I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that the SM Mals and the Ayala Malls are stepping up their commitment to the environment. SM Malls, for instance, has recently invested in biodegradable plastic shopping bags. While their Wednesday M.O.B. (My Own Bag) campaign is still going strong, I think the SM management has seen the writing on the wall that says the Filipino public isn’t quite ready to give up its plastic bags and...

Yesterday, during my coffee time with Sen Manny Villar, I managed a brief conversation with his sons Mark and Paulo. I knew their father wouldn’t have enough time to listen to some amateur Filipino environmentalist talk about his pet project, so I decided to take my chances with the younger Villars. Gracious and articulate, both men listened patiently while I spoke rapid-fire about a project close to my heart: green roofs. I first learned...