Why actress Janine Gutierrez champions wildlife protection

MANILA, Philippines, September 13 ------ Beyond the spotlight, actress and model Janine Gutierrez has long championed wildlife protection. So there’s certainly no missing Janine at the World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines’ “Panda on the Move,” a mall roadshow featuring photo exhibits on habitat and wildlife conservation by Gab Mejia, environmental talks, and donation and adoption booths.

“By creating these spaces where families can learn, connect, and take part in meaningful action, we can definitely empower more Filipinos to stand with us in protecting nature,” said Janine, a WWF-PH National Youth Ambassador since 2017.

The series of road shows, which kicked off at Lucky Chinatown Mall on September 3, also saw Janine reflecting on her long-standing partnership with WWF. While any donation would help, Janine said she’s already appreciative when the youth use their voice and online presence to support WWF’s environmental causes.

During the event — a collaboration between Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and WWF-Philippines — Janine joined representatives in pledging support and encouraging mall-goers to donate. “It’s a fundraising hour where we encourage shoppers… to really take a look at what WWF-Philippines has in store and how we help the environment, and of course, our mga kababayans (fellow Filipinos) who are fisherfolk and farmers,” said the daughter of actors Ramon Christopher Gutierrez and Lotlot de Leon.

In 2017, Janine visited Donsol, Sorsogon, home to the gentle whale sharks, as part of WWF’s Environmental Education Program, where she educated students about the importance of safeguarding these majestic creatures and promoting sustainable eco-tourism. The granddaughter of Philippine entertainment icon Pilita Corrales also reflected on her advocacy as a deeply personal calling in a 2024 interview with Vogue Philippines.

Her work with WWF-PH, she said, made it clear for her how climate change hits Filipino farmers and fisherfolk the hardest, driving her belief that environmental campaigns must center on people as much as on nature. Through fundraising campaigns like “Panda on the Move,” WWF-PH emphasizes how continued support helps sustain conservation programs — protecting habitats, empowering communities, and securing a sustainable future for the next generations.

WWF-PH executive director Catherine Custodio echoed this message, noting that it also goes beyond acts of donation. She stressed that small, everyday actions — like refusing single-use plastics, conserving resources, and reducing waste — matter when done collectively. “It’s very easy for people to think, ‘Will my refusal of the single-use really make a difference?’ And the answer is yes, it will. It’s actually the collective action of many — that is the only way that the issue on plastic waste can be addressed,” added Custodio. She also highlights the importance of young people using their voices and platforms in leading positive social and environmental change. While their efforts may seem small, she said, collective action is what ultimately addresses problems like plastic waste.

Custodio urged them not to lose hope: “They’re the ones who will inherit and eventually need to solve the worsening impacts of the problems that we have.” The “Panda on the Move” roadshow continues at Alabang West Parade (September 7-11), Greenhouse at Village Square, Alabang (September 22-26), Twin Lakes (September 29-October 3), Southwoods Mall (October 6-12), Venice Grand Canal at McKinley Hill (October 13-19), Eastwood City (October 20-24), and Uptown Bonifacio (October 27-31). At select stops, mallgoers can also join mini-talks from WWF conservation experts and advocates, and meet other WWF-PH ambassadors.

Source: rappler.com