By Joseph Pilapil
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March 31, 2024
One of the many inspiring women who take the lead in this field in the Visayas is Climate Reality Leader Ava Arnejo.
A proud Cebuana, Ava works as a staff member at the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Sogod, Cebu, where she contributes to research and planning aimed at bolstering local resilience within the community.
Aside from her critical role in government service, Ava harnesses her creative prowess by penning poetry that not only raises awareness about the climate crisis but also fervently calls for action to safeguard the environment.
Ava’s journey has been enriched by her participation in various prestigious writing workshops, including the Second Sunday Club National Writers Workshop, the 61st Silliman University National Writer’s Workshop, and the 2023 Bathalad-Sugbo Writing Workshop, to name a few.
Several of her notable works have graced the pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Young Blood Section and various journals. Her first epistolary poetry zine “Flight Lessons from Icarus,” a collection of self-published poems written in the form of letters, was released during the Second Cebu Art Book Fair in September 2023.
Hoping to gain valuable insights from her perspective of navigating the climate crisis, I asked Ava questions informed by her experiences as a woman and a creative in the climate action movement.
It took me a long time to realize that I could use my art, both prose and poetry, as a form of response to the ongoing climate crisis. For a long time, I often use my art to make sense of what I feel. Now, I use my words to evoke emotions, to translate something intangible like feelings into something tangible, something that could make sense such as words and narratives. The art I work on allows me to connect with people on a deeper, more emotional level, although I can’t fully say I am 100% good at it yet. However, I am hoping that I can make a significant change in the years to come, the more I learn in my chosen craft.
Art is quite interesting in the sense that it’s able to tap into feelings. It can become this catalyst or “trigger” because it has the ability to stir emotions and evoke empathy, especially from its audience. It doesn’t matter what medium it is—literature, visual arts, music, even performing arts. It is through art that the impacts of climate emergency and climate change are felt at a visceral level. Art is important in effectively communicating the urgency of environmental challenges, conveying alternative visions of a sustainable future, and motivating individuals to take urgent action.
Can you share an example of a project or initiative where you’ve used art to raise awareness about climate change?
I am currently working on several projects that have nature as a central theme or a major player in the narratives and these projects also allow me to preserve in writing a rich intangible culture of stories that have been only passed down by oral literature. I also write eco-poetry, some of them published in digital and in print. One of which, entitled “To Kill A God”, is a part of Poets for Climate, a collaborative project among the branches of The Climate Reality Project in the Philippines, Africa, and Canada in support of the global poetry and art movement When Is Now. I was also given the privilege to talk about this poem during the Asia Design Sharing Council 2023.
In what ways can artists and creative individuals contribute to the global climate movement?
Using art to effectively convey the impacts of climate change and the need for climate action, I think artists can urge communities to act and do positive change for the community. Artists can also promote eco-friendly habits. Their art can also bring other people together, giving way for collaborations to happen and facilitating discussion of topics like climate impacts and sustainable solutions.
I think it’s very important to educate one’s self first and in you and themes that resonate with you. Learn and unlearn as much as you can, over and over again. From that point, one must tell compelling stories using your art. Engage others and inspire communities. You can incorporate sustainable practices in your art and your lifestyle. Lastly, keep making art. No matter what art form it is or art medium it is. It doesn’t have to be great or “the art!” – as long as it is something that resonates truly with you.
I think it’s very important to provide as much support as possible to artists, especially local artists and artists coming from different backgrounds and perspectives. Art patrons and supporters can provide funding opportunities, networks, and platforms for exposure as well as recognition. Incorporating arts education and appreciation into the basic curriculum can also help as this provides chances for children to explore not only their issues but also encourages them to use their talents. By providing resources, support networks, and platforms for sharing, we can empower artists to address issues like the climate crisis through their work.
It is undeniable that climate change is often thought of by laypeople as something too technical or scientific to understand, and that can hinder them from taking action. Arts and humanities, together with the power of storytelling, can provide an alternative way to effectively send the message across and help increase our chances of inspiring both individual and collective climate action.
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A former local government employee, Joseph Pilapil is passionate about climate action, disaster resilience, and sustainability in Ormoc City. He dedicated his work in mainstreaming these concepts into the local development plans and programs and reporting the city’s climate environment data through the CDP-ICLEI Track, the world’s leading climate reporting platform and progress accountability mechanism for cities. He also organized capacity development and training programs for various technical working groups of the city government. Trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2020, Seph uses his background in development communication to make climate change easier to understand and inspire climate action. He also advocates for localizing the Sustainable Development Goals in his city. He earned his bachelor’s degree in development communication at the Visayas State University in 2015.
ABOUT KLIMA KABISAYAAN
Klima Kabisayaan is a space that aims to amplify the climate stories and initiatives of the more than 300 Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders in Visayas.
It is one of the regular columns launched by The Climate Reality Project Philippines to elevate the climate discourse and strengthen climate action across all regions in the Philippines.
