Katherine "Trin" Custodio: Hope in a time of climate crisis 

The climate crisis has never been more palpable– from unbearable heat waves to relentless storms ravaging cities and towns one after the other. Terms such as ‘nature loss,’ ‘food insecurity,’ or ‘global warming’ have entered our everyday dialogue. Articles and listicles are published frequently to offer advice on how individuals can make a difference. 

How does one stay grounded amidst the flood of information? And most importantly, how does one remain hopeful? These are the questions Katherine ‘Trin’ Custodio (BS MIS 1996) faces as the Executive Director of WWF Philippines.

Trin entered Ateneo de Manila University like many others, with no clear plan of what she wanted to do in the future. Despite this uncertainty, she was confident in her varied interests, such as science, debate, and singing. Her diverse interests eventually led her to pursue a degree she believed offered flexibility, making her part of the first batch of Management Information Systems (MIS) students. “It was exciting to be part of something new, I’m the type of person who likes to go into things that are emerging,” she recalls. Through her education, Trin gained technical skills, such as understanding operational systems, and soft skills, such as critical thinking, communication, and adaptability—all of which have become essential tools in her role as a leader in an organization.

Beyond academics, Trin was an active member of “Galian ng Sining at Kultura” and “Hangad Music Ministry,” organizations deeply rooted in the humanities. While her studies focused on management and the sciences, she emphasizes the influence music and the arts also had in her life. “It’s what speaks to the heart. Even in our current work, that’s what you really need to do: speak to the heart,” she shares. Her experiences in the music ministry, where singing together became an act of service, planted the seeds for a lifelong commitment to something greater than herself.

This sense of service, “the idea that you’re not just existing for yourself” as Trin puts it, is what stayed with her long after graduation. Before joining WWF-Philippines, she spent eight years at “Venture for Fund Raising,” a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering other non-profits through training, consultation, and research. It was her time in this field that broadened her perspective, opening her eyes to a variety of organizations, all fighting for different causes. “Those years shaped my understanding of the interconnections of the many issues we face, on poverty, environment, justice, governance, even arts and culture,” she says.

A transformative moment for Trin came during a diving trip to the Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Palawan. An avid diver, she describes the encounter as life-changing. She vividly recalls the crystal-clear waters, the majestic view of corals, and an unforgettable meeting with a turtle, even adding that the soundtrack in her head were the songs of praise often heard in mass. “I’m convinced that anyone who sees something like that becomes an advocate. There’s a conversion, and it changes you,” she shares. This encounter with nature, coupled with her work at Venture, led her to WWF-Philippines.

Founded in 1961, WWF began as a wildlife conservation organization. Recognizing that the world’s environmental issues are interconnected, the organization expanded its focus to include a broader range of initiatives. According to their website, “WWF-Philippines works to improve Filipino lives by crafting solutions to climate change, providing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country’s richest marine and land habitats.” Trin’s role has evolved as well, spanning more than a decade in the organization. 

Trin began her journey with WWF-Philippines in fundraising, where she transitioned from consultancy work to leading the implementation of fundraising projects. After this, she took on a regional role in WWF Asia Pacific, focusing more on growth and partnerships. Now as executive director, Trin has expanded her scope beyond engaging with external partners, developing proposals, or launching projects. It now includes overseeing organizational systems, finance, HR, and other administrative functions (a nod to her MIS background.) According to Trin, it was all those years in the ogranization that allowed her to “understand the rather complex workings of the WWF Global Network, to form my own perspective of what makes for an effective and impactful WWF office, and most important, to get to know the amazing folks that make up WWF around the world.” 

Despite the weight of her responsibilities, Trin believes that in moments of challenge arises moments of hope. For her, one sign of hope is found in people, whether it be her board of trustees to the organization's volunteer base. “The moments of hope are really coming from the people who are doing the work,” she adds. A key task of WWF-Philippines is to partner closely with local communities affected by issues of the environment, communities that recognize a need for change. “Our role there is as enablers, as people who connect them with local government to improve policies and governance and to shift the practices to something that's more sustainable,” she adds.

One standout success story is Donsol, Sorsogon, known as the ‘whale shark capital of the Philippines.’ Over 20 years ago, Donsol was a quiet fishing town with little local industry. Through the guidance of WWF’s programs and researchers, the community discovered an opportunity to develop eco-tourism centered around whale shark interactions. Since then, the program has continued to flourish—gaining support from the local government, implementing guidelines and protocols, and establishing proper charging fees. Trin recalls stories of fishermen becoming interaction officers, and sari-sari stores growing into larger businesses. “It's really a story of how something that supports nature can benefit the entire community,” she reflects. While WWF-Philippines played a role in Donsol’s development, Trin emphasizes that it was the community itself that made it all possible.

Retracing back to the question ‘how does one remain hopeful in the midst of it all,’ Trin’s story reminds us that hope can be felt through collective action. Hope is seen in each other, but only when steps have been taken. She acknowledges that small steps, like reusing plastic bottles or using a metal straw, may feel insignificant, but insists that “no role is too big or too small. We’re all connected.” Besides individual actions, she encourages sustainability to be integrated into any profession or field, from corporations with their own sustainability projects to artists and creatives using their platforms to send a message. “From all different parts of society, people can be voices for the environment,” she adds.

And when the burden feels overwhelming, Trin also recognizes the importance of letting go and enjoying what life has to offer. These can include talents, passions, hobbies, people, or even pets. It is through these joyful encounters that we are reminded to take care of what we have. When asked about what keeps her going, Trin shares many things, such as her diving adventures and the companionship of her furbaby. Even in these moments, Trin believes that these connections with nature continue to shape her life. 

In times of crisis, perhaps the best thing we can do is reconnect– with nature, with one another, and with ourselves. As Trin says, “We’re just a part of something bigger than us. Let’s do what we can to sustain it.”

Photos courtesy WWF Philippines and Trin Custodio