The Silent Sentinels: A Tale of Three Bottles

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On a kitchen counter, where most people would see nothing more than everyday objects, a quiet drama unfolds. Three bottles stand in stillness, their presence unassuming yet commanding, their silence louder than any conversation. They are not merely vessels for water—they are guardians, storytellers, embodiments of ideals that humans themselves often wrestle with: survival, wisdom, and transformation.

This is their tale.

The Vanguard: A Modern Spartan

On the left, the Green Vacuum Bottle towers with the discipline of a soldier at attention. Its shade of militaristic green conjures images of battlefields, endurance tests, and the unyielding spirit of warriors who refuse to falter. Its inscriptions boast like the markings of a decorated veteran: “COLD for 24 HOURS” and “30% LIGHTER, TOUGH AS EVER.”

This is no mere bottle—it is a fortress. Its double-walled insulation makes it impervious to time and temperature, a stalwart companion through the punishing heat of summer or the icy chill of winter hikes. It thrives on function, not appearance. It does not ask for praise; it simply does its duty with unwavering loyalty.

But beneath its hardened exterior, one wonders—does this warrior ever long for a gentler existence? Does it dream of holding something more tender than ice water, of moments softer than survival? A Spartan knows only battle, but even warriors yearn for peace.

The Philosopher: A Sage of the Woods

At the center stands the Bamboo Thermos, a quiet contradiction to the steel and plastic world around it. Its wooden skin whispers of forests, rivers, and mountains, a reminder that even in modernity, nature can still speak. Its polished exterior is warm to the touch, evoking calm mornings, fragrant teas, and handwritten thoughts in well-worn journals.

This bottle is not built for war—it is built for reflection. It is a philosopher, unhurried, contemplative, a vessel that sees beauty in balance. Hot or cold, bitter or sweet, it carries them all with grace. Unlike the Spartan, it does not fight the extremes—it embraces them.

But its very elegance is also its fragility. Wood, though beautiful, is susceptible to scars. A drop, a scratch, a spill could mar its surface. Its life is a meditation on impermanence, a constant reminder that beauty is fleeting. And yet, perhaps that is its wisdom: that nothing lasts forever, and that is what makes it precious.

The Alchemist: A Beacon of Transformation

On the right bursts the vibrant personality of the Alkarock bottle. Its translucent body gleams with possibility, its lime-green cap a declaration of vitality and energy. Unlike the Spartan or the Philosopher, this bottle is restless. Its very name speaks of ambition—Alkarock, an echo of transformation, of taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary.

It is not just a holder of water—it is a stage for experiments. Fruit infusions, vitamin mixes, bubbling tonics—it thrives on change. The Alchemist bottle lives for movement, for shaking, for stirring. Where others preserve or contemplate, it transforms.

Yet, in its endless pursuit of reinvention, one wonders: does it ever find peace? Can the Alchemist be content with simplicity, or is it cursed to forever chase the next concoction, the next new formula for life? Its gift is also its burden: the inability to be still.

A Countertop of Destiny

The three bottles stand side by side, their purposes intertwined yet divided, their silence heavy with meaning. The Spartan, the Philosopher, the Alchemist—three archetypes not just of bottles, but of life itself.

Each represents a way of being:

The Pragmatic Survivor, who endures.

The Graceful Idealist, who reflects.

The Relentless Innovator, who transforms.

Perhaps the question is not which bottle is the favorite, but which bottle reflects us at this very moment of our lives. Some days demand the Spartan’s endurance. Others beg for the Philosopher’s calm wisdom. And still others cry out for the Alchemist’s restless reinvention.

So the next time you reach for a bottle, remember: you are not just quenching your thirst—you are choosing which sentinel will stand guard over your day’s journey.

And in that choice lies your story.

Architects of Change: The Visionaries Guiding Media Towards Planetary Health

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Behind every transformative movement are the voices that shape it—the thinkers, the doers, the storytellers, and the advocates who breathe life into ideas and turn them into action. The Capacity Development and Training Workshop Series for Media Professionals is no exception. It assembles a constellation of trailblazing experts whose collective work spans science, policy, communications, and advocacy. Together, they form the backbone of a workshop designed to empower journalists and media leaders to report on the defining issue of our time: planetary health.

