Young Filipina Advocates to Look Out For
Hello! I’m Carissa. I’m an engineer/content creator. A few years ago, I studied Environmental Sustainability and learned about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture. This sparked my journey to gradually shift towards a vegan life.
Why do you think it’s important to advocate for farmed animals?
It’s important because it addresses numerous societal issues:
1) Animal agriculture is a leading contributor to climate change. Breeding billions of a specific species of animals disrupts the ecological balance of nature.
2) Farm animals are just as sentient as the animals we welcome into our homes. They too are worthy of our kindness and compassion.
3) The World Health Organization reports that consuming animal meat is a major risk factor for cancer.
What farmed animal advocacy or plant-based initiatives are you currently doing or planning to do?
I create vegan content across my social media platforms. I share my vegan life -recipes, cruelty-free fashion & beauty, food discoveries, etc. I also collaborate with various organizations in spreading awareness and support in this advocacy.
If you could share with us, like one story in your farmed animal advocacy journey that has touched you so well and you still remember, please share here. Feel free to add links, photos, a video, etc.
I have a shy personality and I had zero social media skills so being a content creator never crossed my mind. Yet, it was an encounter with a bird that inspired me to begin sharing my advocacy.
Marites’ three little babies
Marites is a little bird- a mother, who built a nest in my garden. I thought it was incredible that she chose my garden to raise her family. I was captivated by her so I took a video of her nest, posted it on Tiktok where it quickly went viral. Viewers became so invested in her that they named her Marites. They also compelled me (an introvert) to create a Tiktok series chronicling her family life. A Tiktok series which they called #Pugadserye. People tuned in to her life. They eagerly followed along as Marites and her family went about their lives, with me simply recording their moments.
Waiting for mama to bring breakfast.
The last baby to fly out of the nest.
After Marites’ family moved out of the nest, she left me a Tiktok account with a hundred thousand followers. It’s remarkable how this little bird who couldn’t even speak gave me so much voice. In recognition of the voice she gave me, I committed to using the platform to speak up for animals like her, turning the audience she built into advocates for her cause.
Thanks to Marites, I was able to spread awareness across various channels - schools, events, and even on national TV. I’m amazed at how much momentum she gave me. Her story fueled my courage and determination to continue advocating for the voiceless.
What is your message to other farmed animal advocates, especially the women and young girls?
Never be ashamed or apologetic for being compassionate.
Carissa