Sagup Negros: Food Waste Mitigation Initiative

Congratulations, Coleen Awit!

As one of the founders of Sagup Negros, Coleen Awit's recognition as 1st Runner Up at the Paing Hechanova Youth Leadership Awards carries deep meaning. Sagup Negros was built on the belief that food is not a waste but a shared resource, and that climate action must be grounded in justice, dignity, and the lived realities of Filipino communities.

This milestone is a testament to your leadership and the impact you create everyday. Your vision and advocacy for climate justice, dignified food systems, and people-centered solutions rooted in Filipino communities continue to inspire us.

We are proud of you! The work continues, and so does the hope you cultivate!

Celebrating the Philippines’ brightest young leaders!

Rotary Club of Makati’s 2nd run of the Paing Hechanova Youth Leadership Awards (PHYLA) received 84 exceptional nominees, with 10 finalists advancing to compete for the Grand Winner on January 30, 2026. PHYLA embodies RC Makati’s commitment to shaping the next generation of Filipino nation-builders.

On September 29, 2025, Sagup Negros Inc. marked the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste with Unwrapped: The Official Launching of the Sagup Digital Toolkit at Negros Residences, Bacolod City.

The program opened with a talk by Genrick Catalonia, Project Officer of the Sagup Food Circles Project, who highlighted the urgency of addressing food loss and waste as both an environmental and livelihood concern. This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Gwen Encolesio, Finance Officer of Sagup Negros, with panelists Romar Nava of Brgy. Nayon, San Enrique, Carl Ryan Villa of KAISAHAN, and Ms. Charmaine Talagon of Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation. Together, they shared insights and experiences on how local communities, particularly youth, women, farmers, and fisherfolks, are innovating to reduce food waste and ensure food security.

The symbolic launching of the digital toolkit followed, signaling a step forward in providing communities with practical solutions to food waste. The toolkit will soon be made available online.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in hands-on demonstrations which started with the Bokashi Composting Demo led by Carl Ryan Villa, showcasing step-by-step methods of transforming food scraps into nutrient-rich compost. Chef Eden Cadusale of Slow Food Community in Bago prepared a grazing table highlighting value-added food from slow food byproducts such as fruit peels and seeds. Finally, Tuloy Heroes Kevin, Mah Raj, and Archie demonstrated fish value addition through the preparation of Bang!ganisa (Bangus Longganisa), while also sharing their journey as young innovators in fisheries and the blue economy.

The event concluded with the awarding of two subgrants to Sagup Negros, provided through the Sagup Food Circles Project of NYLI Inc. and KAISAHAN, to further expand the operations of the Sagup Carinderia, Community Pantry, and its other programs and services.

The launch brought together students, youth leaders, representatives from civil society organizations, as well as fisherfolk and farming communities from Victorias and Bago. More than a celebration, it was a collective call to action, affirming that food waste reduction is not only a sustainability effort, but also a path toward resilient, food-secure communities.

The event was supported by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Youth Development Council, and in partnership with Slow Food Negros, Slow Food Youth Bago FRESH, Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc, KAISAHAN, and 3Zero Club Negros Occidental.

Okay guys, we're back! Did you miss us? 'Cause we missed you!

What ingredients make a good local food system? Let's discover it together through Unwrapped: The Launching of the Sagup Negros Digital Toolkit on September 29 as part of the celebration of the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste.

We have limited slots for online registrants. First come, first served basis only. Register here: https://forms.gle/uz59tFVhqUHvH7cZ9

This activity is in partnership with Slow Food Negros Network and the Slow Food Bago Youth FRESH and is supported by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Youth Development Council.

𝐁𝐄 𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎!📢

It's that exciting time of the month again! 👀

Sagup Negros - with its mission to combat food waste - is on the lookout for passionate individuals ready to make a difference as Food Waste Heroes. Are you prepared to take part in this transformative journey?

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐐𝐑 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞/𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤:

http://bit.ly/44KAODY
http://bit.ly/44KAODY
http://bit.ly/44KAODY

Don't wait—the registration deadline is on July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

For any questions or more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via our page.

As the world nears 8.5 billion people, 733 million still suffer from hunger—a clear sign of food inequality.

Meanwhile, 1/3 of all food is wasted, even before it reaches a plate.

At Sagup Negros, we bridge this gap by rescuing surplus food from farms, restaurants, and suppliers, then share it with communities who need it most.

On World Population Day, let’s turn food waste into hope—and fight both hunger and inequality together.

We are honored to share that Sagup Negros Inc. will be participating in the upcoming Sustainability Solutions Exchange on May 23, 2025 at the Philippine Trade Training Center. Our representative, Coleen Awit, will serve as a panelist in the session on Transformative Approaches to Food Waste Management.

This opportunity allows us to represent the collective efforts of our core team and volunteers, who are at the forefront of our mission to reduce food waste and combat food insecurity in Bacolod City.

If you are nearby or interested in this conversation, we encourage you to register and join us.

DONATION UPDATE!

Naka-raise na kita sang ₱10,250 — that’s 20.5% of our ₱50,000 nga target para kay Tita Bing, ang pinalangga naton nga cook sa Sagup. 🧡

Daku guid nga salamat sa tanan nga nagbulig kag nagdonate. Bisan gamay nga donasyon, daku na ang mahatag nga bulig.

Kung luyag ninyo magbulig, please scan the QR code below to donate via bank or e-wallet. Salamat!

CALL FOR DONATIONS!

Help us raise 50,000 pesos for Ta Bing! 🧡

Our cook, Tita Bing, the person behind our ever famous Signature Lumpia, is scheduled for an operation to remove a mass in her pelvic area on May 18. We are raising funds to help lower her expenses for the operation.

Scan the QR codes below to donate via bank or e-wallet.

For transparency and easy tracking, send your proof of donation to our FB page/ or contact Coleen Awit.

Every peso counts. Every share helps.

Food is culture. Food is power. Food should never be wasted.

Thank you, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Provincial Government of Capiz, for the opportunity to share our story during Hapag ng Pamana 2025, in celebration of Filipino Food Month (Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino).

At Sagup Negros, we believe in the power of rescued food and we're proud to keep turning what could have been wasted into nourishing, meaningful meals.

We’re incredibly honored to have served as a Resource Person at Panakot: A Forum in Celebration of Filipino Food Month, where we highlighted how food waste management is also climate action and yes, how lumpia can help save the world, one rescued veggie at a time, one plate at a time.

It was also a joy to experience the Surambaw Seafood Festival. To witness Capiz’s rich culinary heritage come alive from cooking demos to community cook-offs was truly inspiring. It was a celebration not just of food, but of community, culture, and care.

Madamo nga salamat, Capiz! May we continue to honor the stories behind every meal and protect the future of our food systems.

📸 Photos courtesy of NCCA

Excited to be part of the Filipino Food Month Celebration and share our work in Sagup Negros 🧡