Good and Green

October is Coffee Month, and we're celebrating individuals whose passion and dedication have helped shape the Philippine coffee industry! In this episode of Good and Green, Pacita Juan sits down with coffee industry veteran Emmanuel “Manny” Torrejon to look back on his remarkable journey spanning more than four decades in coffee. From the Philippines' thriving coffee export years to the...

What does it take to make tourism truly sustainable for both visitors and the people who call a destination home?  In this episode of Good and Green, Pacita Juan speaks with Dr. Mary Anne Ramos Tumanan and Jerome Jay Cabugao about Batanes and its journey as the first Philippine destination to join the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. They explore how research, community...

What does it take to turn locally grown cacao into world-class chocolate? In this episode of Good and Green , Pacita Juan speaks with Rex Puentespina of Malagos Chocolate about his family's journey from rehabilitating an existing cacao farm in Davao to producing some of the Philippines' most internationally recognized chocolate. Rex shares how farmer education, international competitions...

What if farming could do more than grow food? In this episode of Good and Green, Pacita Juan speaks with Tancho Baes about leaving a successful career in Canada to return to the Philippines and dedicate his life to serving marginalized communities. Through Hectares of Hope in Davao, Tancho is building a model that uses sustainable farming to create livelihoods, empower Indigenous and rural communi...

What happens when one chapter of life comes to an unexpected end? In this episode of Good and Green , Chit Juan sits down with veteran journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon to talk about how she reinvented herself through sustainability, wellness, and entrepreneurship. From building a rammed earth farmhouse and cultivating herbs to creating natural wellness products through Provenciana, Ces shares how curio...

What role does marine wildlife play in keeping our oceans and communities healthy? In this episode of Good and Green , Chit Juan speaks with Dr. AA Yaptinchay, marine wildlife conservationist and Founder of the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, about protecting threatened species such as whale sharks, marine turtles, dugongs, dolphins, and sharks. They discuss how responsible marine touris...

What if the best classroom was found in nature? In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan sits down with Sara Francesca Soliven-De Guzman, President of O.B. Montessori Center and steward of Preziosa Farms, to share how a school campsite evolved into a 16-hectare destination for experiential learning, regenerative agriculture, and environmental stewardship. Sara explains how hands-on experiences...

Great farming doesn't begin with the harvest. It begins with healthy soil. In this episode of Good and Green , Chit Juan sits down with Raphael "Raffy" Dacones, Chief Farming Officer of Teraoka Farm, to share his journey from studying architecture and working in Japan to becoming one of the country's leading advocates for organic farming. What started as curiosity grew into a t...

What happens when you leave the corporate world and start over on a remote island? In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan talks with Ichay and Raul Bulaong about their decision to leave city life behind and build a new life in Coron, Palawan. What began as a search for a simpler lifestyle evolved into a series of purpose-driven businesses focused on sustainability, fair trade, and community...

Sustainable tourism becomes more meaningful when it is rooted in community, culture, and care for the environment. In this episode of Good and Green , Chit Juan talks with Jeannie Javelosa about how Banahaw Circle Nature Retreat grew from a personal connection to Mount Banahaw into a thriving community-based tourism initiative in Dolores, Quezon. Jeannie shares how the retreat supports local farme...

Sustainability is no longer just a trend in tourism and hospitality. It is becoming part of how future professionals think, work, and serve. In this episode of Good and Green , Chit Juan talks with Dr. Harold Bernardo Bueno, Dean of the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management at FEU Manila, about how sustainability, food systems, and education intersect in today’s tourism industry. Drawing...

Filipino food is deeply rooted in family, tradition, and everyday life. In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan sits down with food advocate and author Nancy Reyes-Lumen, also known as the “Adobo Queen,” to explore why adobo continues to be one of the most powerful symbols of Filipino identity. As part of a multigenerational food family, Nancy shares how recipes are passed down, adapted, and...

As Good and Green continues its celebration of Filipino Food Month, this second special episode goes deeper into the stories behind what we eat. Chit Juan sits down with independent food scholar and book designer Ige Ramos to explore how decades of fieldwork, writing, and cultural research shaped his understanding of Filipino foodways. Their conversation touches on ethical food writing, the value...

