By Rachelle Nicole P. Torralba, UP Diliman Information Office correspondent

In celebration of the UP Diliman Environmental Sustainability Month this April, the UP Diliman (UPD) Environmental Management Office (DEMO) launched Sustainability Fiesta 2026 with the theme Aruga: Paglinang ng Luntiang Komunidad last Friday, April 24, at the Sunken Garden Grandstand.

Led by environmental advocate Nappy Navarra, DEng, the program kicked off with a guided transect walk around the Academic Oval, exploring five key themes: spaces, built-up areas, energy and water systems, waste management, and transportation systems. Students, faculty, partner organizations, and other participating stakeholders were prompted to discuss environmental concerns in campus conditions and identify possible practical solutions accordingly during the activity.

In line with its participatory approach, participants were also encouraged to collect natural materials and discarded waste along the route. These were later repurposed in the art workshop Arugâ: Mula sa Lupa, Tungo sa Paglikha, facilitated by community pantry organizer Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non and artist Emilio “Mio” Jose Aceremo, highlighting creativity as a form of environmental reflection and action.

In the welcoming remarks that followed, �Թ���̳Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II extended his deepest gratitude to all who participated in the initiative, in a message read by Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Jerwin F. Agpaoa on his behalf. In the same statement, the university emphasized that sustainability is a shared responsibility rooted in everyday practices.

“Ang kalidad ng ating kapaligiran ay isa lamang sa mga repleksyon ng sama-sama nating pagtangan sa sustainability. Ito ay makikita sa kung paano natin ginagawa ang ating mga aktibidad sa kampus, sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagpapairal ng prinsipyo ng mindful consumption, pag-iwas sa pag-aaksaya, at pag-generate ng basura,” the statement read.

Agpaoa also highlighted UPD’s role as a shared refuge for both its community and the public, stating, “Mahirap ipagdamot ang ating kampus para sa mga kailangang magpahinga, magpalakas ng katawan, at mga gustong tumakas sa usok at gulo ng siyudad.”

The program then proceeded with a key highlight featuring DEMO Director James Christopher Buño, who introduced two new sustainability initiatives: the Green UPDate Portal, a centralized platform that maps campus systems, supports planning, and connects users to sustainability resources; and the Solid Waste Management Playbook, which provides practical guidelines on waste avoidance, segregation, collection, and sustainable event management.

The Sustainability Commons also brought together a wide range of partner booths, including Trash to Cashback, RMC Oil & Ecolutions Inc., Ideal Materials PH, The E-Waste Project, Homenet Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Restore Solutions PH, Juiceko Juan, Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, Back to Basics Ecostore, The Bamboo Company, and Lovely’s Karyoka Store, amplifying the advocacy throughout the day and remained open to public until 8 p.m.

Moving forward, the organizers emphasized that the sustainability fiesta is just a part of a continuing effort to foster shared responsibility in addressing environmental challenges and encouraged the community to continuously take an active role in cultivating a greener and more sustainable UPD.

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