Von Hernandez is a globally recognized, Goldman Prize-winning Filipino environmental leader with over three decades of transformative work in environmental campaigning and advocacy. Prior to joining Oceana as its leader in the Philippines, he was the Global Coordinator of Break Free from Plastic (BFFP), where he led a movement of 3,500+ organizations worldwide, driving systemic solutions to end plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
How did your upbringing shape your passion for the environment and the oceans?
Von Hernandez: I grew up near Manila Bay, and my fondest memories are of my father taking me to the beach when I was feeling sick, believing the sea breeze could heal me. Walking along the shore, feeling the sand between my toes, and collecting seashells as the tides receded now feels like a distant dream.
Over the years, I watched the beaches of my youth vanish beneath government land reclamation projects. The patches of shore that remained became graveyards for plastic waste, and the metropolis discharged its untreated sewage directly into the water. By the time I was in high school, the bay and the river that feeds it had become cesspools of toxic waste from commerce and overcrowded neighborhoods.
I was struck by the visible injustice: the wealthy lived in gated, manicured subdivisions while the majority struggled in a polluted city. I saw with my own eyes how the health of our environment is inextricably linked to human wellbeing. A degraded environment degrades human life. For an archipelagic nation like the Philippines, protecting our oceans — the ultimate source of life — is central to dignity and our collective survival.
You’ve spent decades at the forefront of a movement to stop plastic pollution and waste incineration. What achievement are you most proud of?
VH: While I am deeply proud of our policy victories — like putting a stop to proposed waste incinerators and pushing for the passage of the Philippine Clean Air Act, which continues to protect millions from toxic pollution — what truly fuels me are the shifts we’ve created in public consciousness.
For instance, we helped expose the dangers of waste burning, a practice that was once routine and commonplace in our country. We have also exposed the real drivers of plastic pollution in our societies, shifting the blame away from consumers, who are often shamed for their so-called lack of discipline, and onto the corporations that benefit from our addiction to single-use disposables — an addiction they helped create.
Above all, I’m proud of how we proved that people power can slay Goliaths. Communities are not powerless against corporate interests or unjust government policies. This belief in our own strength, especially when bolstered by science and strategy, is at the heart of our fight for our oceans and our planet.
Most recently, you served as the Global Coordinator of the Break Free from Plastic movement. What lessons from past campaigns are you bringing into your work with Oceana?
VH: My decade with Break Free from Plastic (BFFP) taught me that real change is born from unity and solidarity. We built a global movement by aligning hundreds of diverse groups — from grassroots collectives to international NGOs — around a single goal to end plastic pollution, all while respecting our different tactics, approaches, and even our occasional disagreements.
I carry this “big tent” philosophy with me to Oceana. We will win not by acting alone, but by building a coalition of fisherfolk, scientists, local governments, businesses, and youth leaders.
My time at BFFP also reinforced that we must fight crises at their source. For example, it’s not enough to clean up plastic waste, we must challenge the business models that perpetuate our addiction to single-use plastic. This is about deep, systemic change — not superficial gestures.
What inspired you to join Oceana as its leader in the Philippines?
VH: I joined Oceana because I believe it is one of the most strategic and effective vessels for the crucial voyage ahead. I’m drawn to its focus on winnable policy campaigns. We don’t just advocate for a vaguely healthier ocean. We campaign to protect specific marine habitats, secure mangrove protections along our coastlines, and defend the rights of artisanal fishers to their municipal waters. I am thrilled to lead Oceana in the Philippines.
How do you plan to engage local communities in the Philippines — especially fishers and coastal communities — as partners in ocean conservation?
VH: Artisanal fishers are the very heart of what we are fighting for. Fishers and coastal communities are the first to witness the ocean’s decline and the first to feel its loss. They hold deep, generational knowledge. Our role isn’t to arrive with a pre-made plan, but to amplify the solutions they already live by.
We will support community-led marine protected areas, champion their rights to sustainable livelihoods, and ensure their voices are the ones that shape policy across the country.
How do you plan to navigate the shifting and complex political landscape in the Philippines?
VH: While political winds change direction, the fundamental needs of our people — food security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods — are unchanging.
Our strategy is to anchor our advocacy in these transcendent national interests. We will work with officials who are serious about the future of our oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. And we will provide them with the evidence, legal and policy frameworks, and public support needed to make courageous decisions.
Our credibility lies in consistency. We celebrate ocean champions and hold accountable those who falter, regardless of political affiliation.We are building a legacy that can outlast any single administration.
How have you seen Philippine waters change over the course of your career? What is your hope for the future of the oceans?
VH: I have seen the vibrancy of our oceans dim: coral gardens bleached, fishing nets grow emptier, and waters choked by plastic. But I have also witnessed rising awareness and a ferocious will to fight back. I have seen mangroves regenerate when given space, and fish stocks rebound when protected.
My hope is for a Philippines where the ocean is no longer seen as a resource to be extracted and abused, but as the vital foundation for our cultural and economic prosperity. It is a future where the communities that depend on the oceans are the ones leading their protection. This future is not a distant dream, but a choice. Together, we will make it happen.
