In a show of unified action against the Philippines’ mounting public health, climate, and food security challenges, business leaders, government agencies, and development partners convened at the One Health Forum 2025 to co-develop solutions through cross-sectoral collaboration.
In the quiet barangay of San Isidro, nestled in Rodriguez, Rizal, the threat of tuberculosis (TB) is not just a health concern but also a social challenge. The remote location, limited access to quality health services, and persistent stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease make the area a difficult battleground for TB control and elimination. In this setting, two women, Mary Jane Sugi and Nieva Odad, have emerged as unlikely but powerful forces for change.
In the coastal areas of Coron, Palawan, fishing has long been a lifeline, a way of living passed down through generations. But in recent years, that lifeline has frayed. The ocean, once teeming with fish, has grown silent. Fisherfolk like Daniel Javier of Barangay Turda have found themselves returning from the sea empty-handed, their nets bare and their hopes dimmed.
In a town where opportunity can feel as distant as the mainland, Maria Cecilia “Matche” M. Sanchez built her own path forward, one business at a time.