Overview, Vision & Mission

Pusod, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization whose Mission is to Protect and Enhance the Ecosystems of The Philippines, and to show their significance to the world . Pusod was formed in Manila on March 2004 to further the work originally begun in 1995 by the Babilonia Wilner Foundation .

Our vision is a world where people and communities are energized by their cultural and ecological wealth; live with reverence for earth and all life; and naturally prosper in diverse, self-sustaining local economies in which all beings thrive."

Our Work
Pusod believes we owe our success to the communities we serve. Our policy is to work in areas and on projects where we have been asked to participate by local individuals, communities, governments, sustainable businesses and NGOs. In this way Pusod works with respect for local wisdom, and in participation with all available stakeholders for fruitful partnerships and results.

Pusod has worked throughout the Southern Tagalog region and in Marinduque and Northern Mindoro. Current programming focuses on areas of Batangas that include such national treasures as the Taal Lake Basin, Mt. Malarayat , and Balayan Bay , which is renowned for having some of the highest levels of endemic marine life in the entire world.

Pusod also maintains a presence in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pusod US operates as a program of the Babilonia Wilner Foundation in tandem with Pusod Philippines. Since 1999, Pusod has been the only Philippine-based program to bring a steady stream of awareness of overall Philippine environmental issues - in all its triumphs and tragedies - to the United States. In doing so, Pusod highlights not only the magnitude of Philippine environmental -- and therefore economic and cultural -- concerns, but also how they affect and are affected by people's actions and policies in the U.S.

Pusod's constant tool for advocating protection of our environment and the well-being of local communities is our award-winning, Tagalog-language weekly newspaper, Balikas . Going beyond regular reporting, Balikas aims for journalistic coverage that equips people with the information to help create healthier communities and a healthier world.

Click here for more information on Pusod's work.

Our Team

Board of Trustees
Ricky Nuñez, President
Ipat G. Luna, Secretary
Malou Babilonia
Malou Sayas Claour
Victor Eleazar
Mary Lou Babilonia Salcedo

An "active" board, Pusod's trustees donate countless professional hours in addition to regular board service. Almost all the trustees have served as Executive Director of Pusod Inc., and/or its parent organization the Babilonia Wilner Foundation, at some point in the past 12 years. All but the two newest additions to the Board are also the original Founders of Pusod, Inc.

Staff
Jennette Reyes, Finance and Administration
Carvelo L. Malubag - Project Assistant
Jennifer D. Edrial, Project Officer, Malarayat
Jovell I. Castillo, Administrative Project Assitant
Atty. Ma. Paz Luna, Legal Consultant

In addition to our dedicated Staff, Pusod is also grateful to our large body of dedicated, tireless volunteers, both in the Philippines and the United States. Without them our work and joy would not be complete.

Partners
Some, but not all, of our partnerships have included teaming up organizations such as these:

Asian Institute of Management, Makati
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
Creative Collective Coalition (CCCI)
Ecowaste Coalition
FACES (Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solutions)
Happy Earth
La Salle University, Lipa, Batangas
KMMLT, Taal Lake Basin
Phililppine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
Probe Team
SAMMACA, Calatagan, Batangas
Tanggol Kalikasan, Lucena, Quezon
University of San Francisco Philippines Studies Program
IMS Industrial Imaging Science
BSU Lipa Campus
PKI
RCM Manufacturing Inc.

and Local and National Government Officials whose dedication to our environment and people is to be saluted.

We give special thanks to the ongoing support and shared vision of The Babilonia Wilner Foundation.

Our Logo

Our agimat, or logo, was inspired by a blend of our totem, the pawikan, or sea turtle, and the pusod, which means belly button and umbilical cord in Tagalog and Bisayan. We remain ever grateful to the talents of artist Lakandiwa de Leon, who created this symbol for Pusod.