Overview, Vision & Mission

Pusod, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization whose Mission is to Protect and Enhance the Ecosystems of The Philippines, and to show their significance to the world . Pusod was formed in Manila on March 2004 to further the work originally begun in 1995 by the Babilonia Wilner Foundation .

Our vision is a world where people and communities are energized by their cultural and ecological wealth; live with reverence for earth and all life; and naturally prosper in diverse, self-sustaining local economies in which all beings thrive."

Our Work
Pusod believes we owe our success to the communities we serve. Our policy is to work in areas and on projects where we have been asked to participate by local individuals, communities, governments, sustainable businesses and NGOs. In this way Pusod works with respect for local wisdom, and in participation with all available stakeholders for fruitful partnerships and results.

Pusod has worked throughout the Southern Tagalog region and in Marinduque and Northern Mindoro. Current programming focuses on areas of Batangas that include such national treasures as the Taal Lake Basin, Mt. Malarayat , and Balayan Bay , which is renowned for having some of the highest levels of endemic marine life in the entire world.

Pusod also maintains a presence in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pusod US operates as a program of the Babilonia Wilner Foundation in tandem with Pusod Philippines. Since 1999, Pusod has been the only Philippine-based program to bring a steady stream of awareness of overall Philippine environmental issues - in all its triumphs and tragedies - to the United States. In doing so, Pusod highlights not only the magnitude of Philippine environmental -- and therefore economic and cultural -- concerns, but also how they affect and are affected by people's actions and policies in the U.S.

Pusod's constant tool for advocating protection of our environment and the well-being of local communities is our award-winning, Tagalog-language weekly newspaper, Balikas . Going beyond regular reporting, Balikas aims for journalistic coverage that equips people with the information to help create healthier communities and a healthier world.

Click here for more information on Pusod's work.

Our Team

Board of Trustees
Ricky Nuñez, President
Ipat G. Luna, Secretary
Beng Babilonia (+)
Malou S. Claour - Treasurer
Malou Babilonia
Malou Sayas Claour
Victor Eleazar
Mary Lou Babilonia Salcedo

An "active" board, Pusod's trustees donate countless professional hours in addition to regular board service. Almost all the trustees have served as Executive Director of Pusod Inc., and/or its parent organization the Babilonia Wilner Foundation, at some point in the past 12 years. All but the two newest additions to the Board are also the original Founders of Pusod, Inc.

Staff
Jeremiah M. Opinano, Editor-in-Chief, Balikas
Marlon Alexander S. Luistro - Reporter
Rodelo A. Gariguez - Programme Officer - Taal Lake Basin Ecosystem Programme
Walter L. Lingon - Layout Designer and Columnist
Carvelo L. Malubag - Circulations Officer
Mary Ann del Mundo, Program Officer, Malarayat
Jennette Reyes, Finance and Administration
Sherlyn L. Umali, administrative assitant
Atty. Ma. Paz Luna, Legal Consultant

In addition to our dedicated Staff, Pusod is also grateful to our large body of dedicated, tireless volunteers, both in the Philippines and the United States. Without them our work and joy would not be complete.

Partners
Some, but not all, of our partnerships have included teaming up organizations such as these:

Asian Institute of Management, Makati
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
Creative Collective Coalition (CCCI)
Ecowaste Coalition
FACES (Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solutions)
Happy Earth
La Salle University, Lipa, Batangas
KMMLT, Taal Lake Basin
Phililppine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
Probe Team
SAMMACA, Calatagan, Batangas
Tanggol Kalikasan, Lucena, Quezon
University of San Francisco Philippines Studies Program

and Local and National Government Officials whose dedication to our environment and people is to be saluted.

We give special thanks to the ongoing support and shared vision of The Babilonia Wilner Foundation.

Our Logo

Our agimat, or logo, was inspired by a blend of our totem, the pawikan, or sea turtle, and the pusod, which means belly button and umbilical cord in Tagalog and Bisayan. We remain ever grateful to the talents of artist Lakandiwa de Leon, who created this symbol for Pusod.

Call for Applications
Job Description: Community Organizer

Brief Background

Pusod is launching a Coastal Ecosystem Information Programme in 2007. Pusod's goal is to network all sectors with projects and initiatives in coastal areas, primarily Batangas coasts. The Programme Officer to be hired shall help plan and implement an effective and sustainable education and information program. Attached is a draft description of Pusod's deliverables.

The Programme Officer shall ensure an effective engagement of Balikas to be the primary mechanism of information dissemination and environmental education in Balayan and other Bays. Balikas is Pusod's environmental weekly community newspaper currently being circulated mainly in Lipa City, Taal Lake, Calatagan, and environs.

The Programme Officer will work under the supervision of and in close coordination with Board Member Malou Babilonia with assistance from the President, Mr Ricky Nuñez.

Essential qualifications:

Academic background in economics, social sciences, and/or environment
At least 5 years experience in working in the field of environment and development with at least 2 years in a programme management/coordination role
Experience in working in collaboration/partnership with funding agencies, the private sector, government, and NGOs/POs
Strong diplomacy, interpersonal, and networking skills
Strong managerial, computing and financial management skills
Basic understanding of marine ecosystem, and the interface between conservation and development
Languages: Tagalog is a must. Understanding and speaking English to a good standard (as communication within the programme will be in English) is also required.
Excellent writing skills in English and Tagalog.

