Our Journey Begins in the Philippines: Purposeful Planning for the Next 2 Weeks of Fieldwork

Upon arrival in Manila, the team took the necessary time to adjust to the new time zone and settle into their accommodation for the next two weeks. Recognizing the importance of being well-rested and prepared for the upcoming meetings and learning sessions, the team ensured everyone had ample time to relax and have breakfast before venturing out to explore a local grocery store. Walking through the aisles, it stood out that almost everything sold in the market had something in common: they were wrapped in a film of plastic. As the team develops the product, it will be designed to be single-use to adapt to the single-use culture already in place. Single-use packaging will be familiar to their target audience, allowing consumers to use sustainable packaging without consciously switching the products they normally buy. To ensure success, it is important to consider local cultures and preferences when developing solutions for global challenges.

Photograph of produce wrapped in plastic packaging in a local supermarket

Lehigh University’s Global Social Impact Fellowship (GSIF) is working together with the Humanitarian Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Design (HEED) Program at the University of the Philippines Diliman. This collaboration provides the Lehigh teams with additional expertise, insight into Filipino culture, and a connection to the local community. This partnership is due to the hard work and friendship of Lehigh’s Professor Khanjan Mehta and UPD’s Professor Jill Manapat. The Lehigh team began working on Agri Wrap at the start of their spring semester in February and was soon introduced to a collaborating team of HEED students. The HEED team includes Professor Jill Manapat and students Angel Gumangan, Hans Reyes, Khim Gabuco, Joanne Rafael, and Jillian Isidro. During the semester, the HEED team provided information to the Lehigh team about the sustainability culture in the Philippines, provided contacts of farms around Manila, and other valuable information not otherwise available to the Lehigh team. 

Once in Manila, the Lehigh team met with Professor Jill Manapat, Angel, and Joanne over lunch, as well as the HEED students collaborating with the other ventures. Unfortunately, at this time, the team was not able to meet with Hans, Khim, or Jillian, but we hope to meet them at a later date. Together, the team discussed the most recent plans they had made for fieldwork and revised them to incorporate more farm visits and local connections. On top of celebrating the first in-person meeting of members of our team, we also celebrated the birthday of one of our team members, Matt O'Connell.

Matt O. with his birthday cake

Sophia M., Estefania R., Max B., Cayla B., Matt O., Joanne R., and Angel G. at lunch

In addition, the team was introduced to Professor Erwin Lizarando, a colleague and friend of both Professor Mehta and Professor Manapat. Professor Lizarando provided the team with valuable contacts of organizations he is connected with that will further our venture, including organizations working with farmers and sustainable organizations. The team looks forward to getting in contact with them and are excited about the potential those relationships could have.

Afterward, the team traveled to the main campus of UP Diliman for a short tour from the HEED students and Professor Manapat. The tour culminated in the Mining Engineering building, as Professor Manapat is a part of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering. After the tour, the team worked together and continued to schedule the next two weeks by setting goals and expanding the potential partners' list. To ensure completion of the team’s goals, clear actionable items were created and assigned to each team member. 

The team at UPD (Left to right: Max B., Matt O., Estefania R., Sophia M., Cayla B., Angel G., Joanne R., Professor Jill M.)

In the evening, the team met with Professor Khanjan Mehta and Professor Sean Vassilaros to review their upcoming fieldwork plans. The professors provided valuable feedback, guiding the team on where to focus their efforts and what aspects to address later in the project timeline. Armed with this constructive advice, the team's primary focus was to promptly reach out to stakeholders such as manufacturers and farm associations to arrange Zoom meetings, visits, and calls throughout the week. The team looks forward to making the most of their time in Manila and collaborating with local partners to drive their sustainable packaging project forward. They remain committed to creating a positive impact on the environment while considering the needs and preferences of their target audience.