Oscar M. Lopez Center

16/09/2026

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: OML Center Partnerships Manager Katherine Sarmiento moderates Breakout Session 4: “From Commitment to Ex*****on: Scaling Net Zero Action” at the Philippine Net Zero Conference 2026, organized by the Net Zero Carbon Alliance at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

Joining Sarmiento on the panel are GHD Philippines Director of Business Development – Environment Cassiophiea Madid, Ecolab Water Management Specialist for Southeast Asia Maria Angela Dimasupil, and Pi Energy, Inc. Vice President for Solar and Energy Efficiency Mark Malabanan.

The session brings together industry leaders to discuss how organizations can move from net-zero commitments to concrete, scalable action.

14/09/2026

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐄: MKK Shorts 2026 Climate Film Labs Highlights

In August, three plenary Climate Film Lab (CFL) sessions were held to support the filmmakers of as they develop their films. Here’s a look back at our sessions:

𝐂𝐅𝐋 𝟏: 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 🌏
Before telling climate stories, it is important to understand the science behind them. Our Knowledge Resources Manager Regine Joy Evangelista-Javier and Knowledge Production Assistant Manager Jerome Tolentino helped our filmmakers build a stronger foundation on climate change and the issues they want to explore through their films.

𝐂𝐅𝐋 𝟐: 𝐔𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞 📸
Filmmaking comes with its own set of challenges (and a lot of diskarte!) Distinguished Filipino filmmakers—Raymund Gutierrez, Ralston Jover, and Carlo Obispo—shared their experiences and practical tips from working in the industry to help our teams navigate their own filmmaking journey.

𝐂𝐅𝐋 𝟑: 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
When the camera stops rolling, there's still a lot of storytelling left to do. Prof. Gerard Paul Elviña, Bernard Feliciano, and Jet Leyco, experts in post-production and audiovisuals, shared how these elements can shape and transform a film.

These CFL sessions were complemented by one-on-one mentoring with climate science and film mentors, and the final film submissions are due on November 4, 2026.

For more information about the MKK Shorts, visit the OML Center's website: https://www.omlopezcenter.org/mkksf2026/

12/09/2026

[𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒] 𝐎𝐌𝐋 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐁𝐒𝐓’𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢’ 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐭

More than 80 participants coming from higher education institutions and faith-based groups across Metro Manila and CALABARZON are taking part in the eighth batch of the Don Bosco School of Theology's (DBST) Laudato Si’ Certified Environmental Trainer (LS-CET) Program. This is the biggest batch of the program to date, with the Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center once again contributing to the program’s ecological component.

In its first session, the OML Center shared foundational information on climate change, including the state of the Philippine climate based on findings from the 2024 Philippine Climate Change Assessment. The Center also introduced potential climate adaptation and mitigation solutions, as well as relevant references and tools that participants can apply in their respective institutions and communities.

Participants also took part in activities designed to help them identify potential climate risks within their localities and develop a community action plan in response to these risks.

Representing the OML Center were Programs Director Marianna Vargas-Morada, Knowledge Resources Manager Regine Joy Evangelista-Javier, Research Specialist for Society and Development Jean Mariel Rañises, and Communications Specialist Mae Anne Mangubos.

Read full story: https://www.omlopezcenter.org/oml-center-joins-dbst-batch-8/

10/09/2026

The OML Center will join the League of Corporate Foundations - LCF's 2026 Expo Collab-a-Fair, happening on October 1-2, 2026, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

Visit us at the Expo and learn more about our work in advancing climate resilience and action. Walk-ins are welcome but participants may also pre-register: https://bit.ly/ExpoCollabAFairPreRegistration

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬+ 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘀 featuring initiatives, innovations, partnerships, and success stories that demonstrate what we can achieve when we 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁, 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.
..𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦!!!
• Join talks, presentations, and engaging activities.
• Visit exhibits, converse, and play a meaningful game and win a prize!
• Discover local products from partner communities and social enterprises.
• Connect with different organizations and fellow attendees.

📌 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆

𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸-𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲! Simply drop by and join the Expo!

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥. Your registration serves as a raffle ticket.
Register at: https://bit.ly/ExpoCollabAFairPreRegistration

Everyone is welcome! Bring your friends, family, and colleagues and make the most of the expo! See you there!

10/09/2026

🌿 Laudato Si’: Our Common Home 🌿

Oscar M. Lopez Center Partnerships Manager Katherine Mae Sarmiento will join the Don Bosco School of Theology as one of the speakers in its three-part online learning series, Laudato Si’: Our Common Home.