Speakers and Facilitators of the Capacity Development and Training Workshop Series for Media Professionals at Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Behind every transformative movement are the voices that shape it—the thinkers, the doers, the storytellers, and the advocates who breathe life into ideas and turn them into action. The Capacity Development and Training Workshop Series for Media Professionals is no exception. It assembles a constellation of trailblazing experts whose collective work spans science, policy, communications, and advocacy. Together, they form the backbone of a workshop designed to empower journalists and media leaders to report on the defining issue of our time: planetary health.

These speakers and facilitators are not just names on a program—they are frontline architects of change, weaving together expertise across borders, disciplines, and generations.

Speakers and Facilitators: 

1. Nazia Ahmad – Head of Operations, Partnerships and Programme Implementation, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH)

2. Fatimah Ahamad – Chief Planetary Health Scientist, SCPH

3. Devin Bahceci – Information Integrity and Anti-disinformation Manager, Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC)

4. Maisarah Faiesall – Head of Policy, Strategy and Advocacy, SCPH

5. Gunjan Jain – India Lead, GSCC

6. Laila Iskandar – Communications Manager, SCPH

7. Oliver Lacey-Hall – Senior Adviser, SCPH

8. Jemilah Mahmood – Executive Director, SCPH

9. Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad – Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa; former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia

10. Shweta Narayan – Campaign Lead, Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA)

11. Revati Phalkey – Director, International Institute for Global Health, United Nations University, Malaysia

12. Railla Puno – Strategic Initiative Manager, Jade Dialogues, Philippines

13. Kuntal Roy – Climate and Energy Communications Specialist, GSCC

14. Jaya Shreedhar – Health Media Consultant, Internews

15. Shreeshan Venkatesh – Global Policy Lead, Climate Action Network

16. Shailendra Yashwant – Senior Advisor, Communications and Advocacy, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA)

This lineup of speakers and facilitators is more than a roster—it is a movement in motion. Each name represents a distinct field, yet together, they embody the interconnectedness of planetary health: the way climate, policy, science, media, and justice weave into one story—the story of our survival and our future.

For the media professionals attending, these voices are not distant experts. They are guides, allies, and mentors who will equip storytellers with the narratives, tools, and truth needed to cover the defining crisis of our generation.

Because in the end, planetary health is not a topic. It is the lifeline that binds humanity and nature together. And in the hands of those who inform the world—the media—it becomes a story that can save us all.

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The Scientific Minds: Bridging Knowledge and Advocacy

At the heart of the workshop are scientists and researchers who turn data into purpose. Dr. Fatimah Ahamad, Chief Planetary Health Scientist at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH), embodies this role with her groundbreaking work linking environmental change, public health, and sustainable living. Her research and advocacy are rooted in resilience—building communities that thrive amidst climate disruption.

Beside her, Dr. Revati Phalkey, Director of the United Nations University’s International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), brings the weight of over two decades of global health expertise. As a physician and epidemiologist, she bridges the worlds of science and policy, ensuring that evidence informs governance and global health systems remain resilient in the face of planetary crises.

Together, their voices remind us that knowledge is power, but knowledge coupled with action is destiny.

The Strategists: Turning Ideas into Policy

No transformation happens without systems change, and here, Maisarah Faiesall, Head of Policy, Strategy, and Advocacy at SCPH, leads with precision. Rooted in global health and human rights, she works to elevate planetary health across ASEAN while empowering youth and ensuring equity lies at the center of sustainability conversations.

Adding depth is Railla Puno, a Filipino lawyer and Strategic Initiatives Manager for JADE Dialogues. Her career, which includes steering the Philippines’ ratification of the Paris Agreement, highlights how legal frameworks can be wielded as tools for climate justice. From Manila to international platforms, Railla demonstrates that policy is not merely governance—it is an act of stewardship for generations to come.

