“When I lost my family to Yolanda, I didn’t know what to do with my life anymore. The plans my family and I created for our future just disappeared and died with them. Little did I know, that my experience would pave a new path for me years later – one that leads me to what I believe is my life’s purpose.”
And so, Joanna’s life story unfolds.
Just An ‘Average’ STEFTI Student
As a child, she was so timid and shy in big crowds, but studying in STEFTI naturally helped her get out of her shell.
She recalls that she was just an ‘average’ student, hardly a class achiever. But because STEFTI fosters an environment where students can feel safe to explore things ‘without being dictated’, she soon discovered her love for dancing and performing.
“With my time in STEFTI, I felt that our teachers gifted us with a certain level of trust that built self-confidence and courage, and that’s something that’s hard to take away.“
Thinking about STEFTI, she says, is synonymous with coming home — a home where she felt that she was enough, worthy, and that she could create an impact.
And what an impact she did make, long after she graduated.
Harrowing Yolanda Aftermath
In 2013, after having lost her mother, father, brother, sister, and nephew to one of the world’s strongest supertyphoons, she and her brother had to fend for themselves. She wasn’t always as forthcoming about her Yolanda story.
“I didn’t feel comfortable talking about my Typhoon Haiyan experience to other people because they didn’t know how to respond or react; I didn’t like putting them in that position. I needed an outlet because it was so heavy to keep inside, so writing was therapeutic, and revising and adding to my story brought me to a mental space that allowed me to process and grieve. I felt like I couldn’t process it properly during and after the typhoon because I was busy looking for food and my loved ones.
I eventually found an online space collecting Yolanda (local name for Typhoon Haiyan) stories. I submitted my story and the next day I was flooded with reactions. It was helpful for other victims as well who were still looking for loved ones. People who weren’t in the province where it had hit also understood the situation better. My story eventually got published in books and I was invited to speak at seminars to share my coping mechanisms.”
Storytelling, and shining a light on her Yolanda experience, proved not only cathartic, but it also led her to find her bigger life purpose.
Source: We Met The Filipino Millennial Who Staged a Lone Protest for Climate Justice
Her Work as a Storyteller and Climate Justice Activist
Today, she is a globally renowned Climate Justice activist and a Public Engagement Campaigner for Greenpeace- an international environmental group. Since she became active in the climate movement, she has had several opportunities to share the stories of the communities most vulnerable to climate change.
“Our community’s stories have allowed me to travel the world and meet so many inspiring people; from confronting oil drilling in the Arctic circle, to lone protests in front of a fossil fuel corporation in Manila; from speaking in schools, climate conferences, and coal-impacted communities in Europe, to organizing storytelling events and climate strikes with friends. These are just some of the things that have kept me busy over the past years.”
Although she has been to speaking engagements around the world, what Joanna really looks forward to is collaborating with local communities in Eastern Visayas “to bring home the work of Climate Justice and make it known to the people who hold the most powerful stories that can humanize the climate crisis.”
“The work as a Climate Activist can be heartbreaking, so it’s important to invest in genuine relationships and surround yourself with a trusted community who keeps you grounded, who supports you, a community you can celebrate with may it be a small win or a big win. A community that constantly reminds you of your why.“
With Greenpeace SEA Executive Director, Yeb Saño and Artivist AG Saño