The series will bring together conversations on ecological advocacy, climate action, research, community movements, and practical pathways toward a more sustainable future.

See session schedules below:

📅 September 12, 19 & 26, 2026 (Saturdays)
💻 Online via Zoom
📍 Fee: Php 500 discounted rate for all three sessions (Php 700 regular price)

🔗 Interested participants are encouraged to register through this link: bit.ly/DBSTSeasonOfCreation2026

🌿 Laudato Si’: Our Common Home 🌿

This Season of Creation, let us deepen our understanding of our shared responsibility to care for our common home and become agents of meaningful ecological change.

Join the Don Bosco School of Theology (DBST) for a three-part online learning series inspired by Laudato Si’, featuring conversations on ecological advocacy, climate action, research, community movements, and practical pathways toward a more sustainable future.

📅 September 12, 19 & 26, 2026 (Saturdays)
💻 Online Via Zoom
📍Learning Fee: ₱500 discounted rate for all three sessions

Come, learn, reflect, and be inspired to care for creation because our common home is our shared responsibility.

🔗 Register here: bit.ly/DBSTSeasonOfCreation2026

07/09/2026

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐄: MKK Shorts 2026 General Assembly Highlights

During the General Assembly, we brought together voices from climate science, media, and film for a panel discussion on how stories and visuals can enable action.

Dr. Rafaela Jane Delfino, Ms. Nina Unlay, and Ms. Armi Rae Cacanindin joined the discussion and stressed the importance of humanizing climate risks and experiences to help audiences connect with and act on climate.

The General Assembly also featured discussions on the MKK Shorts competition mechanics, Co-ownership Agreement, grant mechanics, as well as a look into the filmmaking journey of one of our MKK filmmakers, Ciete Cinco Creatives.

For more information about the MKK Shorts, visit the OML Center's website: https://www.omlopezcenter.org/mkksf2026/

04/09/2026

📢 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠! 📢

[𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲] The OML Center is looking for a 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 & 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 primarily responsible for coordinating, producing, managing, and executing creative design, artwork, and multimedia materials for use on various channels across the Center’s programs and projects, including developing and maintaining the main website.

Visit the Work With Us page of our website for additional details and to access the application form: https://www.omlopezcenter.org/design-and-website-coordinator/

For inquiries, kindly send an email to [email protected].

29/08/2026

[𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇] In the recent episode of Season 5, OML Center Executive Director Dr. Rodel Lasco emphasized the important role of science in assessing potential climate solutions. Through objective evaluation, science can help determine which solutions are most effective and efficient.

15/08/2026

OML Center Executive Director Dr. Rodel Lasco is one of the mentors for the first session of the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP).

An initiative of the Climate Change Commission in partnership with higher education institutions, Youth CLAP provides a learning space where students can learn, lead, and innovate for climate action.

14/08/2026

𝐌𝐆𝐀 𝐊𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐆 𝐊𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐌𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲

Representatives of the Top 20 teams of gathered for the General Assembly on August 13 as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.

The teams were introduced to the MKK Shorts 2026 project, competition mechanics, and requirements by OML Center Engagement Coordinator and MKK Shorts 2026 Project Head Eli Lucas.

The teams also took part in a panel discussion on “How Stories and Visuals Enable Action,” featuring Dr. Rafaela Jane Delfino, Assistant Professor and Head of the Climate and High-Impact Weather Laboratory at the UP Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology; Nina Unlay, Sustina Editorial Director and Co-Founder; and Armi Rae Cacanindin, producer and founder of Popple Pictures.

Moderated by OML Center Communications Specialist Mae Mangubos, the discussion explored the importance of storytelling in communicating climate change, including how filmmakers can humanize climate data, connect issues to personal experiences, and create stories that resonate with audiences.

MKK filmmakers Drexler Jaramel and Dexter Paul De Jesus of Ciete Cinco Creatives also shared their experiences and insights from their MKK journey.

The teams were also briefed on the Co-Ownership Agreement by OML Center Partnerships Manager Kato Sarmiento, while OML Center Grants Officer Yel Alemania discussed the grant component of the competition.

The Top 20 teams will proceed to the Climate Film Labs beginning August 15, where they will work with film and climate experts as they develop their stories and prepare for production.

MKK Shorts 2026 is a mobile filmmaking competition organized by the Oscar M. Lopez Center, in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

For more information about the competition, visit https://bit.ly/MKKSF2026.