And then there is Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa and former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. His presence underscores the importance of political leadership in planetary health, anchoring the workshop in real-world governance where decisions ripple across millions of lives.

The Communicators: Guardians of Information Integrity

In an era of misinformation, climate denial, and fractured discourse, communicators stand as the vanguards of truth. Devin Bahceci, Information Integrity and Anti-disinformation Manager at the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), takes on this challenge by designing rapid-response strategies and coalitions to counter false narratives. His mission: to restore credibility in climate communication.

He is joined by Gunjan Jain, GSCC’s India Lead, whose two decades of experience in journalism and strategic communications demonstrate the power of narrative in shaping public opinion. Similarly, Kuntal Roy, a climate and energy communications specialist at GSCC, continues this charge, leveraging his background in journalism and advocacy to advance equitable climate action across South Asia.

At SCPH, Laila Iskandar, Communications Manager, ensures that science does not remain locked in laboratories. She translates complex ideas into human stories, bridging planetary health research with public understanding.

And guiding the bigger picture is Oliver Lacey-Hall, SCPH’s Senior Adviser, who has spent over 30 years in humanitarian communications, including leadership roles at the UN. He co-authored the Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan (2024)—a compass for global efforts in sustainability and health.

The Campaigners: Driving Justice and Mobilizing Communities

Beyond the ivory towers of academia and policy halls, change is forged on the ground. Shweta Narayan, Campaign Lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA), has dedicated more than 20 years to mobilizing communities around fossil fuels, air pollution, and health justice. Her advocacy amplifies the voices of those most affected, proving that climate justice is inseparable from human rights.

Shreeshan Venkatesh, Global Policy Lead at Climate Action Network, brings the keen eye of a former investigative journalist to global negotiations. From COP summits to UN assemblies, he translates opaque policy into strategies that citizens and activists can act upon.

Meanwhile, Shailendra Yashwant, a veteran journalist and photographer, has spent three decades documenting environmental struggles across South and Southeast Asia. As Senior Advisor for Communications and Advocacy at Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), he continues to shape narratives that inspire action at the grassroots and international levels.

The Trainers: Equipping Media to Lead

A workshop for media professionals would not be complete without those who sharpen the skills of storytellers themselves. Dr. Jaya Shreedhar, Senior Health Media Advisor at Internews, embodies this role. A former physician turned award-winning health journalist, she has trained reporters in over 20 countries, ensuring that health reporting remains accurate, ethical, and people-centered. Her expertise provides participants with the tools to not only report, but to report responsibly.

The Leaders: Steering the Planetary Health Movement

At the helm is Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of SCPH and founder of MERCY Malaysia. With a storied career spanning health, disaster response, and humanitarian leadership—including a stint as Special Advisor to the Malaysian Prime Minister—she embodies what it means to lead with both vision and compassion. Her presence at the workshop anchors it in experience and global credibility.

A Convergence of Minds and Missions

This lineup of speakers and facilitators is more than a roster—it is a movement in motion. Each name represents a distinct field, yet together, they embody the interconnectedness of planetary health: the way climate, policy, science, media, and justice weave into one story—the story of our survival and our future.

For the media professionals attending, these voices are not distant experts. They are guides, allies, and mentors who will equip storytellers with the narratives, tools, and truth needed to cover the defining crisis of our generation.

Because in the end, planetary health is not a topic. It is the lifeline that binds humanity and nature together. And in the hands of those who inform the world—the media—it becomes a story that can save us all.

Five Filipinos Join Southeast Asia’s Elite Media Delegates in Malaysia for Planetary Health Workshop

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In a time when the planet’s survival hangs in the balance, five Filipino media professionals have been chosen to represent the Philippines on the global stage. They will fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of a prestigious gathering of 30 journalists from across Southeast Asia—an elite cohort tasked with reshaping how the world reports on the intertwined crises of health, climate, and power.

The Capacity Development and Training Workshop Series for Media Professionals, hosted by the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University, has a singular mission: to empower journalists with the tools to cut through misinformation, challenge power structures, and expose the stories that will determine the future of humanity.

