Manila Bulletin
Environment and Sustainability
Uplifting communities, empowering youth: putting sustainability into action
Environment and Sustainability
Uplifting communities, empowering youth: putting sustainability into action
Uplifting communities, empowering youth: putting sustainability into action
Published May 6, 2026 09:19 am
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Updated May 6, 2026 01:20 pm
Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum 2026
At a time when climate anxieties can feel both distant and overwhelming, the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum offered something more grounded on April 30, 2026—a sense of direction shaped by shared responsibility.
Held at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom of the University of Santo Tomas, the forum gathered students, industry leaders, and sustainability advocates under the theme “Uplifting Communities: Sustainability in Action,” reinforcing a clear message: meaningful change begins when communities, especially the youth, are empowered to take part.
The event opened with remarks from Sec. Sonny Coloma, publisher of Manila Bulletin, and Philip Cu-Unjieng, co-lead of MB Sustainability Events, setting the tone for a day centered on collaboration across sectors.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS— Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso delivers his keynote speech at the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum 2026.
Manila City Mayor “Isko Moreno” Domagoso delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that inclusivity remains at the core of any sustainable future. “A city that leaves anyone behind is not a sustainable city,” he said, underscoring the need for development that reaches all sectors. He also urged young people to remain active in civic life, recognizing their role in shaping policies that will define the years ahead. “In Manila, that is exactly what we are doing,” he added.
That call for shared responsibility echoed throughout the forum’s discussions, where conversations on energy transition, finance, urban design, and community development revealed how sustainability is increasingly embedded in everyday decisions. Rather than a distant goal, it was presented as an ongoing process shaped by collective action.
Among the most resonant insights came from John Michael Rico of Aboitiz Renewables, Inc., who framed sustainability as a shared endeavor rooted in trust and participation. “Sustainability happens when progress is shared. When communities are not just beneficiaries, but partners. Being a good neighbor means taking responsibility for the impact you leave behind, and when people choose to pass that forward,” he said, highlighting the importance of continuity in building lasting impact.
Other speakers echoed this sense of collective responsibility. Ron Acoba of Trading Edge under RCREIT linked financial literacy to long-term impact, while Arch. Fides G. Hsu of SM Engineering and Design Development Corporation highlighted the role of inclusive urban design. Representatives from ACEN Corporation and Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation also pointed to how renewable energy is creating tangible benefits for everyday communities.
The forum closed with remarks from Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., of the University of Santo Tomas, who emphasized that “sustainability begins when responsibility becomes action.”
At its core, the event placed the spotlight on the youth—from the University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University, and other institutions—whose active participation reflected a growing awareness and willingness to lead. As the forum showed, sustainability is not only about the future they will inherit, but also about the role they are already playing in shaping it today.
AFTERNOON SESSION— Speakers include Robinsons Land Corp. Head of Partnerships Jed L. Velarde; Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) President and CEO, Oliver Tan; Asst. Prof. Froilan A. Alipao, MCD, Director of the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office; Ayala Foundation Senior Director for Marketing and External Relations, Paul Mercado; and Prof. Arlen A. Ancheta, Ph.D., academic staff, Graduate School, UST. They are joined by Irish Lorenzo, MBrand head; Len Amadora, Manila Bulletin Environment & Sustainability Section editor, and Manila Bulletin Sustainability Events co-lead Philip Cu-Unjieng.
MORNING SESSION— Speakers include John Michael Rico, assistant vice president for Stakeholder Relations for Aboitiz Renewables Inc.; Ron Acoba, chief investment strategist and co-founder of Trading Edge; Senior Vice President and Head of Market Transformation & Retail at ACEN, Jose Antonio “Tony” T. Valdez; Fides G. Hsu, chief design architect for SM Engineering and Design Development. They are joined by Irish Lorenzo, MBrand head; Len Amadora, Manila Bulletin Environment & Sustainability Section editor, and Manila Bulletin Sustainability Events co-lead Philip Cu-Unjieng.