Kung Gusto Mo ng Pagbabago: The Long Fight for Our Planet

As the 2022 elections in the Philippines fast approaches, the Filipino people are at a crossroads in deciding the future of the nation. Yet the challenges faced today are not new. Filipino society has wrestled with these issues across the decades.

In this light, Asia Society Philippines together with PumaPodcast, YouthLED (Youth Leadership for Democracy), and the Asia 21 Young Fellows of the Philippines brings Kung Gusto mo ng Pagbabago: The Chito Gascon Leadership Series (If You Want Change: The Chito Gascon Leadership Series), a leadership series in honor of the legacy of the late Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon.

The 5-episode series features conversations between seasoned leaders in their fields and young leaders who are working towards the same passion. Sharing their insights and learning from each other on how to take on the challenges of nation-building in the present day. 

The program aims to highlight the role passionate advocates and leaders have played in social change and how they can serve as a guide for young leaders; to unite generations in solving the issues today and tomorrow as a joint endeavor; and to equip the youth with examples of positive leaders and inspire them to vote wisely in the upcoming elections.

Kung Gusto mo ng Pagbabago: The Chito Gascon Leadership Series will premier on the Asia Society Philippines Facebook and YouTube pages. Podcasts will be available on PumaPodcast's channels wherever you listen!

Kung Gusto mo ng Pagbabago: The Chito Gascon Leadership Series is moderated by Roby Alampay, award-winning journalist; News Anchor of The Big Story and The Chiefs on Cignal TV's One News Channel; Founder and Editor-at-Large of PumaPodcast; and an Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader. 

Episode 4: The long fight for our planet

In Episode 4, we talk about climate change and the environment. More than that, our speakers provide us with insights on climate and economy, tourism, and storytelling.

Episode 4: The long fight for our planet is happening this April 22nd, 2022 at 6:00PM (PHT). Follow Asia Society Philippines on Facebook and YouTube (@AsiaSocietyPH) and tune in! 

Meet the Panel

Tricia Aquino is the chief content officer of podcast production company PumaPodcast. She has overseen the production of 40 shows since 2019. Before that, she was a general reporter at TV5's news website InterAksyon.

Billie Dumaliang is a Trustee and Co-Founder of Masungi Georeserve, a conservation project dedicated to conserving 60-million-year-old limestone pinnacle karst formations and provides refuge for local biodiversity in the Philippines,  supported by low-impact development, geotourism, and educational experiences. Initially a 430 hectare project, it has grown to finance and conduct restoration in about 3000 hectares of degraded forests countering huge challenges such as land-grabbing and development aggression.  They are the 2020 Winner for the Water Changemaker Award of the Global Water Partnership for speaking truth to power, overcoming inertia and creating youth-led movements for conservation. The group has also received awards for Destination Stewardship and Sustainable Tourism with the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the  United Nations Development Program for innovations in conservation financing and resourcing. 

Atty. Lesley Cordero is a Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank based in Singapore, managing more than a billion dollar Disaster Risk Management program in the Philippines. She worked on innovative policies and instruments such as disaster recovery frameworks; emergency cash transfers; resilient infrastructure program; local government catastrophe risk insurance; and contingent credit facility for disasters. Prior to joining the Bank, Lesley was a public servant for more than 6 years. She served as an Undersecretary at the Office of the President of the Philippines coordinating the recovery efforts of the Government for Typhoons Yolanda in 2013 and Pablo in 2012. In 2011, Lesley served as Undersecretary at the Presidential Communications Operations Office and a Commissioner of the National Youth Commission in 2010. 

Lesley has a Juris Doctor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and a Master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines. She is an Adjunct Faculty at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). 

Atty. Lesley is an Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader. 

Love Gregorie Perez is a Director at xchange, an impact-first investor and incubator for early stage social enterprises in the Philippines. where Greg works closely with entrepreneurs of xchange’s portfolio companies. Aside from this, Greg actively engages with other incubators to build the impact entrepreneurial ecosystem, is lead for Impact Pioneers Network - the first impact angel network in the Philippines, and was a delegate to the GenderSmart Investing Summit. Prior to joining xchange, Greg was Executive Director of Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation, a social enterprise that provides product design and market access to artisans and micro-manufacturers in the Philippines. Greg has worked in the field of social development, innovation, and entrepreneurship for the last 15 years and is passionate about empowering women.

Greg is an Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leader.