LEMUEL MANALO
Program Coordinator
Lem spent most of his childhood at the beach where his family lived nearby. Davao Gulf’s Times and Bucana beaches long before had rich marine biodiversity, thick mangrove forests, less waste pollution and free from informal settlements. His family loved having picnics at the seashore, set-up fire to grill freshly catch “Sap-sap”, “Maya-maya”, “Lapu-lapu”, “Talakitok”, “Borot”, “Kitang” and other marine resources sold.
At a young age, he experienced seeing fisherfolks bringing strangled sharks, cetaceans stranded ashore, jellyfish attacks and even several drowning incidents. The sea taught him to swim, catch fish, and paddle a boat and most especially, become a steward of nature.
In college, he realized the loss of the beach’s lavishness due to urbanization. He became Ateneo de Davao University’s Ecoteneo Student Unit Head leading university-wide campaigns to protect the seas, particularly Davao Gulf, from waste pollution. Driven with this passion, he dedicated to work only for the environment. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Education major in English with additional units in Biological Sciences.
In 2015, he joined IDIS as Media Advocacy Specialist. One of the most unforgettable moments he had with IDIS is the staff’s learning visit in Danjugan Island, a marine protected area in Negros where he experienced kayaking in the islands’ majestic lagoons filled with schools of Black-tip Sharks, Yellow-fin Trevallies, Barracudas and such healthy reefs underwater.
He became the Environment Research Specialist and led the development and implementation of IDIS’ research agenda. Having successfully completed the assessment of permeable pavements in Davao City and presented it in the 2018 Malaysia Flood Protection, Recovery and Response Conference in Kuala Lumpur. He is currently the Program Coordinator of IDIS where he leads the Advocacy Unit of the organization. In his spare time, he pursues his interests in wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Observing, identifying and taking photos of avian species made him join the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines-Davao.
Lem finished his post-graduate studies in Environmental Resources Management at the University of the Southeastern Philippines and became a licensed Environmental Planner in 2019. He dreams to pursue PhD studies in Ecology, Water, Wetland or Wildlife Management in Australia or New Zealand along with living with his fiancée in a minimalist container-van house with solar panels installed, rainwater-catchment systems, hydroponic and organic garden, mini-forest backyard and vegetated permeable pavement for their vehicle’s parking.
You may contact Lem at lem.manalo@idisphil.org