Young Filipina Advocates to Look Out For

Hi! I’m Roni. I’m a registered nutritionist-dietitian. I specialize and advocate in plant-based nutrition. Through my private practice and Plants & Purpose,  I help Filipinos stop struggling and start transitioning to an adequate, balanced and sustainable plant-based lifestyle to achieve their optimal health. 

I became vegan in 2019,  a year after I gradually shifted to eating more plant foods, primarily because of learning so much about the health benefits of eating a predominantly whole foods plant-based diet. I also learned about the positive environmental impacts of this way of eating.

I decided to completely avoid animal foods and support any forms of animal cruelty after watching the Earthling documentary. (I love watching documentaries and that was how I came across films advocating plant-based nutrition.) I watched the film crying (sobbing at some parts) the entire time. I chose to finish until the end because I feel that I have to see the whole of it to not be able to unsee it, and it’s still in my core memory. (To anyone who’s reading this and still planning to see the documentary, I strongly recommend it!)

Why do you think it’s important to advocate for farmed animals?

Advocating for farmed animals is the right thing to do for a number of reasons- to improve their living conditions, to reduce their suffering and hopefully, end any forms of animal cruelty and suffering. 

They’re voiceless so they need people to be their voice, to advocate for them. 

What farmed animal advocacy or plant-based initiatives are you currently doing or planning to do? 

I’m a nutritionist-dietitian and I’ve chosen plant-based nutrition as my chosen specialization and advocacy. It’s the core of my practice as a nutritionist-dietitian at Plants & Purpose. 

Offering my services and help in any way I can to vegans, vegetarians or anyone who’s planning to transition to a plant-based (or vegan) lifestyle is my little way to advocate for farmed animals. Eating plant-based can be challenging, yes, but it can also be easier, fun and healthful which can help make it sustainable for anyone.

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.

Watching the Earthling documentary has touched me to the deepest of my core being. I remember that it took me twice its length to finish watching it because I had to pause it several times. I was crying the whole time watching it, and I chose to finish it because I want to know the whole story of different forms of animal cruelty.