Jay-R Patron speaks with Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia

“Every one has to work together to find solutions to problems that degrade the commons,” says Von Hernandez.    

This is one of the missions that he and Greenpeace, where he has worked for more than 14 years, have undertaken—inculcating environmental consciousness to the community through social value awareness and preaching individual responsibility in protecting Mother Nature.

Von, who is now executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, tirelessly promotes and advocates environmental protection.  His eye opener, or what he claims as “his baptism of fire”, was the 1991 Ormoc tragedy in Leyte province, where more than 8000 lives have perished due to flooding from the abnormal rainfall and landslides brought about by deforestation.

Then a Green Coalition volunteer, he traveled to the province to participate in relief efforts.  After seeing the harrows and despair of the victims, Von vowed to take a step further and become a stauncher ally of the environment.