Roots of Health

We were honored to welcome the Nordic Ambassadors to the Philippines from Embassy of Sweden in Manila, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines, and Finland during their recent visit to Palawan. Our team shared the realities faced by many young people in our communities and the work we are doing to address their heightened vulnerability to teenage pregnancy and HIV. Conversations like these remind us that advancing sexual and reproductive health requires collaboration across sectors and borders. We are grateful to find global partners who share our vision of ensuring that every young Filipino has access to the reproductive health education and care they need.

We’re grateful for a growing community of advocates and partners standing behind reproductive health education and access for youth in the Philippines. Thank you to our friends from Rotary Club of Burwood, Rotary Club of Blacktown City, Philippine Consulate of Sydney, Australian Filipino Women’s Support Network, and community advocates for their support. Together for healthier futures. 💗 https://lnkd.in/gcDyjcAn

Kids will learn about sex eventually somehow, so why not talk about it with them? Being a parent is hard, and as anyone who has raised a child knows, we do not always have all the answers. We learn as we go, and along the way, decide our non-negotiables. For the women behind Roots of Health — Susan, Sara, and Amina Evangelista — openness, honesty, and trust within the family became their non-negotiables. Even when the conversations were difficult. Even when they were about sex. It is the same belief that has guided Roots of Health for the last 16 years: that because these conversations can be uncomfortable, young people deserve safe spaces to ask questions, feel heard, and find credible answers that help them protect their futures. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate all moms navigating parenthood with humility, courage, and grace. #RootsOfHealth #Pamana

When disasters strike, women and girls often lose access to essential sexual and reproductive health services right when they need them most. This session shares powerful stories and insights from the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Pacific, where women changemakers are leading the way in building climate-resilient SRHR systems. Join us at Women Deliver in #Narrm (Melbourne), 27–30 April 2026, and be part of the conversation. 👉 Register for WD2026: https://lnkd.in/e6WnV2vp Amina Evangelista Swanepoel Dina Chaerani Lolohea Lilika Fusimalohi Shilpa Lamichhane Maria Sophia Ariola

Last week in Singapore was short, but incredibly energizing. It was a privilege to spend time with Roots of Health partners and supporters, sharing more about our work and hearing their perspectives. These conversations always remind me how much thoughtful, values-driven partnership matters. I was especially grateful to be there with our Board Chair, Margo Encarnacion. I can’t express enough how special it is to be in the room with her. Being able to speak about the work alongside her, while she shares why she believes in it and how she thinks about our governance, is a powerful combination. It brings the work to life in a different and important way. It was also my first time traveling with my colleague Nicole Manalo, which made the trip even better. It was great to have her there, bringing both insight and energy to every conversation. The visit was far too short, and I’m sad I didn’t get to see many friends in Singapore this time. I’m already looking forward to the next trip and catching up properly. Grateful for the conversations, the partnership, and the momentum ahead.

I was recently interviewed by Keefe Murren for Proximate Press on the current state of aid and development, alongside leaders working across very different contexts. While we each spoke separately, there’s a clear throughline: if we’re serious about shifting power closer to communities, we also have to invest in the systems that support that shift. In our case, that means strengthening local government capacity so they can meet the growing responsibilities being placed on them. Grateful to be part of this series and the broader conversation on where the sector needs to go.

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with March being Women’s Month. On the one hand, it’s fantastic to see so much attention on women’s issues. On the other, for those of us working in this space year-round, it can be an especially intense month with a flood of invitations and requests for events and trainings. Such is life. With that said, I was really honored to be included in Vogue Philippines’ feature highlighting Filipina women across different fields, as part of their Women’s Month coverage. I'm grateful to be in the advocacy category alongside so many inspiring women. And of course, this is just a small snapshot. There are so many more women and men in the Philippines and beyond doing the quiet, steady work of creating lasting change every day. Cheers to the Women’s Month that was, and to continuing the work for women and young people in all the months ahead. https://lnkd.in/gWiTYjKJ

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 Roots of Health is looking for a Partnerships Director to help grow our impact and bring sexual and reproductive health services to more communities across the Philippines. This role will lead partnership development with LGUs, funders, corporations, and civil society organizations, helping expand our programs, strengthen health systems, and support the organization’s growth. The position works closely with the Executive Director and will also supervise our Partnerships Coordinators. 📍𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Roots of Health is headquartered in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The Partnerships Director will work remotely with the Palawan-based team while leading partnership engagement in Manila and other expansion areas. The role will include attending meetings, workshops, and field activities in these locations. If you’re passionate about public health, collaboration, and scaling meaningful programs, we’d love to hear from you. Apply or learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gtKfhUn7

It was loud, a little chaotic (in the best way) and buzzing with questions young people have probably been holding onto for a long time. Bringing PAD-Ibig to Parañaque National High School, the country’s largest public high school, meant meeting students exactly where they are: curious and ready to talk. For the first time, young boys joined the conversation too. Because sexual and reproductive health isn’t just a “girls’ topic”. It’s about shared responsibility, shared understanding, and shared respect. Huge thanks to our partners at Charmee Feminine Protection and Blackpencil Manila for helping turn a simple pad into a powerful learning tool that reaches young people in a far more exciting way! #IFoundTruePADIbig #PADIbig

“Teen pregnancy continues to reflect gaps in access to reproductive health education,” said Marcus Swanepoel, Deputy Director of Roots of Health. “The ideal scenario is for the full implementation of reproductive health education in the school system, but we are not there yet. In the meantime, programs like PAD-Ibig Diaries provide young people with credible information before misinformation fills that space.” Now in its third year, PAD-Ibig Diaries builds on earlier runs in Palawan and Rizal, which combined pad packs with interactive discussions and games to help students ask questions often left unaddressed in traditional curricula. “We are committed to reaching as many high school students as we can,” said Kat Gomez-Limchoc, Executive Creative Director of Black Pencil Manila. “We see that there really is a great unlock in learning when you do it through storytelling, in a language that considers and respects the audience you are wanting to teach and inspire.” https://lnkd.in/gCJPX-tp