Forest Foundation Philippines celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2025 and I’m deeply grateful to have been part of this milestone. I was commissioned to design the anniversary branding and commemorative items.

To mark two decades of forest conservation and community partnership, the 20th anniversary logo incorporates elements that reflect the forest landscapes and communities the Foundation works to protect. As for the commemorative items, I illustrated icons representing the Foundation’s focal landscapes to help visually define the work they do.

With fellow advocacy resource speakers at IKEx – L-R: Schenley Anne Belmonte (FFP / officiator), myself, Yasmin Mapua-Tang (Probe Media Foundation), and Almhi Calma (Edukasyon.ph)

Also very honored to serve as one of the resource speakers at the Foundation’s 3-day Inter-Landscape Knowledge Exchange (IKEx) event which brought together partners from their focal landscapes and special project sites to share lessons learned and best practices in sustainable forest management.

Team photo, taken at the FFP 20th Anniversary Celebration

*Thanks so much to Forest Foundation Philippines’ amazing and hard-working Communications team for this great opportunity to be part of their milestone event. <3

• Schenley Anne Belmonte
• Mita Chabeli Pangan
• Diane Estephanie Bagui

* Social media project documentation:
1. 20th Anniversary Logo announcement and demo
2. Photos from the IKEx event and anniversary celebration
3. Advocacy Journey reel, presented during IKEx
4. Carousel post about my FFP / Conservation Journey

*IKEx speakers photo courtesy of Forest Foundation Philippines

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

Last June (2025), the BioChamps 3.0 youth camp was held in Southern Palawan, a meaningful initiative that brought together Indigenous youth from the Tagbanua and Palaw’an communities to celebrate their heritage, deepen their connection with their ancestral lands, and strengthen their role as stewards of the forest.

As part of the project, I co-created the visual identity and camp materials in collaboration with the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) network in Palawan, which includes the SILG* Program of Forest Foundation Philippines, NTFP-EP Philippines, IDEAS, and ELAC, under an initiative we called Project AMPLYFIED: Awareness Merchandise Production Aimed for Limitless Youths: Forest Conservation Information and Education Camp Kits.

The designs, from the BioChamps Palawan logo to the camp kit illustrations, were all inspired by endemic flora and fauna, local dances and rituals, food, crafts, and valuable insights shared during a co-design Zoom session and consultations with the youth.

A screenshot from our co-design workshop and consultation Zoom session with the Palawan indigenous youth. 

We produced Camp Kits containing t-shirts, tote bags, tumblers, stickers, and other functional items that could serve as daily reminders of their advocacy. Seeing the participants wear the finished items against the backdrop of Palawan’s forest landscapes was a full-circle moment. A visual celebration of the land and the young people working to protect it.

We hope these materials will continue to remind the youth of their important roles in preserving Palawan’s forests and heritage. Truly grateful to have been part of a project that amplifies Indigenous youth voices while championing both biodiversity and culture.

Team photo from our first in-person inception meeting in early 2025. 🙂

*Thanks so much to Forest Foundation Philippines’ SILG (Sustainable Program team for this meaningful project. <3

• John Mark Ayap
• Nelissa Maria Rocas
• Rosemarie Joy Quetula

* Download a copy of the #ProjectAMPLYFIEDPh Publication for more info on our project.

* Download the free desktop wallpaper.

* Social media project documentation:
1. Introduction to the AMPLYFIEDPh Project
2. Our Youth Are Culture Bearers
3. Protecting Biodiversity = Protecting Our Identity,Traditions, and Culture
4. From Design to Delivery
5. Behind the Scenes Reel
6. Camp Complete! BioChamps Palawan, From Vision to Reality

*On-site activity photos are courtesy of Forest Foundation Philippines

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

Known for their handmade Barong Tagalog, EN Barong Filipino (ENBF) had been planning to launch a Modern Filipiniana collection featuring Philippine native trees as these are championed by their Chairwoman and Founder, Tita Fely, a passionate advocate for heritage conservation.

ENBF’s longtime collaborators Trina and Ruben Flores of Rubbertree Design Studio reached out to me, and it was an instant yes. I was of course thrilled to contribute illustrations for this meaningful project, and as a fan of Trina & Ruben’s Bags by Rubbertree line, I was excited to work with them and see my illustrations translated onto traditional Filipino clothing.

The collection features six unique terno silhouettes, each adorned with a different native tree flower: Katmon, Banaba, Ilang-ilang, Malabulak, Salinggogon, and Tayabak (Jade Vine). Trina and Ruben handled surface design, while Mr. Santingan of ENBF skillfully transformed my vector illustrations into beautiful embroidery, resulting in these stunning creations.

