ACB Executive Director Dr. Jerome L. Montemayor led the ribbon cutting of the official opening of the ACB@20 anniversary celebration held at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) observed its 20th founding anniversary with a series of festivities in its headquarters situated at the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, the 33rd ASEAN Heritage Park of the Philippines. Held from 23 to 25 September, the festivities featured commemorative activities aimed at engaging its existing and potential partners and celebrating the Centre’s achievements for two decades.
With the theme, “ACB@20: Nature, Nations, Next Generations,” the Centre launched simultaneous activities such as the Biodiversity Marketplace, Nature and Art Exhibits, BioRun 2025, learning visits to the #ExploreASEAN Knowledge Hub, and a sustainable fashion show called “Eco-Couture”. Hundreds of visitors from the ASEAN Member States, Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc., various community-based and biodiversity-friendly enterprises, government agencies, academic institutions, youth, and local artists attended the three-day celebration.
Biodiversity Marketplace
The anniversary celebrations kicked off with the opening of the Biodiversity Marketplace on 23 September with over 25 community entrepreneurs setting up their booths at the ACB grounds. A vibrant street dance performance from Barretto – Program for the Performing Arts ignited the energy of a festive ACB@20 celebration.
The ACB headquarters hosted the showcase of local products from community enterprises at the Biodiversity Marketplace, while the Centre’s #ExploreASEAN Knowledge Hub hosted about 39 student visitors from nearby schools.
Local entrepreneurs who participated in the inaugural biodiversity bazaar were: University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) – Dairy Training and Research Institute Farm Hub, Slow Food Community Laguna, Taho Klasiko, SaWrap Lokal, Sierreza, Sidewok, Sarap Galing sa Puso by SGP Girls, Charis: Taste of Grace, Allybakes Cakes and Pastries, Lil Cuisina Biryani House, Doughny’s Bakeshop, Pizzakid Los Baños, Solid Food Trip Snack Corner, Handmade+Homemade, EzFeliz, Wi·Go Kopi, and Karak Anatolia PH for food items while Haring Ibon-Birds in Focus, Inc., Rusticraft, Kamiyeah Studio, Wildlife Matters, Paulamer Clay, Oryspa Spa Solutions, Inc., Felt Soph Fun, Analee’s Essential Oils, Salita.PH, Malikhaing Maria, and Kuya Leo’s Merchandise showcased non-food items such as crafts and playful accessories, essential oils and spa products, knitting and crochet items, wildlife merchandise like stationery and toys, stickers, artworks, coffee table books, and birding tools such as binoculars and spotting scope.
The ACB also set up its own booth on-site featuring exclusive ACB@20 merchandise from which proceeds will go to the ACB Biodiversity Fund.
BioRun 2025
To gather sports and fitness enthusiasts from the ACB’s partner organisations and local communities, a special edition of BioRun was organised in the morning of Day 2, with Executive Director Jerome Montemayor leading the pack in the 5-kilometre run. Around 100 avid runners who were representatives from the ACB’s partner agencies from the science and research communities, academia, government, and the private sector took part in the said fun run held at Mount Makiling. BioRun 2025 was sponsored by Eton Properties Philippines, Inc. and Ecobar PH.
Winners of the third installment of the ACB’s BioRun 2025 took home trophies and cash prizes while all participants were given running shirts, race bibs, loot bags, and finisher medals.
This was the third staging of the ACB’s BioRun aimed to promote wellness, sustainability, and environmental awareness while fostering stronger partnerships for biodiversity. BioRun: ASEAN Run for Biodiversity was first launched by the Centre in 2010 while the second edition was staged in September 2015.
For the 5K event, the winners for the male category were: Mr. Michael Jacob Manzanilla won first place, Mr. Jerome Carandang won second place, while Mr. Jhon Robert Ocinar was third place. For the 5K female category, Ms. Althea Marie Cinco bagged first place, Ms. Sabrina Morrison in second place, and Ms. Jasmine Luisa Enriquez for third place.
Community Workshops
A total of five creative workshops were successfully conducted in line with the ACB@20 celebration. These workshops were participated in by 120 children, women, and the general public for free.
The ACB sponsored creative activities tapping local artisans for the general public.
