Hello, Richie. Please introduce yourself.

Hi, my name is Richie, an MPM student from the Philippines. I am a nurse and a teacher by profession currently connected with the Ministry of Health in my country as a Health Program Officer under the Mental Health Unit. Before coming to KDI, I was a national trainer for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, as well as Reproductive Health in Emergencies capacity-building initiatives, where I traveled to different places around the country and some abroad to facilitate and act as a resource person.

I grew up on a small island town in the Philippines, and I love being with nature. My hobbies back in my country include going to the beach, mountain climbing, or hiking. While I am yet to improve on keeping my personal environmental sustainability practices, I would say that taking care of the environment is a cause that is close to my heart and an issue that needs to be addressed by all of us.

How do you find KDIS? How has your experience in Korea been so far?

KDIS life is a fun yet very fulfilling experience for me so far. I am learning a lot from the high-caliber professors, and I have made fond memories with new friends from school. This is a dream come true for me since I used to only watch Korean life in K-dramas back then. As for the courses, I must say KDIS did an excellent job in carefully selecting them so that students like me can maximize our learning experience. Lastly, I applaud the school for ensuring that students have a good balance between school and life through various activities, amenities, and learning and fun activities it provides.

What are the other measures you use to live more sustainably?

Another simple and practical measure that I take to live more sustainably is to try to bring reusable bags when doing my grocery shopping and to reuse the plastic bags that I get from buying different stuff as garbage bags. This way, I can help minimize the excessive use of plastic, which can help save our environment in general.

What is the situation in the Philippines regarding sustainability and the environment?

From what I know, the Philippines still has a long way to go in its sustainability and environment protection efforts. While several laws are in place, proper waste management is a significant environmental challenge in the Philippines. Rapid urbanization and population growth have led to increased waste generation. However, waste management infrastructure and practices are often inadequate, leading to issues like improper disposal, pollution of water bodies, and environmental degradation. The Philippine government, along with non-governmental organizations and local communities, has been implementing various conservation initiatives. Protected areas, marine sanctuaries, and wildlife reserves have been established to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. However, enforcement of environmental laws and regulations remains a challenge.

What experiences have you found interesting about Korea regarding sustainability and environmentalism? And which experiences have you adopted while in Korea?

One thing that I admire about Korea is its waste management policy and how people are really serious about keeping the environment clean. Coming here, waste segregation becomes a way of life, and it becomes a habit for me to make sure that I put the trash in the right bin. I also noticed how Korea tries to use sustainable materials in restaurants and other establishments. For instance, I like how we need to pay for shopping bags if we do not bring our own reusable bags and how we can get cash backs in the school cafe if we return the reusable mugs. Experiencing these simple yet very helpful sustainability practices makes me wish we had the same discipline back in my country.

Please share your recommendations on how to make KDI School more sustainable.

So far, I think the school has established many practical measures to ensure sustainability, but perhaps as a suggestion, the school can consider more environmental conservation activities such as seminars, field trips, and perhaps more fun activities and contests that promote sustainability in addition to what we have now. I believe that educating minds and leading by example are the most practical ways to instill environmental sustainability in all of us.

One of my green behaviors includes using a reusable water container instead of buying bottled water. Not only does it save money, but it also helps the environment by preventing plastic waste. Another practice that I follow is using my iPad or laptop when studying readings and lectures instead of printing papers every time I need to study. This helps cut down the need for paper, which we know comes from trees that supply fresh air and prevent flooding. Lastly, I try to take the stairs whenever possible to go to different floors and classes instead of using elevators. This not only saves electricity but also provides good exercise, helping me become fitter and healthier.

Sustainability Practices

Using reusable water bottles to help minimize the use of single use plastics.

Instead of printing lecture materials, I use my IPad to help cut paper use and save trees.

I use the stairs as much as possible to help save electricity from taking the elevators and it is also a good exercise.