The Philippines may be among the deadliest countries for eco-defenders, but Ann and Billie Dumaliang of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation are determined to have their voices heard. Listen to what they have to say on the latest episode of our Crazy Smart Asia podcast
A popular weekend destination outside of Metro Manila, Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area located in the province of Rizal in the Philippines. It is here amid the verdure that Gen.T honourees Ann and Billie Dumaliang are pursuing their calling in environmental protection and activism.
Despite its idyllic setting, Masungi Georeserve has been at the heart of several problematic situations. In 2022, more than 30 armed men were seen encamped within the vicinity of the protected site. Reports had surfaced of rangers being threatened or harassed. More recently, the biodiverse sanctuary was being considered as a future site of the Bureau of Corrections’ new national headquarters.
In this week’s episode of our Crazy Smart Asia podcast, we speak to the Dumaliang sisters about their experiences defending the sanctuary, dealing with setbacks and how their childhood influenced their love for nature.
Here are a few excerpts from the conversation. Click the audio player below to listen to the full episode or subscribe via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Taking the first step
Ann Dumaliang (AD): “Don’t look away once you’ve seen the issues, don’t get overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and just look deeper.”
Dealing with setbacks
AD: “Failure is a stepping stone for growth, right? Being someone who’s heavily involved in the sciences, you kind of see it as a bit of an experiment. The point is to always test a hypothesis. You can succeed during the first experiment. If you don't, then you just try out a different set of factors.”
What it is like to work in conservation
Billie Dumaliang (BD): “The work is really high stakes. You never know what will happen the next day or in the night. You never know what will come up on the radio. And it's like a rollercoaster; there are dramatic stops and drops and flips.”
Dealing with high-stakes situations
BD: “What’s important is really a sharp mind, to be able to address all of these threats in your head. Because our work involves spiritual, mental, physical fortitude.”
The importance of persistence and resilience
AD: “As long as you have not given up, you’re not defeated. If you persevere, you will tip the needle and you will make mountains.”