This year’s installment, “Planetary Health and Power: Covering the Intergovernmental Agenda,” is not merely another workshop. It is a frontline intervention in the fight for truth at a time when global negotiations often unfold behind closed doors, leaving billions in the dark.

The Filipino Five

The Philippines, a nation acutely vulnerable to the consequences of climate change yet fiercely resilient in the face of adversity, sends a formidable delegation:

1. Xer Jason Ocampo – Content Coordinator/Fact-Checker, MindaNews, Davao City

A watchdog of accuracy in a region often battered by both storms and disinformation, Ocampo brings a sharp eye for truth-telling. His fact-checking expertise ensures that climate narratives are anchored on reality, not rhetoric.

2. Joshua Mendoza – Reporter, Climate Tracker Asia, Manila

Mendoza is part of a youth-powered movement monitoring climate negotiations across Asia. His work highlights how global policies ripple into the lives of ordinary Filipinos, especially those living on the margins.

3. Ross Flores Del Rosario – Editor in Chief, Wazzup Pilipinas, Rizal

A veteran of both international journalism and grassroots advocacy, Del Rosario bridges local stories with global conversations. As founder of one of the Philippines’ most recognized community and lifestyle blogs, he brings with him not just a platform, but a mission: to ensure Filipinos are never left behind in the planetary discourse.

4. Rachel Ganancial – Information Officer/Writer, Philippine Information Agency, Quezon City

Ganancial represents the government’s communication arm, a vital voice in linking policy to the people. Her role ensures the country’s narratives are woven into both local and international awareness.

5. Shaina Mariella Aguilar – Writer/Program and Community Manager, FYT Media, Quezon City

From storytelling to community engagement, Aguilar exemplifies new-age journalism—where information is not just broadcast, but built in partnership with audiences.

Together, these five voices form a cross-section of Philippine media: community-based, youth-driven, institutional, independent, and digital. Their perspectives, shaped by different landscapes of experience, converge on a single responsibility—reporting on the global negotiations that will decide the health of our people and the fate of our planet.

Journalism at the Crossroads of Power and Planet

The workshop unfolds at a critical time. Across the globe, tipping points loom: ice sheets collapsing, diseases spreading with rising heat, ecosystems unraveling under relentless exploitation. At the same time, governments and corporations convene in boardrooms and summits, drafting agreements that could either protect the future or mortgage it away.

In such spaces, the role of the journalist is both shield and sword. Reporters must decode jargon-heavy negotiations, pierce through layers of greenwashing, and hold power to account. As the organizers put it:

“This is where planetary health meets power. And this is where journalism must rise to meet history.”

The workshop is not merely about skill-building. It is a call to arms—an acknowledgment that journalism is not neutral when survival is at stake. Every headline, every exposé, every investigative report has the power to influence policies, mobilize communities, and save lives.

The Philippines at the Forefront

That the Philippines is well-represented in this gathering is no coincidence. The country stands as ground zero for the climate crisis—battered by super typhoons, sea-level rise, and public health emergencies worsened by ecological decline. Filipino journalists have long chronicled stories of survival and resistance, from small island communities fighting erosion to urban centers grappling with smog and heat waves.

By sending five delegates into this international arena, the Philippines asserts its place as both a frontline witness and a frontline voice. It is a reminder that the battle for planetary health is not abstract. For Filipinos, it is lived daily—etched into flooded streets, lost harvests, and the resilience of communities who refuse to surrender.

Toward a Future Worth Reporting

As the workshop unfolds in Kuala Lumpur, the Filipino Five will stand shoulder to shoulder with peers from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan. Together, they will form a network of media professionals equipped not only to cover the headlines but to shape them—ensuring that what happens in intergovernmental chambers reverberates where it matters most: the lives of ordinary people.

For Ross Flores Del Rosario and his fellow delegates, this is more than an invitation. It is an obligation—to turn training into action, stories into movements, and reporting into history-making.

Because when the planet itself is the beat, there is no deadline more urgent than now.