Fe Esperanza Trampe is a public interest lawyer based in the Philippines. She shares her learning journey and what inspires her to do her work.
Please introduce yourself briefly and tell us about your work.
My name is Fe, I am a public interest lawyer based in the Philippine province of Palawan. I serve as Legal Officer for the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Inc. (ELAC). ELAC is an environment-focused non-government organization aimed toward helping communities defend the earth. Our work deals with environmental advocacy, legal empowerment, and participatory governance in the areas of Palawan, Eastern Visayas, and beyond.
My time as a law student and resident intern with the Ateneo Human Rights Center, staying with indigenous communities in the mountains of the Sierra Madre, and all that followed thereafter, sealed the deal for me. I saw firsthand the power of the laws I was only reading about previously. I saw what the law can do when those who need it most are empowered to assert the rights guaranteed to them. In these areas, the human rights of communities are inseparable from the environment.
To fight for environmental justice is to fight for the most basic of rights, which should be automatically granted to everyone regardless of any attending circumstance. My firm advocacy for human rights and social justice began then, and I have not stopped since.
Fe is a public interest lawyer based in the Philippine province of Palawan
I was working in a traditional law firm after taking the Philippine Bar examination, and the first hike I had as a young lawyer gave me time to step away from board meetings, contracts, and pleadings. It allowed me to reflect anew on why I pursued law, and how I wanted to reach my goals as a legal professional. Being one with nature and the mountains for a moment made me realize that time is ticking, and every moment of my time should be spent toward what I was called to do—serve people in need and fight for the voiceless, including the earth.
A Southern Palawan indigenous partner and woman leader whose community is adversely affected by destructive mining operations was once asked this question. She said that whenever she feels the strain of her fight for the environment, she looks at the mountains and remembers what it is she is fighting for. My answer does not stray too far from hers. It is the beauty of nature, especially in Palawan, and the strength of all who are with me in this fight that inspire and motivate me to keep going.
Communities in Palawan celebrating the mining moratorium.
Being a part of the Grassroots Justice Network has given the work we do at ELAC a global perspective that roots our efforts even further within the communities we collaborate with. All our fights are essentially for social justice, and being in a global network whose members’ struggles vary but also face similar circumstances invites us to be creative and resourceful with our work. It inspires us as well, knowing that there are pockets of success stories here and there to learn from and be guided by as we continue.
The Global Convening that took place last year was a great space to exchange experiences and ideas with network members from as far as Africa and Latin America. Through their stories during those few days, we were able to take note of some nuances that come with our work—whether such work is being done in Asia or the other side of the world. Utmost care is a need, and this applies not only to the work we do but also to ourselves as we push through with our work despite the challenges.
Fe speaking at a community forum
Listen to yourself and the work of fellow Grassroots Justice Network members. Our work is all connected, even when the issues we take on are at times in different forms. Look around and listen to communities. It is the people and the land that we serve who can tell us what their needs are, and how we can work together toward empowerment.