Environmental heroes took the spotlight at the 8th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan awards ceremony, held on October 12, 2024, at the Ignacio B. Gimenez – KAL Theater, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.
In a world grappling with environmental collapse, who will rise next to protect the planet and spark meaningful change? This year’s GBK honored remarkable individuals and grassroots groups for their outstanding contributions to environmental protection and justice.
Three recipients of the Gawad sa Indibidwal, Atty. Grizelda “Gerthie” Mayo-Anda received recognition for her “People’s Monitoring Team” initiative, which highlights the environmental risks of large-scale projects. Tatay Nestor Rotaquio, an indigenous leader from Quezon, was awarded for defending ancestral lands, while Dr. Charito “Chito” Medina was honored for securing a writ of kalikasan against genetically modified “golden rice.”
In the Group Category, Gawad sa Organisasyon, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines was recognized for protecting bird biodiversity, while the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment (PPSE) was awarded for opposing offshore mining despite the abduction of two of its leaders. KASAMA-LR, a farmers’ group from Cavite, was also honored for their long-standing fight for land rights through communal farming and agroecology.
The Most Distinguished Award (Natatanging Gawad) was presented to Atty. Tony La Viña, an environmental lawyer and climate policy expert. Renowned for his advocacy, La Viña has provided crucial legal support to Lumad communities, particularly during attacks on the Save Our Schools Network, safeguarding Mindanao’s forests and indigenous culture.
In a break from tradition, GBK honored two recipients of the Natatanging Gawad this year. Alongside La Viña, the Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Pagtatanggol ng Kabuhayan, Panirahan, at Kalikasan sa Manila Bay (AKAP Ka) received this distinction. This alliance of church members and fisherfolk organizations has been at the forefront of the fight against reclamation projects in Manila Bay for six years, advocating for the livelihoods and rights of marginalized communities along the coast.
The GBK is a biennial awarding ceremony, organized by the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC) of the Philippines in cooperation with IBON Foundation, Inc. In its 8th year, let the environmental heroes, both nominees and awardees, stand as our inspiration to continue advocating for environmental and social justice.