Filipino food tells the story of who we are, and there’s no better time to reflect on that than during Filipino Food Month. In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan sits down with cultural heritage worker and food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria to explore the roots of Filipino cuisine, from pre-colonial ingredients and food traditions to the ways colonial influences were transformed into...

Sustainability becomes more powerful when it is passed down through generations. Chit Juan sits down with Badjie and Bea Trinidad, daughter and granddaughter of zero-waste pioneer Annie Guerrero, to talk about how one woman’s practical, disciplined way of living became a lasting family legacy. From the founding of CCA Manila to embedding green practices into culinary education and everyday life, t...

As part of our Women’s Month series highlighting impactful women in sustainability, Chit Juan sits down with Pastry Chef Gel Salonga-Datu of Ted’s Hospitality Group and the Slow Food Community Laguna. Chef Gel shares how reviving heirloom recipes, supporting local farmers and artisans, and organizing the Sa Pantalan Food and Heritage Festival helped build a thriving community around Laguna’s food...

Luxury means nothing without nature. In this episode, Chit Juan speaks with Janet Oquendo, General Manager of Banwa Private Island, about returning home to Palawan after decades of opening world-class resorts across Morocco, Venice, Turkey, Bhutan, and beyond. From protecting thriving reefs to building a culture of environmental care within her team, Janet shares how true luxury eco-tourism is not...

What does it really take to build a business that lasts for decades? In this episode of Good and Green, Chit Juan sits down with franchising pioneer Armando “Butz” Bartolome to unpack how entrepreneurship has evolved and why values, credibility, and responsibility matter more than ever. Drawing from over 35 years of mentoring Filipino entrepreneurs, Butz shares insights on balancing speed with cau...

What started as a simple search for a healthier chocolate drink for her children became something much bigger. In this episode, Chit Juan sits down with chemist and entrepreneur Melanie “Mel” Medrano, founder of Cacaomistry, to talk about how science, motherhood, and sustainability came together to create a Filipino origin based cacao brand rooted in clean ingredients, local sourcing, and social i...

Chit Juan sits down with the co-founders of ARTFARM Sustainable Solutions to explore how a small family-run farm in Bay, Laguna evolved into a certified organic and Slow Food-recognized enterprise. From surviving a natural disaster to building a regenerative, technology-enabled, and community-driven farming model, this conversation offers insight into resilience, innovation, and how sustainable fa...

In this New Year episode, Chit Juan shares a gentle reflection on welcoming 2026 with intention and purpose. She talks about simple ways we can shift our habits, broaden our experiences, and make the coming year more meaningful for ourselves and others. This short conversation is an invitation to start the year with clarity, curiosity, and a renewed sense of what it means to live good and green. W...

In this Christmas episode, Chit Juan reflects on the meaning of giving during the holidays and invites listeners to revisit the idea of presents beyond material gifts. She talks about offering the gift of time, creating a “job jar” of thoughtful favors, sharing causes and advocacies, and finding moments to be truly present with the people who matter. Chit reminds us that time is finite, but choosi...

Organic farming is gaining new momentum in Southeast Asia, and the Philippines is beginning to feel that shift.  Chit Juan talks with Marco Schlüter, Director for Strategy and International Affairs at Naturland, about how organic markets emerge, what helps farmers transition successfully, and why restaurants and retailers play a crucial role in expanding access to organic products. Marco draws fro...

In this episode of Good and Green, host Chit Juan speaks with Ann Dumaliang of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation about the delicate balance between nature conservation and human activity. Ann shares how the Masungi team transformed a once-threatened landscape into a thriving model for geotourism, reforestation, and environmental protection. She and Chit discuss the importance of building systems—n...

Chit Juan talks with sustainability and supply chain leader Christian Schmidradner about ten years of the Philippine Sustainability Movement and how it all started with Sustainable Seafood Week. Christian shares how his work in traceable seafood supply chains led to a nationwide campaign for responsible sourcing and collaboration among government, business, and communities. He explains the importa...