Opening the series of workshops was Kulay-Ani: Harvesting Colors Natural Dye Workshop by Playbox Arts, a Los Baños-based creative learning events provider offering nature-inspired craft workshops for children and families. Participants learned about common Philippine dye-yielding plants, extracted pigments from the root, bark, and leaves of certain plant dyes, and made their own tie-dye creations using Shibori techniques. While waiting for the dye-pot, participants were treated to the “Habing Malaya”, a guided weaving activity using upcycled fabric strips, yarns, beads, and natural foliage, all woven freestyle into their own unique woven creation. Participants printed their own postcards from their freshly made plant-based dyes as a bonus.
Ginhawa Crafts Studio facilitated the Expressionist Acrylic on Canvas workshop through its resident artist, Ms. Yvette Co, who led the participants in creating expressionist paintings of the hornbill, a popular Philippine fauna, using acrylic. PaulamerClay meanwhile, served as the facilitator for the Clay-making Workshop where participants learned to make rafflesia bag charms using polymer clay. Founded by local artist Paula, PaulamerClay is a handmade jewelry brand that celebrates nature through polymer clay artistry.
The Nature-inspired Knitting Workshop was conducted by Knitty Gritty, owned by Chiara, a knitter who is an advocate of nature, women, children, rescue dogs and cats. Participants learned the basics of knitting such as cast-on, knit and purl, mix colours, and cast-off, where they were able to create initial rows of a scarf. Lastly, the Botanical Art Workshop: Painting the Malabulak by Ms. Aissa Domingo, led by an artist illustrator from the National Museum of the Philippines whose passion is the merging of art and science to celebrate Philippine biodiversity. Participants For a three-hour session, participants aged 11 and above mastered gouache techniques to craft their own stunning interpretations of the intricate flower, malabulak (Bombax ceiba).
Science and Nature Exhibits
As a show of support to the ACB and as partners in the Los Baños Science Community, several Los Baños-based organisations mounted exhibits for the ACB’s anniversary. They were: International Rice Research Institute, Bureau of Plant Industry, University of the Philippines Open University, UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau – Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute, and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development.
Various knowledge products and souvenir items were put on display by the ACB’s partner agencies during the anniversary.
The Small Grants Programme by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (SGP) likewise highlighted its meaningful work through an exhibit displaying a range of food and non-food products produced by local communities who received grants from the programme. Visitors also received knowledge products that provided insights into the programme’s initiatives and its positive influence on biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood development in and around selected ASEAN Heritage Parks in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.
The National Museum of Natural History (Philippines) also displayed 11 biodiversity-inspired artworks from various artists. Some of the featured species were Katmon Sibuyan (Dillenia sibuyanensis), Negros Bleeding Heart (Gallicolumba keayi), and Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sycorax).
Moreover, the ACB also put on display facts about biodiversity in the ASEAN region, flagship initiatives and programmes, and ACB milestones through the years, to name a few.
Eco-Couture Fashion Show
Capping off the celebrations at the ACB headquarters was the first-ever community fashion event called ‘’Eco-Couture’’ fashion show which was participated in by young fashion designers and models who came from nine universities, namely: Calamba Doctor’s College, City College of Calamba, City College of Calamba Dulaang Alab Gunita, UP Los Baños, Lyceum of Alabang, Bicol University, Fashion Institute of the Philippines, Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna, and the Laguna Designers Elite Group.
Eco-Couture, the maiden community runway show organised by the ACB, provided a platform for young designers and models to showcase their talents while raising awareness on sustainable fashion and the beauty of biodiversity.
A stunning parade of eco-friendly creations delighted the audience and the panel of judges, with every design brought to life by a unique story. Taking home the top prize was Bicol University’s eye-catching “Alitaptap” (firefly) which was a group effort from the University’s Symbiosis student organisation. The second spot was secured by Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna for its earth-toned “Seeded Splendor” design, while Laguna Designers Elite Group’s cerulean-turquoise creation called “Princesa ng Karagatan” bagged the third place.
The abovementioned activities were made possible through the generous support of the ACB’s partners from the private sector, namely, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Aboitiz Foundation Inc., Ecobar PH, and Eton Properties Philippines, Inc.
