PARIS—On Monday, actor Dingdong Dantes—Jose Sixto Dantes III in real life—turned over to President Aquino and officials of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) the output of the National Youth Commission’s yearlong #NOWPH campaign, that encourages young Filipinos to do their share in addressing climate change.
“On paper, I am a commissioner representing the youth of the Philippines, but in my heart I feel like I’m really just representing my daughter, Maria Letizia, who is seven days and 20 hours old today,” Dantes said, as he underscored the need to secure the world for future generations.
Dantes said the #NOWPH hashtag stood for “Not on Our Watch, a movement that tasks young Filipinos with the care of the planet.”
Every Filipino who has survived a typhoon like “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) “is a climate change expert in one way or another. So, please, take our word for it,” the actor said.
To date, Dantes said, #NOWPH has reached 3.6 million pledges from young people who vow to do their share to save the planet.
“On behalf of the Filipino youth, we would like to formally turn over the output of the campaign; proof that we are committed to working together toward a climate action with one voice and one goal,” the youth commissioner said.
According to Dantes, #NOWPH used online and offline platforms to engage young people across the Philippines with different initiatives, including group discussions, training, media promotions, workshops and road shows to encourage youth participation, aside from social media interactions.
The effort led to Presidential Proclamation No. 1160 declaring Nov. 25 of each year as a National Day for Youth in Climate Action, he added.
“At the heart of it all, it really is just caring for our planet, our common home, regardless of race, color, stature or capacity,” Dantes said.