did you know the Philippines once ran on over 50% renewable energy, and achieved it in just 5 years?
In the 1970s, the country was almost entirely dependent on oil. Then the global oil shocks hit, and the Philippines was forced to rethink everything. What followed was one of the most remarkable energy transformations in the nation's history: a deliberate, disciplined shift toward indigenous and renewable sources that brought the country from near-total oil dependence to a majority renewable power mix by 1984. And they did it with technology far more difficult and expensive than anything we have available today.
Fast forward to now, over 60% of the country's power comes from coal. Most of it is imported from countries that, when their own demand rises, have every right to keep it for themselves. The energy security the nation once fought hard to build has quietly slipped away, and most people have no idea it even happened before.
With solar now the cheapest source of power on the grid, offshore wind projected to deliver its first units by 2028, and programs already in place for both consumers and producers to tap into renewable energy, the pieces are on the board. The question that remains is whether the country has the awareness, the will, and the urgency to move them. Because if history has shown us anything, it's that the Philippines has done this before. The real question is, can we do it again?
Mr. Bert Dalusung III, the Energy Transition Advisor from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), sat down with host CK to discuss these details.
The REalTalk Podcast is a limited series co-produced by Climate Reality Philippines and SUSTAINARUMBLE! In this ten-part series, we discuss the many critical issues and trends within the renewable energy (RE) field. Join us as we talk to energy policy stakeholders championing RE in the country.

In 1994, a seven-year-old witnessed something unforgettable: a coral reef blown to pieces by dynamite fishing.

What looked like an underwater graveyard was actually the aftermath of a copper mine shutdown that left thousands jobless, desperate enough to use explosives to survive.

Armed with a mask and snorkel, that child explored tide pools by torchlight. That single day became a lifelong calling.

Now a marine conservationist, Nikki Lizares is restoring devastated reefs and working with the communities that depend on them, because saving the ocean isn't just about understanding the people fighting to survive.

Can the last 3% of the rainforest in the Philippines stand the test of time?While Subic Bay transforms into a modern economic hub, the Aeta people of Pastolan protect 12,000 hectares of ancestral forest with their lives.We sit down with the brains and hands behind a social enterprise that's building a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern society.Join us for another insightful discussion on what happens when we finally choose to listen to the oldest communities to safeguard our future.

What does it truly take to protect a coastline, policies from afar, or people who stand guard day after day?
Meet the sustainability leader whose company ensures that bantay dagats of Batangas receive fair compensation, training, and the support needed for decent work.
These coastal guardians patrol their waters with courage, monthly reports, and unwavering dedication despite only modest honorariums.
See how empowering them transformed informal community patrols into structured conservation efforts, extending from ocean protection to forest stewardship sequestering over 22,900 tons of CO₂ annually.
Tune in as this episode reveals a powerful truth: lasting environmental change happens when we uplift those already fighting on the front lines.

Catch Seal and other incredible sustainability leaders take center stage at AlterCOP 30 Philippines, happening from November 26 to 28, 2025. Get your tickets here: www.altercop.com/philippines/ph-ticketing

Can restoring a coastline also restore livelihoods, educate students, and protect communities all at once?

Thessa Ramos proved it's possible by weaving solutions together instead of solving problems in isolation.

In this episode, she shares how a mangrove nursery became a movement across 15 municipalities, why nature-based solutions need strategic thinking, and what it takes to build a truly regenerative Philippines from the ground up.

Tune in as we explore the art of connecting the dots between environment, livelihood, and resilience.

Secure your tickets for AlterCOP 30 Philippines happening on the 26th through 28th of November now! Visit www.altercop.com/philippines to know more.

Climate data tells you where flooding happens, but it doesn't tell you how staff and workers help people and the environment adapt to risks.

The people navigating these realities every day have already mapped the patterns, identified the vulnerabilities, and often designed their own solutions.

In this second episode of the AlterCOP 30 Philippines miniseries, three catalysts reveal what happens when communities stop being consulted and start leading—turning lived experience into real plans and solutions.

This is a conversation about what becomes possible when we start asking including communities in finding answers.

The future isn't regenerative when communities are consulted—it's regenerative when they become the catalysts

This is a pilot episode of the AlterCOP 30 Philippines' miniseries where we feature the stories of humans behind the program.

When 26 million students lose school to typhoons and farmers earn a mere fraction from their produce, two young Filipinos decided they couldn't just watch anymore.

One taught themselves to build education boxes for disaster-displaced kids. The other coded a platform from YouTube tutorials to fix a broken food system with nine layers of middlemen.

They're proving you don't need a business degree or perfect solutions—just the courage to start and the willingness to learn as you go.