Robert Mansaloon Cahapon (he/him)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact.

As an Indigenous from the Manobo Tribe of Quezon, Bukidnon, environmental education has always been part of my life and has been a driving force in my passion to protect our ancestral forests. In 2022, I co-founded Salumayag Youth Collective for Forests in an effort to put the leadership of Indigenous women, youth, and farmers at the forefront of conservation efforts. I also saw that there is a gap in how Indigenous voices are represented in mainstream media. To address this, I started Takurug ki, our environmental storytelling platform to share the integrity and impact of community action and stories. Today, our page has amassed more than 145,000 followers across various social media platforms. Through Salumayag and Takurug ki, I help design and facilitate field courses to further capacitate communities in forest and water management and seed saving. 

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like?

I always say that my story begins with the story of my late mother who was a hard-working upland farmer. She taught me the value of understanding the sanctity of the forest and how my identity is rooted in how I respect my ancestral land. I have always carried this in my heart, even after I finished my studies and started working in reforestation. Despite having opportunities to work in big organizations in other parts of the country, I made the decision to go back to my community to start a farmer, women, and youth-led landscape restoration program. The impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are evident in my community, but I wholeheartedly believe in the power of collective effort and hope in transforming our future for the better. 

How can people learn more about or support your work?

Please follow our social media pages:

• E-mail: cahaponrobert@gmail.com
• Instagram: Robertintheforest
• Facebook: Takurug ki

A Little More About Me

What is your superpower? Which of your qualities best fuels the work you do?

Being a storyteller. I love creating meaningful video stories that help people understand our inherent connection with other living things and help them realize that we are part of nature

What book, film, or art piece has had the greatest impact on you?

A beautiful painting created by a friend and fellow Indigenous youth leader named Yanyan Yacapin. He made a painting depicting the past, present, and future of our forest community which always moves and inspires me.

What are you happiest doing?

Going on forest walks with the Salumayag team. I love listening to the birds, climbing trees, and collecting seeds and wildlings that we will nurture in our nurseries. 

What’s your favorite food to celebrate with?

Wild forest foods – mushrooms, native berries, and root crops.