For over two decades, Nida Collado has been a leader in forest conservation and community empowerment. Under her stewardship, the Macatumbalen Community-based Forest and Coastal Management Association in Palawan has restored 1,450 hectares of degraded land, protected 400 hectares of forest and uplifted livelihoods through sustainable practices.

The efforts to preserve Palawan’s rich biodiversity earned Collado the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Wangari Maathai Forest Champion Award 2024.

On 25 November, she was honored at the Philippine Resilience Award (PRA) 2024 of the Climate Change Commission for being among the first winners of the recognition.

“It’s hard to close your eyes and pretend not to see when we know there are things in our community that we need to fix and change,” she said of her inspiration in a documentary video played at the PRA awarding ceremony.

PRA was conceived by Senator Loren Legarda in 2023 to recognize local leaders who have contributed towards building sustainable and resilient communities based on metrics of leadership and governance, science and technology, and resilience outcomes and impacts.

Another previous PRA awardee, Mila Bogñalbal, was also honored during the event. Her works for resilient food systems and sustainable livelihoods in Joroan, Tiwi Albay earned her the PRA 2023. Through the Department of Agriculture’s Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative Program, Bogñalbal has championed initiatives such as a multi-crop processing center and diversified farming.

Her resilience extends beyond agriculture — she has integrated community-based disaster risk reduction training to equip her community with the tools they need in times of disaster. 

“Being resilient is about finding strength in vulnerability and hope in despair,” Bogñalbal said in a speech after accepting the award during the event.

Meanwhile, SFO3 Daisy Cabauatan, the chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Nueva Vizcaya, has redefined disaster preparedness and environmental stewardship to be among the newest PRA awardees. 

Through her NVBFP Kalikasan Warriors Project, she has united local leaders, non-government organizations and government agencies for weekly activities like clean-ups, tree planting and environmental education. Her forward-thinking programs, including Project APOY and BFP Talakayan, focus on safety practices and disaster response, instilling a culture of preparedness.

Moreover, through the River Conservation Club, Cabauatan empowers youth to become environmental stewards and leaders of tomorrow.

Collado, Bogñalbal and Cabauatan prove that resilience lies in facing challenges, finding hope amid adversity and inspiring others to rise.

The Philippines stands at the frontline of climate change, where the forces of nature — typhoons, rising temperatures and environmental degradation — pose continuous challenges. Yet, amid these trials, resilience continues to rise through changemakers who find strength in their struggles and transform their communities in the process.