Emerson Manila

taking small steps like re-using laundry water for other purposes such as using it for cleaning other areas.

super hot, but really windy today! the kind of weather that makes for a refreshingly good afternoon siesta.

Ok, it's a first for me. I just learned that the Philippine DENR, under its Biodiversity Management Bureau has a Urban Biodiversity Conservation section. I haven't found accomplishment reports yet, but I guess it's good to know that there is something like this. The next step is to ask for information to be made more available.

Not many people know that a plausible etymology of the Philippine capital, MANILA, is from two words: "MAY NILAD". The nilad plant is said to be abundant in the city before and people say it is from the phrase “may nilad” meaning "where nilad exists." It is a shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall, and said to have antiseptic...

I appreciate Emerson Manila for organizing a coastal clean up project and I saw how effective it had been when done with the rest of the Emerson Manila Community. Collecting almost 200kg of waste in a stretch of about 150 meters, with about 60 people participating made the work easier. Firstly, we went to assigning roles, processes, types of...

My usual local brands have goals on using 25% recycled plastic in packaging by 2025 and collecting and processing more plastic packaging than they sell by 2025. I just hope that their product packages contain more info on recycling and collection facilities. As for my usual k-beauty products, I have switched to items that have more sustainable...

Today, I’m challenging my office mate to a zero-waste lunch showdown! On one side, it’s me with my reusable bag, lunch box, watercup and utensils, championing the cause of sustainability. On the other side, it’s my office mate, armed with a Jollibee lunch, complete with plastic water bottles and utensils. Even though the packaging is...

The Philippines has a big problem with sachet plastic waste, making up a third of all sachet waste in Asia. Companies are mostly to blame for this, as they promote the use of sachets. Using sachets a lot caused health problems, fills up landfills, and hurts the environment. Big companies need to take responsibility and stop making sachets,...

Sharing my 7-day old tomatoes and 22-day old squash (only one survived). Comes the chance, I decided to sow a squash and tomato seeds at an empty soiled terracotta pot at home. Place it at an area with little or less sunlight and calculated water since it is summer, they are thriving and hopefully grows maturely to bear fruits. Repotting a...

Day 18 of the EcoChallenge, and my home garden in Manila has become a symbol of sustainability for me. The highlight is my lemon tree, which is now in full bloom. Each flower promises a future lemon, embodying the potential of nature to provide. This tree is more than just a source of fresh, organic lemons. It’s a testament to the power of...