The ternos are available through the Philippine Forest Blooms portal on ENBF’s website and at Kultura outlets in SM Department Stores nationwide.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

Local homeware brand Casa Juan MNL commissioned me to create the Filipino Food trinket dish collection, featuring recipes by Chef Reggie Aspiras. Building on our past collaborations (such as the “Bulaklak” and “Ibon” plate collections), Ms. Michelle Fontelera once again entrusted me with complete creative freedom to illustrate the elements in my signature style.

This collection showcases traditional Filipino dishes, including Pinakbet, Sinigang, Adobo, and Lechon. Pancit Bihon was also initially designed, but unfortunately it didn’t make the final cut.

*The Pancit Bihon design (above) did not make it to the final collection.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

Local homeware brand Casa Juan MNL commissioned me to illustrate and design the “Ibon” collection. As with our previous project (see “Bulaklak” collection), Casa Juan’s Ms. Michelle Fontelera gave me total freedom to come up with a list of Philippine endemic birds to showcase. Because of how well their colors work well together in a set, I ended up choosing the Cinnamon Ibon (Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus), Red-eared Parrotfinch (Erythrura coloria), Blue-headed Fantail (Rhipidura cyaniceps), Palawan Flowerpecker (Prionochilus plateni).

For a natural and accurate depiction, I consulted bird expert Ms. Trinket Constantino of ADMU’s Department of Biology and member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines regarding Philippine native trees that the featured birds normally perch on. She identified some and provided me with a short list which I then chose from and made artistic interpretations of alongside their “partner” bird species. (Please check out her and Ms. Abby Favis’ wonderful campus biodiversity documentation project, The Ateneo Wild!)

The collection is available in sets consisting of salad plates featuring the four bird-and-tree pairings, and a dinner plate decked with elements of the native trees.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

#ForestLandscapesPh is a collaborative initiative with Forest Foundation Philippines that began in 2021. Building on our earlier campaigns that centered on native trees and wildlife, we wanted to grow the love even further, this time by spotlighting the country’s most important forest landscapes.

These beautiful places are vital ecosystems that so many communities depend on for food, livelihoods, cultural pride, and protection from the effects of climate change. From the storm-shielding Sierra Madre mountains (Luzon’s backbone!), to Bukidnon’s lush farming fields, Leyte’s carbon-rich peatlands, and Palawan’s sanctuary for unique species, each region has its own special story that shows how forests are tightly woven into our lives.

To showcase these connections, we designed a set of notebooks, one for each landscape, with covers featuring a special site, an endemic bird, and a native plant. We also made bird pins so that people can wear and take a piece of the landscapes in their day-to-day.

In 2023, contnuing our collaboration, we created illustrated forest maps of the four key landscapes: Sierra Madre, Mindanao, Palawan, and Samar & Leyte. The maps highlight protected areas, indigenous communities, local industries and produce, ecotourism spots, and native biodiversity to show all the different ways these regions help keep our forests healthy and self-sustaining.

The advocacy items aim to help support genuine conservation work and keep the stories of our forests alive for generations to come. A percentage of profits generated from the sale of all items were donated to the Foundation’s partner NGOs in the landscapes. (You can see how much we were able to raise and contribute here.)

Huge thanks to the amazing FFP Project Management Team for guiding and supporting me every step of the way. <3

• Diane Estephanie Bagui
• Schenley Anne Belmonte,
• Eric Buduan
• Atty. Jose Andres Canivel
• Ana Veronica Gabriel
• Xyla Mercedita Gualberto
• Marjorie Pamplona

* TMxCBA Collab photos are courtesy of Team Manila Graphic Design Studio

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 

My earlier collaborations with Forest Foundation Philippines were able to produce awareness campaigns and advocacy items that champion the importance of Philippine native trees in forest conservation (see #DrawNativeTreesPh). To reinforce the impact of the previous projects, and to hopefully deepen people’s connection with our forests, the next step was to make learning materials that highlight a Sustainable Landscape Approach in conservation.

“The Sustainable Landscape Approach allows a landscape to be seen as a series of interdependent natural and human systems, and is particularly useful when there are multiple stakeholders within a landscape with varying resource requirements and interdependencies.” (Source: Forest Foundation Philippines, Sustainable Landscape Approach Brief)

Public awareness – especially for people living in the landscapes – about this symbiotic connection can be helpful for identifying ways forward in addressing issues of forest protection, conservation, and ultimately, climate change.