Overall Responsibility : To design and implement a program for Information, Education and Communication among coastal communities in Balayan bay and beyond ensuring the compliance with the PUSOD-CAS MOU.

Major Responsibilities:
Undertake all actions necessary to comply with the PUSOD CAS MOU and develop new projects and proposals in line with the objectives. Programme reporting and accountabilility to: PUSOD Oversight Chair (Malou Babilonia) Line management reporting and accountability to: President

Start Date: 15 August 2007.
End Date : February 2008 (renewable based on performance)

Base of Operations: Lipa City and later, other suitable site within coastal community area

Remuneration: P110,000.00 total compensation

Please submit your application by EMAIL to rickynunez@taal-lake.net and ipatluna@taal-lake.net

with PROGRAMME OFFICER APPLICATION on the subject line

Deadline for applications is August 9, 2007.

For further details, please email malou@pusod.org or visit http://www.Pusod.org

Sample of deliverables for PO positon:
Pusod shall provide The California Academy of Sciences with a bridge to Filipino communities both in the Philippines and the Bay Area, specifically relating to coral reef and CAS Aquarium awareness issues and shall:

Provide CAS with content of real life stories of local residents and other groups interacting with reefs in the Philippines, starting with but not limited to Balayan Bay
Assist CAS with Outreach Campaigns related to the Aquarium in the US.
Assist CAS wherever Philippine-specific information and contacts is needed
Convene and coordinate the Filipino Focus Group for the primary purpose of reaching every segment of the Fil-Am community with a message to visit the Aquarium, take pride in it and support CAS and other conservation initiatives related to the reef.
Coordinate with Philippine groups and agencies for Aquarium outreach (government agencies, local communities, academia, media, other NGOs, etc) as needed.
Provide lay language explanations online and in its community newspaper, Balikas, with a direct link to the CAS website and relevant pages therein of marine conservation issues and their relevance to the Filipino community and the world.
Coordinate and supervise the production of Powerpoint presentatioins; a 5 minute Audio-Visual Presentation; and a 30-40 minute educational documentary that will attract visitors to the Aquarium and spark interest in marine conservation.
Chronicle the best practices in marine protection and conservation where communities are at the forefront throughout Pusod's area of operation and as reported by members of the Philippine marine conservation community and ensure that this information is given back in a continuous feedback loop.

The position of Taal Lake Community Organizer has been filled. Thank you to all who applied.

Brief Background

Pusod is launching a Taal Lake Basin Ecosystem Programme in 2007. Pusod’s goal is to protect and manage the Taal Lake Ecosystem through information, research and education. The Community Organizer to be hired shall help plan and implement an effective and community organizing and reviatlizatio program in Taal Lake, focused on but not limited to the Kilusan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda sa lLwa ng Taal. Attached is the logical framework of Pusod’s engagement.

Pusod is member of the Taal Lake Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) and the International Living Lakes Network

The Community Organizer shall ensure an effective transition of KMMLT’s chapters in 8 towns into registered organizations with clear core groups on the first year and functioning based on their bylaws and articles of incorporation by the second year, during which the federation should be reorganized. He/she wil likewise assist in developing the organizing strategy for two more towns – Talisay and San Nicolas.

The Community Organizer will work under the supervision of the Programme Officer and in close coordination with the Pusod President and representative of the PAMB.

Essential qualifications:

Academic background in social sciences, social work, development management and/or environment
At least 3 years experience in organizing work, with at least 1 year in a federation support role
Experience in working in collaboration/partnership with funding agencies, the private sector, government, and NGOs/POs
Strong diplomacy, interpersonal, and networking skills
Strong computing and financial management skills
Basic understanding of Taal Lake ecosystem, and the interface between culture, conservation and development
Languages: Tagalog is a must. Understanding and speaking English to a good standard (as communication within the programme will be in English) is also required.
Excellent writing skills in English and Tagalog.

Overall Responsibility: To ensure the effective organizational functioning of KMMLT chapters and federate them and to upgrade democratic processes therein for greater transparency and consensus in representation in FARMC and PAMB.

Major Responsibilities:

Design, plan and implement a community organizing program for Taal Lake Basin Conservation, including revitalization of KMMLT, analysis of other CO requirements in the lake basin, integration of communities as contributors and circulation agents of Balikas.
Prepare and develop annual and quarterly workplans
Prepare quarterly and annual progress reports and ensure the timely submission thereof.

Represent the programme at local levels.
Ensure the registration of each KMMLT chapter and the timely and efficient conduct of the annual Congress.
Ensure gender balance and second liners in the leadership of KMMLT.
Develop resource mobilization strategies and assist the KMMLT in filing proposals for achieving the objectives of the programme.

Programme reporting and accountabilility to: PUSOD Programme Officer

Line management reporting and accountability to: Project Leader

Start Date: 15 July 2007.

End Date: 14 July 2008 (project work, renewable for one year and co-terminus with project unless project is extended or moved to another project)

Base of Operations: Lipa City and later, other suitable site within the Lake Basin for resource center

Remuneration: P10,000 to 14,000 (inclusive of taxes)

Please submit your application by EMAIL to rickynunez@taal-lake.net and ipatluna@taal-lake.net
with COMMUNITY ORGANIZER APPLICATION on the subject line

Deadline for applications is July 5, 2007.

For further details, please email thirstlyplanet@yahoo.com or visit www. Pusod.org or www.taal-lake.net