Kristel Quierrez and UGBON’s mission is to restore the mountain forests and advocate for indigenous knowledge.
When she is at Tinipak River, Kristel Quierrez truly feels her identity as an indigenous person. Kristel is a young environmentalist who has been advocating for the protection of her people’s sacred lands in Daraitan and across the Sierra Madre. She is a proud member of the Agta indigenous community, also known as the Dumagat-Remontado.
Having studied at the Sentrong Paaralan ng mga Agta (PSA), an elementary school for the Agta community built in 1988 in General Nakar, Quezon, Kristel came to value her identity early on. It soon pushed her to co-found youth organization UGBON: Katutubong Kabataang Umuugat sa Kabundukan ng Sierra Madre, along with other young advocates in the southern Sierra Madre region. UGBON’s mission is to restore the mountain forests and advocate for indigenous knowledge.
Her work with UGBON has earned Kristel recognition beyond our shores, recently named as one of the 2025 Restoration Stewards by the Global Landscapes Forum, the largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable and inclusive landscapes. Only seven stewards are awarded each year, making it a proud achievement for Kristel, her fellow youth advocates, and for indigenous voices.