The challenge then was how to visually communicate this idea. With expert guidance from the Foundation’s landscape coordinators, foresters, and project officers to ensure accuracy, I made illustrated maps of the focal Forest Foundation Philippines landscapes: Sierra Madre, Samar and Leyte, Bukidnon / Misamis Oriental, and Palawan. Each map showcases the landscapes’ respective protected areas, indigenous communities, industries and produce, ecotourism sites, and select native flora & fauna through little icons to express how these components all play roles in forest (and even cultural) conservation and protection, and how they also depend on the forests and one another to survive and thrive.

*Thanks as always to the hard-working Forest Foundation team for this meaningful project. <3

Bagui, Diane Estephanie – Landscape Coordinator for National Projects
Belmonte, Schenley Anne – Project Officer
Buduan, Eric – Landscape Coordinator for Sierra Madre and Mindanao
Canivel, Jose Andres – Executive Director
Gabriel, Ana Veronica – Landscape Coordinator for Palawan
Gualberto, Xyla Mercedita – Associate for Mindanao
Pamplona, Marjorie – Landscape Coordinator for Samar and Leyte

Sir Eric Buduan of Forest Foundation Philippines at the Sierra Madre Development Workshop.

As of this writing, we’ve produced posters that are already being used in the Foundation’s development workshops. The Foundation has also allowed me to produce a collection of advocacy merchandise based on the project (enamel pins, notebooks, postcards, tote bags) for selling in my webshop. More items are currently in production and I’ll be updating the blog once they are launched.

* Download a copy of the ForestLandscapesPh Publication for more info on our project.

*On-site activity photos are courtesy of Forest Foundation Philippines

To learn more about the heart and journey behind this project, head over to my Advocacy Through Art page. There, I will continuoisly share how these collaborations are part of a bigger mission to celebrate biodiversity, empower communities, and use creativity for conservation.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

The illustration process was carefully guided by EDC BINHI’s foresters which made it possible for me to render the species as accurately as possible. I chose to use a line drawing technique (as opposed to my usual painterly style) in order to highlght and define each species’ unique features. These drawings were then used on t-shirts, bags, and other merchandise (soon to be available in my webshop), and some other items for the organization’s exclusive use.

To learn more about the heart and journey behind this project, head over to my Advocacy Through Art page. There, I will continuoisly share how these collaborations are part of a bigger mission to celebrate biodiversity, empower communities, and use creativity for conservation.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

Local homeware brand Casa Juan MNL commissioned me to illustrate and design their “Bulaklak” collection of tableware. Ms. Michelle Fontelera, proprietor of Casa Juan, kindly gave me complete freedom to suggest flowers to feature, and eventually we went with the Tayabak or Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys), Sanggumay (Dendrobium anosmum), Renanthera monachica, and Dendrobium victoriae-reginae – all of which are epiphytes that are endemic to the Philippines.
The collection is available in sets consisting of dinner plates, salad plates, and soup bowls.

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there! 😉

#ForestBloomsPh is a collaborative campaign launched with Forest Foundation Philippines to raise awareness for the beauty and importance of Philippine native flowering trees in forest conservation.

We began with producing illustrated items like the Philippine Forest Blooms planner and hosting watercolor workshops and drawing contests that showcase indigenous flowering trees, many of which are endangered. The campaign uses art and education to inspire appreciation and protection of our native flora, especially reaching out to young people.

We brought lesser-known native flowering trees like the Salingbobog, Malabulak, and Ipil into everyday life by featuring my illustrations of them on notebooks, postcard sets, tote bags, and even face masks during the pandemic, helping people feel a little closer to nature despite the distance. Later, we expanded our focus to include Forest Fruits and Forest Birds,s, highlighting their important roles in keeping forests healthy and thriving.

Proceeds from these merchandise sales go right back into supporting forest conservation and funding the creation of more advocacy items to keep the movement growing.

Proof that we take our research seriously! Me with the FFP team taking a taxonomy workshop in UST.

Huge thanks to the amazing FFP Project Management Team for supporting and guiding me every step of the way. <3

– Schenley Anne Belmonte
– Diane Estephanie Bagui
– Bryan Joel Mariano
– Ana Veronica Gabriel
– Marjorie Pamplona
– Eric Buduan
– Dennis Rosales
– Heidi Mendoza
– Atty. Jose Andres Canivel

* I post most frequently on Instagram, so for a sneak peek at the latest projects (that might take a while to land here), feel free to follow along there!