“Saribuhay, a Filipino word that directly translates to “biodiversity” or “different lives,” is an homage to Palawan’s widely diverse flora and fauna. In 2018, UNESCO reported that 105 out of 475 threatened species in the Philippines can be found in Palawan, and 67 of which are endemic to the islands.

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“Sally at Sari-saring Buhay” (Sally and Our Shared Home) is a Tagalog-English children’s storybook, written by P.A. Echague, Francesca Mauricio, and Manesa Hulia Diaz, and illustrated by Joules Cagurangan. It is part of the project Saribuhay: Storytelling for a Greener Future, which aims to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards in Balabac, Palawan, through the creation of children’s storybooks on biodiversity conservation and the empowerment of public elementary school teachers to integrate localised environmental science lessons in schools. During the creation process, we did 14 days of fieldwork filled with interviews and community engagement. We also conducted Saribuhay’s Capacity-Building Workshop for teachers on environmental education and storytelling in Balabac, Palawan.

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Sally’s story highlights the biodiversity of Palawan, and what children can do to help protect their environment. The books are under production and will be distributed to various elementary schools, libraries, and other learning centres in the Philippines, as we hope to cultivate a culture of environmental and community engagement across the country, aiming to enhance biodiversity outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and safeguard the country’s unique ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.